Help Tiffany Fight Stage 4 Melanoma Cancer & Create Memories

Help Tiffany Fight Stage 4 Melanoma Cancer While Creating Unforgettable Memories

Hi, my name is Nicole, and I’m reaching out to you on behalf of my amazing sister, Tiffany Lee Macri; Lee being named short after our Grandfather Leon, a Navy veteran who loved to sing Italian music. Tiffany is a 37-year-old New Yorker, with a heart as big as her sense of humor. She’s tough, loud, funny, and has always been the life of the party. She takes great pride in her Italian heritage and loves preparing traditional Italian dishes passed down from our ancestors to share with family and friends. But right now, she’s in the fight of her life—and we’re doing everything we can to help her through it.

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A Powerful Sisterly Bond

When we got the devastating news about Tiffany, my world felt like it was crumbling. I cried in my husband Joseph’s arms, sobbing, “I lost my mother—I can’t lose my sister.” Tiffany and I have always leaned on each other since the sudden and tragic loss of our mother, Donna, in August 2008. She was our world, and her unexpected passing was devastating. However, this profound loss not only strengthened us individually but also forged an unbreakable bond between us as sisters. She’s not just my sister; she’s my best friend, my other half, and the only person who truly understands me. With our dad living far away in Florida and unable to travel, we’ve always been each other’s rock. This is not just Tiffany’s fight—it’s our family’s fight, and we’re determined to give her every ounce of support and love she deserves.

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Tiffany’s Journey

Tiffany was first diagnosed with melanoma in 2016 while living in Sicily, Italy. She noticed an itchy mole on her back, and after testing, it turned out to be cancerous. Fortunately, it hadn’t spread at the time, and after removing the mole very deeply and her lymph nodes, regular check-ups became part of her life. She moved back to the U.S. in 2018 to live with my husband, Joseph, and me in Imperial Valley, California.

This year, in November 2024, her life took an unexpected turn. On December 1, It started with her feeling numbness and weakness in her foot when she woke up in the morning, followed by severe headaches and neck stiffness. Tiffany took herself to the ER at Pioneers Memorial Hospital in Brawley, CA., where doctors discovered 13 masses in her brain—one the size of an egg. She was airlifted to Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego that night. Further tests revealed that the melanoma had returned and spread to her brain, lungs, spleen, and liver; the numbness and weakness in her foot were due to a seizure she had while sleeping. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma with a BRAF mutation, a particularly aggressive form of the disease.

On December 3, surgeons at Scripps Mercy Hospital performed emergency brain surgery to remove the largest tumor. Tiffany is now recovering and preparing for radiation, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego.

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A Shared Struggle

Cancer is something that touches all of us. Whether we’ve faced it personally or watched a loved one fight it, we know the fear and uncertainty it brings. Rising cancer rates remind us how vulnerable we all are—whether it’s a diagnosis or even just a scare, cancer is something many of us carry in the back of our minds. Treatments have improved, and survival rates have risen for some cancers, but there is still no single cure. This is why your support means so much—not just to Tiffany, but to everyone fighting this relentless disease.

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

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Tiffany’s Strength

If you know Tiffany, you know she doesn’t let anything keep her down. Even now, while recovering from surgery, she’s cracking jokes, teasing her brother-in-law Joseph, and doing her best to stay strong for her family. She adores her nephew and Godson Raynor Leon (2 years old), named after our Grandfather, and her niece Miabella Donna (just 1 month old), named after our mother. As their Godmother and Aunt, she loves spending time with them, taking them to events, and showering them with love.

We know our mother is by our side and will help us get through this battle from Heaven. But deep down, we know this news has shaken her. She’s worried, scared, and facing the biggest challenge of her life. That’s why we’re here—to make sure she doesn’t face it alone.

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Her Dreams

Tiffany loves to cook her Italian dishes, travel, laugh, and enjoy life. Your support will not only help her fight this disease but also give her a chance to focus on what truly matters: spending time with loved ones and making unforgettable memories.

Christmas is a season of giving, and receiving a bit of help or a small miracle during this special time would truly be a blessing. Thank you all for your kindness and support. Please continue your prays during this time of struggle. With Faith and loving God we will get through this. Although this is hard time for us we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a blessed Holiday. God bless!

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How You Can Help

Your contribution, no matter the size, will make a huge difference in Tiffany’s life. Here’s how you can support:

1. Donate: Every dollar raised will go directly toward Tiffany’s medical expenses, including treatments, oncology appointments, transportation, and in-home nurse care. Since she will need to travel about two hours each way to San Diego for proper treatment, she will be staying with me during this time. However, my maternity leave is limited, making your support even more crucial and appreciated.

2. Share: Please share Tiffany’s story with your network to help us reach as many people as possible.

3. Send Love: Whether it’s a kind message or a simple prayer, your support means the world to us.

Even a $10 contribution can be part of something life-changing. Together, we can help Tiffany focus on healing and living her life to the fullest.

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Thank You

On behalf of Tiffany, our family, and everyone who loves her, thank you for taking the time to read her story. Your kindness and generosity will help her face this battle with strength and hope.

Let’s make sure Tiffany knows she’s not alone—and that she has a whole community rooting for her.