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Malissa Dean is in a very tough situation and needs our help. She has suffered with spine issues her entire life and while waiting on a major spinal reconstruction surgery her doctors discovered she had cancer. Please allow me to share a bit of her story…
For years Malissa has been through pain management, countless injections, nerve blockers, physical therapy, etc. In February of 2020 she was finally able to connect with a solid team of medical specialists to perform a complete spinal reconstruction surgery. This will take at least a year to recover from, but likely much longer.
In preparation for this complicated surgery Malissa had numerous imaging procedures and other tests done. To make a scary and complicated situation even worse, Doctors discovered that Malissa had cancer; a 7 cm tumor growing on her right kidney (kidney carcinoma). This was an unexpected and devastating blow! Due to the discovery of cancer, Malissa had to undergo a kidney nephrectomy. Which was a major surgery to remove her entire right kidney and the cancerous tumor along with it. This took place only a few weeks ago on June 26.
So far post-op appointments show the cancer was removed successfully. However, now begins the long recovery from that traumatic surgery and the battle to keep the cancer at bay. Unfortunately there were some complications with the surgery that will cause Malissa’s recovery to be longer than anticipated. This in turn prolongs the wait for the next surgery — spinal reconstruction surgery.
Malissa and her two young daughters (9 & 12) need our love and support while she is battling back from cancer and this major surgery AND while awaiting and then recovering from the next major surgery. The disability insurance company, Sedgwick, is citing COVID-19 as the reason they cannot approve and process her disability claim "until further notice". Which has left her without income for over two months now. As one would imagine, this financial blow, on top of everything else Malissa is going through is creating unbelievable and overwhelming stress. This is a time when Malissa is down and doesn’t have the ability to help herself no matter how badly she wants to. Her eldest daughter (25) is a newlywed and lives elsewhere. She and her husband are helping in every way they possibly can.
Sometimes we are given an opportunity to make a huge difference for others. Let’s join together and let this be one of those times. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Every little bit will help. Please give what you can.
-Nicole Collins
For years Malissa has been through pain management, countless injections, nerve blockers, physical therapy, etc. In February of 2020 she was finally able to connect with a solid team of medical specialists to perform a complete spinal reconstruction surgery. This will take at least a year to recover from, but likely much longer.
In preparation for this complicated surgery Malissa had numerous imaging procedures and other tests done. To make a scary and complicated situation even worse, Doctors discovered that Malissa had cancer; a 7 cm tumor growing on her right kidney (kidney carcinoma). This was an unexpected and devastating blow! Due to the discovery of cancer, Malissa had to undergo a kidney nephrectomy. Which was a major surgery to remove her entire right kidney and the cancerous tumor along with it. This took place only a few weeks ago on June 26.
So far post-op appointments show the cancer was removed successfully. However, now begins the long recovery from that traumatic surgery and the battle to keep the cancer at bay. Unfortunately there were some complications with the surgery that will cause Malissa’s recovery to be longer than anticipated. This in turn prolongs the wait for the next surgery — spinal reconstruction surgery.
Malissa and her two young daughters (9 & 12) need our love and support while she is battling back from cancer and this major surgery AND while awaiting and then recovering from the next major surgery. The disability insurance company, Sedgwick, is citing COVID-19 as the reason they cannot approve and process her disability claim "until further notice". Which has left her without income for over two months now. As one would imagine, this financial blow, on top of everything else Malissa is going through is creating unbelievable and overwhelming stress. This is a time when Malissa is down and doesn’t have the ability to help herself no matter how badly she wants to. Her eldest daughter (25) is a newlywed and lives elsewhere. She and her husband are helping in every way they possibly can.
Sometimes we are given an opportunity to make a huge difference for others. Let’s join together and let this be one of those times. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Every little bit will help. Please give what you can.
-Nicole Collins
Organizer and beneficiary
Malissa Dean
Beneficiary