ALL IN FOR ALESSIA - a 7 year old's fight

In life, you are blessed with friendships that become more like family—the ones who stand by you through the highs, the lows, the heartbreaks, and the joys. My friendships are gifts, true gold.. they give life so much meaning. My best friend, DeAnna, has been that person for me since I was 14 years old. She is the strongest woman I know—a devoted wife and mother of twins who has endured hardships that most could never fathom.

Now, she’s facing the unimaginable.

On New Year’s Day, at 8:20 AM, my phone rang. It was DeAnna, rushing her daughter, Alessia, to the hospital after she woke up disoriented, confused, non-verbal, vomiting and not responding. She was rushed to the ER where doctors discovered she had a bleeding mass her in brain that was causing an unsafe increase of her intracranial pressure. What followed was every parent’s worst nightmare - An hour later Alessia under went a life saving surgery which was the first of 3 major surgeries that day, and the next few days were more multiple surgeries and procedures. Days later, the devastating news—Alessia has a 10 cm midline tumor, entangled in every critical neurological function. Despite a courageous surgery that removed 70% of the tumor, the remaining portion is inoperable. At just seven years old, Alessia has been diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer.

She spent a total of 16 days in the pediatric ICU.

Alessia has been diagnosed with a Diffuse Midline Glioma, grade 4 (also known as a high grade glioblastoma) in her thalamus of her brain. Due to the location of the tumor/cancer it is unable to be completely surgically removed.

The tumor has caused her left sided paralysis and many challenges.

She has started intense radiation therapy treatments and will start a clinical study medication. Unfortunately there are no known medications to cure this diagnosis, you may even read it is a terminal diagnosis. This is because it is usually a life long battle.

The weight of this diagnosis is crushing, but if there’s one thing I know, it’s that Alessia is a fighter. We refuse to lose hope. We refuse to back down.

Now, I am doing what I know how... bringing people together... I’m asking for your help as medical expenses, treatments, and the long road ahead are overwhelming. Let’s rally around this incredible family and give Alessia every chance at a miracle. If you can donate, share, or simply send love and prayers, you are making a difference.

Let’s fight for her together.

Her parents DeAnna and Greg Melillo are so grateful for everyone's prayers, love, and genuine thoughts!

#AllInForAlessia #AlessiaStrong