Liv Good and in memory of Melissa Gormley

Melissa Gormley learned she was pregnant with her daughter, Olivia, in January 2017. It was a surprise that she believed would be the start of the best year of her life. Three months later, she learned that she had cervical cancer that needed to be treated immediately or her life and the life of her daughter would be threatened. Melissa bravely underwent four rounds of chemotherapy during her pregnancy (I know!  We didn't know that was possible either). 

At 33 weeks, on July 24th, 2017 at 7:36am, Olivia was delivered via cesarean section.  It would be a little while before Melissa could meet her miracle daughter, though. First, the doctors had to perform a hysterectomy to remove the cancer.  

The following weeks and months were spent in the NICU as Olivia developed to "full term."  In those months, Olivia proved to be just as much of a fighter as her mom.  

After Olivia was discharged from the NICU and Melissa healed from her surgeries, Melissa started additional chemotherapy and radiation after learning the cancer had spread to surrounding tissue. 
Six weeks,  28 rounds of radiation and six rounds of chemo later, Melissa was free to continue healing and care for her infant daughter. 
The next 2 years brought so much joy as Dave and Melissa watched their daughter grow from tiny premie to a toddler-queen. 

Through all of it, Dave was (and still is) Melissa's rock and Olivia's wonderful daddy.  The radiation and chemo resulted in severe kidney damage requiring multiple hospital visits, renal stents, and various other interventions. But Melissa and Dave's strength, faith and loyalty to each other and to their family never wavered. 

That brings me to 4 weeks ago. 
On July 27th, 2019 Melissa was admitted to the hospital again for what she thought would just be a complication from the most recent kidney stent she had placed (something she had unfortunately gotten quite used to dealing with). A week later, after every test you can imagine and high doses of IV antibiotics, she learned instead that the cancer had metastasized to her colon. News that obviously left us all breathless. 
On August 21st, she had a PET scan to determine the extent to which the cancer had spread. 

24 hours later, I sit here, next to my best friend, waiting anxiously for the news. 
There is little to nothing that anyone can do in these situations except pray for the best case scenario.  So while I've been praying for the past 3 years, I've decided that the next thing we can do is try to extinguish at least a small bit of the financial burden that this has put on Melissa and Dave. 
Melissa and Dave had a wedding date set for next year. With this turn of events, they have postponed this date due to financial obligations of her medical treatment.  My hope is that through this fundraiser we can alleviate the debt from all of the treatments, hospital stays, medical bills, etc. so that they can focus on their wedding and future together.  A future that I pray will be cancer-free and instead filled with love, laughter and a crazy-cute toddler aptly named, Liv Good. 

A lot of people have asked how they can help.  First--please pray--fervently and daily, for healing and peace.  Second---if you are able, a donation to support Melissa and Dave would be appreciated more than you know.  The outpouring of love they have received is amazing.  And for them, that is enough.  But I would like to do more and I know many of you agree. 
I will keep everyone posted on how things progress, with permission from Melissa and Dave.  I will speak for them when I say thank you, endlessly, for your love and support.