Support Melissa's Journey to Recovery

This is a fundraiser for Melissa (Oliver) Villanova!

On April 29th, Melissa's husband Charlie returned home from work to find her collapsed and unconscious on the floor of their home. Mel had gone into an unknown cardiac rhythm, and needed emergent help. Charlie performed live saving CPR until EMS arrived. She was then rushed to Christ Hospital and underwent surgery to be placed on mechanical life support, ECMO, for several days. The doctors that saved her life told Mel’s family that her heart and brain may not recover. But they didn’t know how tough Mel is, and how much she wanted to get back to her husband and baby. Mel spent a week in the Surgical Heart Unit getting stronger until she no longer needed ECMO and her heart began working on its own! A few days later she began to regain consciousness!!

Her doctors then brought her to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit where she continued to regain her strength, but she still needed help breathing and eating. While in the ICU they gave her a feeding tube to her stomach for food, and a more stable airway in her trachea. Mel is now on a step down unit, where she continues to beat all the odds as she works with Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies. Soon she will be ready for a care facility that will aid her in regaining functions and strength.

We are fundraising to ensure Melissa has the best possible care going forward. Mel deserves the best rehabilitation center, and finding quality affordable care can be incredibly difficult. We ask that you donate whatever you can for our Mel, and the Villanova family. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. We thank God every day that He continues to share his light and love with Mel as she continues her journey to recovery.

This accident happened just days after Charlie returned to work after being shot in the line of duty, and only three months after the birth of their daughter Lizzie. We want to ensure Lizzie is taken care of as her Mama continues her fight to recover and her Dad returns to work protecting our City. This family has been through the worst and we are asking every CPD, CFD, OEMC, and SOUTH-SIDE STRONG family to come together to take care of our own! We need your help!

Thank you!

OEMC 911 Call-Taker FAMILY

CPD STRONG

CFD STRONG

SOUTH-SIDE STRONG