Melissa's Fight

My name is Laura Michaelis. I am reaching out to all of you, friends, family, acquaintances, loving hearts, maybe even some of you that we haven't met, as a spokesperson for my family and my sister, Melissa. We need your help, desperately. My 42 year old, Wonder Woman of a sister has been battling breast cancer for years. After being in remission, it has come back in full force. It has metastasized, stage 4, to her bone tissue. She is a single mother, self-less, caring, loving woman that is in desperate need of help to fight for her life. She has chosen to go through alternative treatments at a clinic in Tijuana, Mexico as well as working with her conventional oncologist here in the states.  After much research and doctor visits, to do what she needs to survive this cancer, we need help. She will not be able to work for at least a month. She will be unpaid, having to keep up with living/medical expenses along with raising her 13 year old son, Jaylen, all while fighting the biggest battle of her lifetime. Total cost for treatments in the US and in Tijuana, we are estimating to be almost 45k out of pocket. 30k would help cover what we are struggling to come up with in such a short amount of time to get this process started...which should have been yesterday. Time is not on our side and this is our last ditch effort, our last resort to save my sister. 

Any amount would help. If you can spare $1, that is $1 towards saving her life. 

I asked her for her story. I requested a video but this is such a sensitive subject that I don't think she can be that vulnerable at this time. She believes, WE believe, we can beat this. "When someone has cancer, the whole family and everyone who loves them does to..."

This is a direct quote from Melissa Michaelis herself, telling her story (sent via text message):
 
"May 2015 I found a lump in my left breast. My first thought was “it’s probably just a cyst”. Did the mammogram, then the biopsy...It was cancer.  The day I received that phone call, I was sitting at my desk at work. I was in shock, almost felt paralyzed. I couldn’t move. I cried, I got angry and then it hit me. I’m a warrior, a survivor. So I tackled it by having a double mastectomy.  I walked away and never looked back.  Until now... June 2019 I found out my cancer is back.  This time I’m going to have to fight a little harder. Giving up is not an option. I have a 13 year old son who needs me. Those who know me know I’m going to tackle this with every ounce of me...body, mind and soul. I’m going to fight this and heal my body.  My son is my everything; he gives me hope and courage.   For him I will fight. For my family I will fight, and most importantly, I will fight for myself. I want to bring hope and be beacon of strength to all those battling cancer as well. Never give up!  We got this!"