Hello and welcome to whoever is reading this post. My name is Marissa and I’d like to introduce you to the most influential person in my life, my lovely mom Melissa.

Born in 1980 Melissa grew up with a loving family. She was frequently bed ridden due her weak immune system during her early adolescent years. Melissa was told by her doctor that she would not be able to keep up with her peers because she wasn’t as healthy as they were. However through a strong will, faith, and resilience she persevered and achieved all the goals she placed for herself.

Melissa became a star athlete in track and basketball, excelled in her studies, and grew into a vibrant young woman. Despite frequent hospital visits, multiple medications, and sometimes pain so unbearable she couldn’t walk—she kept pushing forward. After she graduated high school Melissa married her high school sweetheart and they welcomed a daughter. At the time her life was going so well that her days of being sick and bed ridden were long forgotten.

In 2002 when Melissa turned 22 she fell sick again, this time her body was at such a weakened state that she didn’t know if she ever be able to leave her hospital room. It was during this extended hospital stay we’re she was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE). From that moment on her once peaceful life was once again filled with days spent bed ridden in pain, constant hospital visits, and even moments eerily close to death.

Eventually, Melissa’s health stabilized. Through out her health journey Melissa remained an active mother, caring sister, and a wonderful friend and daughter. Whenever someone needed her Melissa was just a phone call away. And although she was sick the good days far outweighed the bad and in 2014 she was told her lupus was in remisson. However at this point the disease and aggressive treatments had left her kidneys at stage 3 renal failure. Over a ten year time span her kidneys have slowly progressed further into renal disease due to more minor flares involing her SLE but her spirit never wavered.

In 2022 Melissa received another life changing diagnoses— she was now in end stage renal disease and would require dialysis in order for her body to filter out toxic waste build up as her kidneys could no longer function properly. She was scared and nervous at the thought of dialysis but she did it. Melissa’s resilience and faith once again carried her through.

Since February 2024 Melissa has been receiving dialysis and has been on the donor transplant list. On May 7th, 2025 Melissa received news that would once again change her life—there was a donor matched with her for a kidney transplant. Overjoyed she’s made her way to New Orleans for kidney transplantation.

Now that you have a small introduction to my wonderful mom Melissa I kindly ask you to please share her story and if you can please donate towards her medical expenses. Even with insurance my mom will be in the hospital for a minimum of 2 months. Any donation, however big or however small would mean the world to my mom Melissa. Thank you all.