Melanie is one of the most lovable people you will meet. On June 23, at 48 years young, she had an unavoidable quadruple bypass at Tallahassee Medical Center. It did not go well. Melanie and the medical teams in Tallahassee fought for her life in hopes of getting her transferred to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, where they felt she would have and still has the best chances for survival. On Friday, June 30, the surgeon at Shands said, "Chances of survival are slim."
With a lot of prayer, hope, and amazing medical teams, Melanie has overcome terrifying hurdles we feared would end her life. Today, doctors are talking about options, one of which includes a potential transplant. Because there is still hope and other organs are functioning, Melanie is currently being kept alive with an ECMO, a life-extending device. An ECMO serves as a bridge to a transplant or gives the heart a chance to rest and potentially recover. Transplants and follow-up care are incredibly expensive. A transplant alone is over a million dollars, not including follow-up care. Melanie's insurance will cover some portions, but we do not want costs vs. coverage to be an issue. Please contact us if you have any concerns.
We currently have an EIN through the IRS. A benefit account titled Medical Account for Melanie has been set up. Donations can be made at any United Bank location.
Melanie loves Chris, her kids, grandkids, family, and friends. We love her and will do all we can to give her a fighting chance and the many more years she wants and deserves.