Help Melissa in Her Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer

Melissa Acuna is one of my best friends. She is the mother to Olivia, 14, and Andrew, 11. She has been married to Jeff, her partner and best friend for 18 years. She is the daughter to Paul and Nancy Turner. She is friends and colleagues to many. She is one of the kindest and most thoughtful women I know. And now she needs our help.

Melissa went into the Emergency Room on February 7, 2025, with symptoms of fatigue and jaundice, and then on February 13, 2025, received a shocking and devastating diagnosis that she has pancreatic cancer.

This news has turned Melissa’s life upside down, and while we await the results of the next round of tests and treatment plan, we know that the Acuna family is facing a challenging journey ahead.

Melissa is blessed to have an amazing career, but she will be taking a leave of absence as she undergoes treatments and multiple visits to specialists. There will be travel time, hotels needed, and costs endured to fight this diagnosis, and I want to do anything I can for her to ease the stress that she’s already under.

Sharing this campaign with others would also be incredibly helpful. If you'd like to send Melissa an encouraging/comforting message, you can do so at the email associated with this page. From the bottom of my heart, on behalf of the Acuna family, thank you for your support during this challenging time❤️