Loving, strong, hilarious, resilient: some words that immediately come to mind when I think of my amazing cousin Melissa, with so many more that could describe the incredible person she is. She and her husband, Joe, have built a beautiful life together and are incredible parents to their two daughters, Aria and Lucia. Unfortunately, Melissa is facing devastating health challenges and needs all the support we can give her.

At the end of 2025, Melissa was diagnosed with Stage 3 Endometrial Cancer that spread to her ovaries, fallopian tubes, and diaphragm. She quickly began her journey to beating this cancer the day after Christmas, undergoing an extensive surgery. Her staging has just been completed, and she will be meeting with the medical oncologist to set up her consult for her port so she can begin chemo at the beginning of February. Melissa has already been through so much, and despite the difficult things to come, her positivity is admirable!

There is no doubt that Melissa is going to absolutely kick cancer’s ass, but she needs all the support she can get to help her on this journey! Melissa deserves to be as stress-free as possible during this time so she can focus on her treatment and her beautiful family. If you are able to donate, share, or simply hold Melissa in your thoughts and prayers, it would be deeply appreciated. Your kindness, love, and support mean more than words could ever express.

Thank you for supporting Melissa, Joe, Aria, and Lucia during this difficult time!