Our friend Alicia was diagnosed with mucosal melanoma this year, a “rare and aggressive” cancer that accounts for only .03% of all cancer diagnoses. She had surgery and immunotherapy, which was very hard on her physically. The cancer spread, and is now stage IV. After looking into clinical trials, her best hope is now to try in-house trials/treatments at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Given the risk of COVID-19 on her depleted immune system, the best course of action is for her and her family (husband Jason, and two little girls) to drive an RV down to Houston and stay there while she has various appointments and hopefully treatments. Of course, the sooner they can travel, the better.

I met Alicia when I was working for a former employer, and our paths crossed again when Erica hired both Alicia and me to be part of the marketing team at Patrick Engineering. She was part of our team at work for only a brief time, but she made an impression on all of us. Alicia is one of the most kind and compassionate people we know. Though we wish there was more we could do to help, finances are the last thing that she and Jason should be concerned with during this time. Please help us raise money for their possible RV rental, as well as food/gas/copays, or just replenishing funds that were earmarked for their girls and have now been spent on Alicia's fight. We greatly appreciate any contribution you can make to help ease our friend's mind and allow her to focus on her family and her health!