On January 24th, two days after Melanie’s 62nd birthday, her life was turned upside down. She woke up only to be met with the inability to walk or to stop the spinning of the room. Not knowing what was happening, Dan called 911 and she was taken to Tri-State for evaluation. The news was, and still is, shocking and heartbreaking. Melanie and Dan learned within hours that she has a glioblastoma in her thalamus, this is a cancerous brain tumor in the deepest portion of her brain. She was seen within a week of initial diagnosis by a neurologist who confirmed that this was, in fact, a glioblastoma, and performed subsequent biopsies to determine best treatment options. The location of the cancer is inoperable, the risk versus reward has made it so that her only course of action is radiation and chemotherapy to reduce the size and the progression of the tumor. This began on March 1st. With this treatment, we hope that Melanie’s quality of life can be improved while she fights this battle and that she can be in the optimal position to begin a clinical trial should one become available to her. As if a glioblastoma isn’t enough for someone to have on their plate, Melanie has been battling eye complications that has led to a detached retina with emergency surgery and subsequent surgeries to help maintain her vision. She has many battles and she is fighting hard to win all of them. Anyone who knows Melanie, knows that she is full of life, she radiates positivity and love. She has dedicated many years of her life to helping children in the Lewiston and Clarkston Valley as a Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant within the local school districts and with private practice. If she didn’t touch your life through her work as an SLP assistant, then perhaps you have had the chance to hear her sing. She was blessed with golden pipes and can belt out any song in front of her. Though she is proud of her accomplishments with local kids as an SLP assistant and gets so much joy from singing with her band(s), her biggest joy is her family. To the littles in her life, she is “Gramma Melly,” she is the grandmother that every child should have, the love she has for her grandchildren is immeasurable. Through treatment, her time with her family will be different, this is the most challenging aspect of the chemotherapy and radiation. Dan and Melanie are the last people to ask for help but the first to lend a hand to those in need. As you can imagine, this fight with cancer will be costly and arduous. In times like this, it feels like there is not much we can do; what we can do, is help ease the financial burden. If you can and are able to do so, please consider a donation or sharing this page. Melanie and everyone that loves her could use your thoughts, prayers, and good vibes. This woman gives so much, it’s our turn to give back. Sincerely, The Family and Friends of Melanie.