Help Melissa! #titanium
Donation protected
On April 30, 2019, Melissa was rushed to the ER for excruciating abdominal pain. After many tests, a baseball-sized mass was found entangled in her intestines. The diagnosis was complicated, but surgeons from both Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BI) and a second opinion from Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) led the doctors to believe that surgery was necessary. At the time they felt that this mass could be removed with clear margins.
On June 14, 2019, Melissa had the complicated surgery. The mass itself was removed along with her omentum, two-thirds (2/3) of her intestine and part of her spleen. She also chose to have a full hysterectomy as a precaution as there was some suggestion from all doctors that it may be ovarian cancer.
After the surgery, a biopsy was performed and weeks later the results revealed everyone’s worst nightmare - the mass was cancer - a Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma. This is an extremely rare and aggressive cancer that forms in the soft tissues and/or bones of the body. Only 200,000 people are diagnosed with Liposarcomas each year. It was also determined thankfully that there was no ovarian cancer and she was clear from that form of cancer.
Following the diagnosis and additional scans, she had excruciating pain in her back. She had an MRI after her surgery and it was determined that she had another mass on her L2 vertebrae that was eating through the bone. Unfortunately, surgery was not an option as the mass was too close to her spinal cord. As such, the doctors suggested radiation. A further follow up scan after the surgery, found that the cancer had regrettably spread to the tip of her pancreas, right adrenal gland and right psoas muscle. This meant that Melissa’s cancer had metastasized and she now has Stage IV Liposarcoma Cancer. After discussions with the doctors, a care plan was finalized to include radiation on her L2, and later she would begin six rounds of the strongest chemotherapy regimen.
She finished her 10 rounds of radiation at BI in July and August (as her insurance did not allow her any visits to the DFCI except two for a second opinion for the cancer diagnosis). She handled her radiation like a warrior, went to the BI every day for 10 days straight with the help of some great friends who drove her to Boston each day.
The rollercoaster ride of chemotherapy started on August 19, 2019. Unfortunately, she has battled much nausea and had extra hospital visits in between each round of chemo. She has been rushed to the ER by ambulance twice, once for severe dehydration and once for a dangerous bowel obstruction. At this time, Melissa has completed three rounds of chemo, and on the day she was supposed to start her fourth round of treatment, she spiked a 102.6° temperature and had to delay the start of round four.
The insurance company has billed over $190,000, leaving her owing approximately $25,000 of that out of her pocket in medical expenses. She is nowhere near the end of her battle with cancer. For those of you who know Melissa, you may be aware that she is an Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney in Easton. However, she is a sole practitioner, which specifically means she works solely for herself. Therefore, when she is not working, she does not make any money to support her family. She also does not carry short term disability insurance and she is also not entitled to benefits from the Family Medical Leave Act since she is self-employed.
Melissa has been told she is eligible for clinical trials at DFCI, but has been fiercely fighting with Tufts Health to allow her a consult with the doctor who handles the trials to discuss these possible life prolonging or life-saving trials.
Anyone who knows Melissa, knows she is fighting hard and doing the best she can to remain strong for her girlfriend, Nikki, who is her primary caregiver, her two children, Brooke, who is 14 years old and Zack, who is 16 years old, Nicole’s kids, Bella who is 14 years old and Kiki, who is 8 years old. Many of you may also know that last November, Melissa and Nikki took in two 16-year old foster children, one of which, Mia, who is 16 years old, still lives with them today.
Melissa is the most generous and kind-hearted person I know. Most people don’t know that in Christmas 2015 she donated $4,000 to the United Way to specifically help a young mother and her severely autistic son pay rent for 8 months. She was featured on the radio station Fun 107 with Michael Rock with her children to showcase her generosity.
Melissa’s chemo rounds are one week on in the hospital and then two weeks out of the hospital. During the weeks she is off of chemo, she is extremely nauseous and can become very sick because her white blood cells can be tremendously low. Many of you who know Melissa well, know that this has not stopped her from working and meeting with clients during these weeks to make sure she supports her family. Any amount you can donate will help with her treatment, medical bills, rehabilitation, household bills, etc. Mostly though, any donations will also help her take time off from work between her chemo treatments to get the rest she needs to fight for her life. Thank you. Melissa and her family really appreciate your support!
