Help Melissa fulfill her dreams while fighting brain cancer

This past September our lives changed forever. My sister, best friend, and hero, Melissa, went in for emergency brain surgery after a large mass was discovered. About a week later, our biggest fear came to reality when she was diagnosed with a grade 4 astrocytoma, a very aggressive brain cancer. On October 24th, she started her 6 weeks of radiation and chemotherapy. With so many unknowns, the one thing that I do know is that she will NOT fight alone.

Melissa is a young, 42-year-old mother of four. Her oldest, Kyla, has just moved down to NC to start her first semester in grad school, Jenna recently moved back home to continue her education at community college, Kaitlyn passed away in January 2013 at just 5 years old, and then there’s Declan, who is just 8 years old and has no idea of the struggles he is about to have to face. Melissa is a natural caregiver, from her time as an educator to having a medically complex child to becoming a respiratory therapist. She has spent her entire life helping others, putting the needs of others first despite harboring so much pain inside.

I’m starting this GoFundMe page because it’s time we put Melissa’s needs first. I want her to experience the best life has to offer with however much time she has left. I want to take her on that cross-country road trip we planned years ago but were never able to take. I want her to be able to take her children to Ireland, her lifelong dream destination. I want her to see the northern lights in Alaska where she’ll meet her niece for the first time. I want to take her on a hot air balloon ride because she really wants to and both of our Mike’s refuse to go. I want her to go parasailing in St. Croix during our next, and potentially last, beach trip (we all know how much Kaitlyn loved the beach!).

With every donation, you’re not just contributing to experiences; you’re helping to fill her days with joy, laughter, and love. Melissa has dedicated her life to caring for others, and now it's our turn to show her the same compassion and support she has always given. Once our goal is reached, any additional donations will go towards other financial obligations that Melissa may face. Let’s make sure she knows she’s not fighting this battle alone. Together, we will show Melissa the love and support she deserves and create lasting memories that will carry her spirit with us, no matter what the future holds.