Stand by Melissa: Health Struggles

Since the end of October 2024, our friend and co-worker, Melissa Norman, has been off work due to compounding health issues. She initially took off for surgery, expecting to be back at work shortly after. However, this surgery had to be postponed due to high blood pressure that soon became uncontrollable. In trying to determine what was causing this, the doctors found that Melissa had a brain aneurysm and atherosclerosis, which is a thickening or hardening of the arteries and congestive heart failure. Because of this, she had to have a stent placed in her heart and is waiting to have a stent placed in her neck. At this time, the aneurysm has been clipped off.

Melissa tried returning to work, unfortunately, the issue with her high blood pressure has yet to be resolved. Housekeeping is very physical and strenuous work. It demands a lot of the body. In an average workday, a housekeeper may only be off their feet for twenty to thirty minutes for lunch. A housekeeper changs their body positons every three seconds, i.e., bending, reaching, kneeling, and so on.

No matter how much she wanted to return to work, there was no way she could continue through the workday with the unresolved blood pressure issue. She once again had to take time off work.

If all of that wasn't stressful enough, she has since developed a lung infection. She now has a laundry list of dotor appointments to address the ongoing blood pressure issue as well as the lung infection. Even when all of that is resolved, she will still need to have the original surgery that has been postponed due to all of her other health issues.

Melissa is a dedicated worker and a dear friend. It breaks our heart to see her sruggle health-wise and financially. We have done as much as we can. At this point, Melissa has been off work for five months. She has done all she can, but the bills are falling behind and now she worries about paying rent and keeping her home.

We ask that if you are able to give, any amount would be whole heartedly appreciated. If you cannot, please share this with others.

Thank you for taking the time to read! From ALL of her friends and co-workers.