Help Melissa Jo White with Medical Expenses

Hi, my name is Christa Foulk (Johnson), i am fundraising for one of my best friends in her time of need, Melissa Jo White.

Please provide any help you can to Melissa Jo and her family for the increasing medical, travel, and hotel bills that are accumulating due to her illness.

Melissa Jo was diagnosed with appendix cancer in Feb 2019. Since then she has had 2 cancer surgeries, a mini stroke, 5 vertebral fractures, 2 back surgeries, 6 rounds of chemo & another cancer surgery on the calendar for February 17th. Her type of cancer is 1-2 per million.

In December 2021 Melissa and her husband traveled 4.5 hours to Allegheny (AHN) Cancer Institute in Pittsburgh PA for a consultation with Dr. David Bartlett, Chair of the AHN Cancer Institute. Dr. Bartlett is an internationally recognized cancer surgeon, he is a pioneer in abdominal cancer treatment and a dedicated, prolific researcher. A patient with this type of disease can only withstand 3 MOAS or “mother of all surgeries” in a lifetime. The surgery can last upwards of 10 hours! With an extensive recovery time. Melissa and Glenn feel confident that this man will “save her life”.

Details:  Disseminated peritoneal adenomucinosis initially diagnosed in Feb 2019. At the time of her initial presentation, she was evaluated for abdominal bloating and her work-up was consistent with a large cystic mass thought to be arising from right adnexa. She underwent ex-lap BSO, hysterectomy, appendectomy, and infracolic omentectomy with final pathology revealing low grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm. Given her findings, patient was evaluated by Dr. Skitzi (at RPCI) and she underwent cytoreduction (removal of falciform and round ligament of the liver, greater omentectomy, open cholecystectomy, splenectomy, stripping of right and left hemi-diaphragm) + HIPEC with mitomycin in May 2019. . her course was complicated with a TIA and fractured T5-T6-T7 (s/p kyphoplasty) and She had been under active surveillance since. However, in December 2020, her surveillance scans were concerning for increased size of multiple low attenuating lesions throughout the peritoneum and mesentery consistent with disease progression. The patient recovered adequately until 2/2021 when she was noted to have possible recurrence for which she was started on FOLFOX. She completed her treatment in 4/2021. She was recently evaluated by Dr. Skitzi who reviewed her imaging studies. Her case was reviewed at tumor board and the recommendation was to proceed with CRS/HIPEC. (Surgery)