Hi my name is Madison Castellanos and I'm fundraising for Carly Arace. Carly is a single mother, to daughter Talula(4), battling stage 4 melanoma cancer. In 2018, a couple months after her daughters 1st birthday, Carly was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma. She went through a year of conventional treatment called immunotherapy, where she was clear a whole year (after they removed the cancer surgically) about 2 months after Carly stopped treatment the cancer came back, worse. After the devastating news she then decided to try out the, very pricey, Gerson Therapy in hopes of healing her body of cancer for good. After doing the rigorous Gerson Therapy for close to a year which consists of 13 juices a day, 5 coffee enemas, tons of expensive supplements and whole organic foods (and doing it all with a toddler!) The melanoma was spreading rapidly all over Carly’s body and into some organs. She new she needed to try something else. Carly decided to do oncology medicine and hyperthermia, which is a non toxic heat treatment to create an environment in which the cancer cannot survive. Within 3 months her scan came back clear! She, family, and friends were thrilled!! Then in April 2021 a scan had showed it was back… and it now has spread to her Kidneys. Carly is a warrior mother and is determined to end this once and for all, she will not leave her daughter behind without a mother. In Carly’s words “my daughter deserves a healthy thriving mother to take care of her & I am determined to be just that. It’s not fair this is happening to her & there’s no way I’m going to let this take me away from her, not now, not this way.” Carly is looking for the best care out there, and unfortunately that care is expensive.. and not always covered by insurance (her insurance bill is already $575 a month on top of life's other bills car payments, rent, food etc). Carly would hate for money to stand in the way of her surviving this battle. She has started doing hyperthermia treatment again and curcumin and vitamin c injections. The curcumin injections alone range from $150-$600 a session. And just to talk to some of these doctors cost $450. Because her treatments are almost daily Carly was not able to keep her job at this difficult time. Talulas father, Tyler, has been very supportive during this time. He takes care of Talula while Carly is in her treatments and drives Carly down to LA for treatments. Because he is supporting Carly and Talula in this way, he has been unable to work his regular income which has been another financial strain.

Carly is an extremely hard worker and does not like to ask for help, but she needs our help to ease this financial burden! I ask for her, please donate what you are able! anything helps. Or if you are not able to donate to her at this time please share her story. We need this mama strong and healthy for her daughter! I will be doing a big garage sale for Carly as well (she will get %100 of what is made at the garage sale) but that takes some time in planning and she needs income sooner (like now haha) than later. If you have goods or a skill you would like to donate to sell for Carly please contact me so we can get some much needed money for treatments!  Carly's Venmo is @Carly-Arace if you'd prefer to send some money that way :) 

A bit of Carly’s back story in her words:

“Our lives have been a-bit rough the last few years. In 2016 I lost my father suddenly. He was a CHP officer for San Luis Obispo county for 30 years or so, he had just retired & his death completely devastated our entire family. Shortly after he died I found out I was pregnant with my first child, which would have been my fathers first grandchild, I gave birth to her the day before my fathers birthday on May 1st 2017. A year after that, a month after my daughter Talulas, first birthday I noticed a big lump behind my right ear. The CHC doctor I saw told me it’s nothing & not to worry but I pushed for a second opinion, feeling like something was terribly wrong. 3 months after that when it was removed it was confirmed it was melanoma in my lymph nodes.

I grew up in Templeton, California loving the sun & always at the beach. I lived in Australia for a year where I was constantly in the sun & lived in Kauai for 4 years again constantly in the sun. I never thought with loving the sun so much this would ever happen. I had a mole on top of my head that I got removed in middle school & never thought twice. A few years ago while living in Santa Cruz I noticed it grew back & was painful. I got it removed again. At that time the doctor said it was benign, so of course I didn’t worry. Shortly after that is when my father passed & 2 years after that it had manifested into full blown melanoma. 

I do not want my tragedies & struggles to define me, I’m determined to stay alive, for my daughter.”

I met Carly in 2019 while working together as massage therapists at Vyana Wellness Collective. I instantly loved her! She has such a calm presence about her you would never know what she has been through and is continuing to go through. She is the strongest person I’ve ever met. Carly deserves a happy, healthy life and to watch her daughter grow. Talula LOVES her mama and she needs her mom in her life. Let’s please help out Carly and Talula! I know this story will have a happy ending :)