On June 14, 2019, Melissa had the complicated surgery. The mass itself was removed along with her omentum, two-thirds (2/3) of her intestine and part of her spleen. She also chose to have a full hysterectomy as a precaution as there was some suggestion from all doctors that it may be ovarian cancer.
After the surgery, a biopsy was performed and weeks later the results revealed everyone’s worst nightmare - the mass was cancer - a Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma. This is an extremely rare and aggressive cancer that forms in the soft tissues and/or bones of the body. Only 200,000 people are diagnosed with Liposarcomas each year. It was also determined thankfully that there was no ovarian cancer and she was clear from that form of cancer.
Following the diagnosis and additional scans, she had excruciating pain in her back. She had an MRI after her surgery and it was determined that she had another mass on her L2 vertebrae that was eating through the bone. Unfortunately, surgery was not an option as the mass was too close to her spinal cord. As such, the doctors suggested radiation. A further follow up scan after the surgery, found that the cancer had regrettably spread to the tip of her pancreas, right adrenal gland and right psoas muscle. This meant that Melissa’s cancer had metastasized and she now has Stage IV Liposarcoma Cancer. After discussions with the doctors, a care plan was finalized to include radiation on her L2, and later she would begin six rounds of the strongest chemotherapy regimen.
She finished her 10 rounds of radiation at BI in July and August (as her insurance did not allow her any visits to the DFCI except two for a second opinion for the cancer diagnosis). She handled her radiation like a warrior, went to the BI every day for 10 days straight with the help of some great friends who drove her to Boston each day.
The rollercoaster ride of chemotherapy started on August 19, 2019. Unfortunately, she has battled much nausea and had extra hospital visits in between each round of chemo. She has been rushed to the ER by ambulance twice, once for severe dehydration and once for a dangerous bowel obstruction. At this time, Melissa has completed three rounds of chemo, and on the day she was supposed to start her fourth round of treatment, she spiked a 102.6° temperature and had to delay the start of round four.
The insurance company has billed over $190,000, leaving her owing approximately $25,000 of that out of her pocket in medical expenses. She is nowhere near the end of her battle with cancer. For those of you who know Melissa, you may be aware that she is an Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney in Easton. However, she is a sole practitioner, which specifically means she works solely for herself. Therefore, when she is not working, she does not make any money to support her family. She also does not carry short term disability insurance and she is also not entitled to benefits from the Family Medical Leave Act since she is self-employed.
Melissa has been told she is eligible for clinical trials at DFCI, but has been fiercely fighting with Tufts Health to allow her a consult with the doctor who handles the trials to discuss these possible life prolonging or life-saving trials.
Anyone who knows Melissa, knows she is fighting hard and doing the best she can to remain strong for her girlfriend, Nikki, who is her primary caregiver, her two children, Brooke, who is 14 years old and Zack, who is 16 years old, Nicole’s kids, Bella who is 14 years old and Kiki, who is 8 years old. Many of you may also know that last November, Melissa and Nikki took in two 16-year old foster children, one of which, Mia, who is 16 years old, still lives with them today.
Melissa is the most generous and kind-hearted person I know. Most people don’t know that in Christmas 2015 she donated $4,000 to the United Way to specifically help a young mother and her severely autistic son pay rent for 8 months. She was featured on the radio station Fun 107 with Michael Rock with her children to showcase her generosity.
Melissa’s chemo rounds are one week on in the hospital and then two weeks out of the hospital. During the weeks she is off of chemo, she is extremely nauseous and can become very sick because her white blood cells can be tremendously low. Many of you who know Melissa well, know that this has not stopped her from working and meeting with clients during these weeks to make sure she supports her family. Any amount you can donate will help with her treatment, medical bills, rehabilitation, household bills, etc. Mostly though, any donations will also help her take time off from work between her chemo treatments to get the rest she needs to fight for her life. Thank you. Melissa and her family really appreciate your support!
Organizer and beneficiary
Georgia Petropoulos
Organizer
Raynham, MA
Melissa Victor
Beneficiary