Glioblastoma Support
Donation protected
Melissa dedicated her career as a Public Defender to providing legal protection to our society's most vulnerable citizens. In May of 2016, shortly after her 40th birthday, she had a seizure in the courthouse lockup, which led to the discovery of a 2.5cm glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumor in her left frontal lobe.
GBM is one of the most aggressive types of brain cancer and no cure is currently known. Since then she has endured two brain surgeries to remove cancerous tissue and two rounds of radiation therapy. She is not a good candidate for the standard chemotherapy so she's undergone an experimental immunotherapy treatment and another experimental treatment targeting specific molecular markers in the tumor. Unfortunately both were unsuccessful.
She is now receiving what many consider to be drug of last resort, the chemotherapy drug Avastin. It works well but typically only for a few months in most patients.
She is in good spirits and continues beating the odds, but she suffered a second, very severe seizure while pursuing her bucket list. This required her to be medically evacuated from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Her travel insurance covers only a fraction of the cost of the $36,000+ expenses and her medical escort back to the USA. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.
GBM is one of the most aggressive types of brain cancer and no cure is currently known. Since then she has endured two brain surgeries to remove cancerous tissue and two rounds of radiation therapy. She is not a good candidate for the standard chemotherapy so she's undergone an experimental immunotherapy treatment and another experimental treatment targeting specific molecular markers in the tumor. Unfortunately both were unsuccessful.
She is now receiving what many consider to be drug of last resort, the chemotherapy drug Avastin. It works well but typically only for a few months in most patients.
She is in good spirits and continues beating the odds, but she suffered a second, very severe seizure while pursuing her bucket list. This required her to be medically evacuated from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Her travel insurance covers only a fraction of the cost of the $36,000+ expenses and her medical escort back to the USA. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.
Organizer
Melissa Toddy
Organizer
Wethersfield, CT
