Help Monica Smith Overcome Stage 4 Melanoma

In late July 2024, I lost my job of 10 years in the mental health field and just weeks later, in September, I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic melanoma. Since then, my life has completely changed.

In October, I had one-third of my lung removed, and in November, I was rushed to the ER for a collapsed lung. By April 2025, the cancer had spread to nearly 90% of my left side, including the lung that had already been partially removed. I’m currently living with large masses, tumors, and cancerous nodules — but thankfully, they’ve started to shrink due to a medication I recently began.

While that brings hope, I’m still unable to work and remain financially overwhelmed. I’ve exhausted my retirement savings and 401k just trying to survive. My only vehicle recently broke down, making it extremely difficult to get to my treatments. I’ve also been referred to MD Anderson for further evaluation, but I can’t afford to pursue this care without help. Any support would mean the world to me as I continue this fight.