Melisa’s Cancer Funds

On February 16th, 2018 I went to a planned surgery for what I thought for years was a benign tumor to be removed. I was alone since my husband was at training for the military and was ready to start this year off with finally being able to put this tumor behind me. Little did I know that this would have turned out so differently. My normally 2 hour surgery of a parotidectomy (a salivary gland) ended up having complications and took over 9 hours. When I woke up I was so confused and physically and emotionally scarred. I was then told of the complications that the tumor had invaded my facial nerves and completely destroyed them. I can no longer close my right eye or blink without using tape and I have total right side facial paralysis which means I can’t smile anymore either and have limited hearing out of my right ear. This fact alone means I will not be able to work for a while and will need multiple surgeries to get back to being how I somewhat used to be. This news alone is life changing and at that time we still believed the tumor was benign. On February 23rd, 2018 I got the news I dreaded and it indeed was a malignant (cancerous) tumor. I got diagnosed with Stage 3 Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the parotid gland. Such big words and such a rare cancer I found out is what I have. The doctor recommended 35 sessions of radiation and the surgeries to follow. I am not one to ever ask for help because I feel I should be able to care for myself but it’s come to the time where I need to swallow my pride and actually ask for help. Financially it’s a lot and has become even more stressful worrying about bills and childcare and unexpected costs associated with having cancer and not working in order to fully recover and have these multiple surgeries to come (at least a minimum of 3 more) This is all so new to me and I’m learning that there is only so much I can do and I am hoping that this GoFundMe can help me offset the costs of :
prescriptions
childcare
travel fees for treatments 
copays for treatments as needed
and dental work due to the tumor being in my salivary glands. 

Any help is much appreciated even if it is not monetary. Prayers and well wishes are always welcome and if you can sharing on your walls as well. 
My family and I thank you all so much from the bottom of our hearts in advance. 

Thanks and God Bless,
Melisa