Donate to help with unexpected medical expenses.

Hi my name is Melissa Schwan (aka Rebel Lee Rose). On May 2nd 2022—-my world was flipped upside down. I went to the ER with basic symptoms — nausea, vomiting and stomach pain. I was expecting to hear the typical for me kidney stones diagnosis — but what I heard was much worse. The doctor grabbed my hand and proceeded to tell me that my liver (in her words) is ravaged by cancerous lesions. As tears flowed down my cheeks —  my best friend and I literally sat in shock — yes — cancer has re-entered my life for a third time.

 

The next day I immediately started doing research and thought maybe they made a mistake. I couldn’t possibly have cancer again. Yes —  not once, but twice before — cancer reared it’s ugly face at me and I had been in remission since 2014! Now again, I am facing this battle head-on. I had a biopsy done on May 8th and then on May 10th, I held my breath as they told me the devastating news. “ You have Stage 4 Metastatic Liver Cancer with no cure”. My doctors estimate that without treatment, I have maybe 3 months and with treatment maybe 2+ years. Tears, fire, anger you name it, it all hit me at once.

 

I have spent my entire life caring for others as a hospice/ palliative care nurse, which I’ve had to give up. The small savings that I did have, circumstances due to the pandemic took dang near all of it. Yes I have Medicaid, but they only cover the very basic of any need. They do not cover gas, certain meds, hotels or any clinical trials out of my network that are available for late stage cancer patients like me. Step one is palliative chemotherapy starting May 23rd. Radiation is not in my treatment plan due to my late stage diagnosis. The financial burden is crushing, if I am to pursue further treatments that are homeopathic and cutting edge.

 

My goal will be to seek out other options at John Hopkins or Mayo Clinic — which will cost 100% out of pocket expenses, that is,the medical treatment itself and all gas, travel, room, food , ext…….. 100% of money raised will go to my medical treatment or expenses incurred traveling to these other medical facilities, or medication, care etc……

 

Please help me look to my children, my man, my best friend and my family so I can say

“ WE MAY HAVE HOPE”

 

Thanks To all who can help with money and I’ll take all the prayers I can get, too

Rebel