Support Jane's Battle Against Stage 4 Melanoma and LMD

My name is Vanessa and I am asking for your help on behalf of my mom, Jane.

My mom has always been a strong, independent person. I remember being young and watching her fix, move, build and create. If something needed to be done, she figured out how to do it herself.

Over this past year independence has gotten more challenging for my mom. Lesions were discovered on her bones during a routine lung cancer screening. She underwent a PET scan which was inconclusive but indicated multiple lesions affecting her pelvis and spine. She underwent a needle biopsy followed by a bone marrow biopsy, both results indicated negative for cancer. Bones don't normally just grow multiple lesions so she was referred to Mayo clinic to an orthopedic oncologist. After traveling to Mayo and discussing the options, she opted to undergo an open biopsy on her hip. The surgeon removed a substantial portion of her bone and grafted in donor bone. This time, devastatingly, the results came back positive for cancer. Stage 4 metastatic melanoma. At any age this is a terrifying diagnosis, but especially at only 58 years old.

More testing revealed tumors on her femur, tibia and in her brain.

In a few short months she has undergone gamma knife radiation to her brain, several rounds of radiation on her hip and knee to help resolve unbearable pain due to a fractured tibial head and torn meniscus - complications of the bones being weakened by cancer. She's also undergone two immunotherapy rounds.

Unfortunately, the immunotherapy took a massive toll on her body and is currently on hold after a 4 day hospital admission for collitis, severe dehydration and decreased liver function.

My mom lives alone and her family and friends are doing everything they can to help support her in this time. Despite doctors insistence, she is still working as a postal clerk as much as she possibly can, which, admittedly isn't much. While she awaits the lengthy process of SSID application, bills are mounting, house payments are due and she needs our help.

We are hoping to raise enough money to convince her to stop working so that she can rest and focus on overcoming this devastating disease.

If Meal Train is more your style, here is a link: https://mealtrain.com/8737v2

We are eternally grateful for any help you're able to give.

Thank you.