Melissa (Trusilo) Erickson's Lung Transplant

Melissa 'Mellie' Erickson lights up a room with her huge smile, infectious laugh, and bouncy curls. If you know Melissa, you cannot deny how her presence just makes your day better.

A selfless person, Melissa works as an occupational therapist, aiding those who need it most. Now it's our turn to help her.

As many of you may know, 43 year Melissa Erickson of New Smyrna Beach, was diagnosed with COVID 19 on April 5th of this year, after receiving the vaccine in December. Melissa was scared but optimistic about her chances of recovering and took care to rest and recover. Unfortunately, the disease quickly progressed into COVID pneumonia and she was hospitalized with pulmonary embolisms on April 23rd. After passing her breathing test, she was released on April 27th only to return on May 5th with a more aggressive form of COVID pneumonia, pulmonary embolisms and suffering a case of sepsis.

Over the next 3 1/2 weeks, Melissa was treated through proning, where Mel was placed face down for hours at a time, in an effort to move the fluid out of the lungs, high flow oxygen, and an aggressive treatment of medications. After her condition continued to deteriorate, Mellie was intubated and put on to a ventilator, and transferred to AdventHealth in Orlando where more resources were available. Once in ICU, Mellie's condition quickly worsened, and the decision to place Mellie on an ECMO machine was made to ultimately save her life.

Since June, Mellie has fought additional infections, suffered through several close calls, and has finally made it through to the other side. Mellie took her first steps in months on October 4th, where she walked 5 feet. Since then, Mellie has progressed to walking over 450 feet in one session- a true testament to her strong will and perseverance when so many would have given up. She has stunned the medical team with her will to live and her fortitude to persevere despite several medical set backs over the past 6 months.

The result of the COVID pneumonia and respiratory failure on Melissa’s lungs have forced her medical team to recommend Mellissa for a bilateral lung transplant, as soon as possible. Melissa has been flown to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where she continues to improve physically and where she awaits her new set of lungs.

We are fundraising to cover the foreseen medical cost associated with this journey as well as the travel and living expenses for her family, Carl and her mom Barb who have been with Mellie every single stay since this horrific disease started. Carl will stay with Mellie in Chicago traveling back and forth to Florida while her mom Barb stays with their beloved pups in their little beach town home in New Smyrna Beach. As you can imagine, the cost of this kind of travel compiled with the medical expenses our friends are experiencing has added a whole different layer of stress- a layer of stress that we don’t want them to feel the burden of. So many have sent gas cards and food for Carl during this time and he is eternally grateful for these gestures. We have started this fundraiser to aid in the long term anticipated expenses our friends will have.

Mellie is on the path to recovery and we are hopeful that soon, she will be back in her kitchen with her pups making her famous perogies and biking down to her favorite spot on the beach to watch the sunrise with the love of her life, Carl.

Thank you for your generosity. Please feel free to leave encouraging words of encouragement here for Mellie and her family to uplift their spirits and keep them feeling your love <3