Help Mel's road to recovery from Ovarian cancer

My name is Marti, and I am fundraising for one of my most favorite humans! Melanie Marshall has been a best friend of mine (and many) for over 10 years. If you have ever been blessed to know Mel, you will know she is one of the kindest, most thoughtful people you could have in your life.

So it has been hard to watch the hand she's been dealt the past few years.

Melanie’s health had been out of sorts. At the beginning of this year, with numerous doctor appointments and no relief, she went to the ER at Rush University Medical Center in March and was admitted for 4 days. After having drained fluid from her abdomen and running a battery of tests, the doctors found that she had ovarian cancer. She was scheduled for extensive surgery to remove several malignancies, which were widespread among her reproductive organs and surrounding areas. After surgery to remove what malignancies they could, they put her through radiation, and she had just recently finished her chemotherapy treatments. Melanie has a long road to recovery.

Being out of work through the pandemic and throughout this year, she had fallen behind on rental payments, even though she was able to catch up on most of the arrears and had been a reliable tenant for five years. Melaine will lose her home at the end of this month (October 30th). After losing her mother a few years ago to brain cancer, Mel does not have much family she can reach out to stay with here in Chicago.

With chemo and court now behind her, Melanie would like to focus on her health, moving forward and regaining stability in her life.

“These past several years have been surreal; I am beyond grateful to still be here."

Please help! ! All funds will go towards her medical bills and securing housing for herself while she regains her strength.