UPDATE - Mel has had a challenging 24hrs. Yesterday afternoon Mel’s temperature had escalated very quickly. Mel was moved to another part of the hospital for better care.

At around 11 pm her condition went from stable to critical within minutes.

Mel’s blood pressure had decreased to critically low and a cardiac team were ready to take action. Mel has Sepsis. I nearly lost my best friend last night. Thank you to the team of doctors working on her, exceptional care she’s receiving at Greenslopes Private Hospital. Please say a private prayer for her recovery.

UPDATE ON MEL - It has been 8 weeks since she was admitted into hospital. What a rollercoaster she has been on.

Earlier in the week Mel attended an appointment at the PA Spinal Unit in Brisbane and now has been diagnosed with Cauda Equina Syndrome.

Cauda equina syndrome is a condition that occurs when the bundle of nerves below the end of the spinal cord known as the cauda equina is damaged.

Mel is still at the Rehab Unit at Greenslopes Private. Unfortunately Mel has lost the ability to control of her bladder and bowel and is currently learning to manage this new disability.

Thank you again for the support you have given Mel and Ben at this very difficult time. If you haven’t already or wished to reshare, please do.

UPDATE ON MEL - It has been 4 weeks since Mel went into hospital and she has had 2 major spinal surgeries. Mel will be moved to Rehab sometime this week to strengthen her muscles so she is able to walk again without assistance.

I cannot thank you enough for all your generosity towards Mel.

My name is Jenny, and I’m hoping and praying that you find in your heart to help this cause for my friend. Medical bills, medical aids, rehabilitation and physiotherapy all come at a cost. I would just love to take some stress from her life so Mel can concentrate on healing and getting better.

True friendship is one of the greatest blessings that one is lucky enough to experience in a lifetime. I feel privileged to have this relationship with my beautiful Mel.

When I first met Mel, I was struck by her evident love for life. And I'm sure everyone who knows Mel knows she is a kind, generous, selfless, giving individual. And her love for her family, friends, and patients is evident in everything she does.

Mel’s life has been very difficult over the last couple of years with having one medical problem after another, but she always puts on a brave face and gets on with her day and continues to help others making sure everyone needs are meet before hers.

I never thought I would see the day that her smile would be turned upside down and look so beaten and defeated.

Mel had pelvic surgery in April this year. This was supposed to be the last one for this area. In Mel’s bad luck she developed a rare complication from this surgery. Pudendal nerve entrapment (PNE) this is a rare chronic pelvic pain condition that occurs when the pudendal nerve is compressed or trapped. This condition has been a nightmare, pain which is unimaginable to understand and the devastation that she doesn’t have the ability to sit in a car or just a simple chair at a table to eat a meal. Then last week Mel was admitted into hospital to find a solution to her pelvic pain and she was hit again, this one has crushed her.

Mel underwent emergency spinal surgery on Tuesday and with Mel’s bad luck her disk had calcified onto her sacral nerves which has caused permanent damage and weakness in her left leg. Unfortunately, the calcification was intensive and she will require additional surgery.

Mel will have a long road to recovery and I am asking for your help to have compassion for this beautiful friend of mine. I want her to concentrate on her recovery and not stress about paying bills, so please help me with aiding Mel with whatever spare change you may have. She will require medical aids to walk, toilet, shower, adjustment in the home, daily physiotherapy, additional cost for surgery and to help while she rehabilitate to eventually returning to work.