Jeselle a 33 year old mother of 4, currently has Stage 4 Metastatic Mucosal Melanoma (Brain Cancer) which has spread throughout her body. She was diagnosed last year June 2020, within few weeks she was scheduled for invasive surgery to remove the tumor and initially it was successful with hopes that a cocktail of chemotherapy and radiation would keep it at bay or provide a remission status. Unfortunately this treatment proved to be unsuccessful as were the multiple brain surgeries and treatments that followed. This has been an extensive and expensive fight. I started this campaign in hopes to possibly find alternative care,  alleviate some of the stress and burden (financial mental and physical) that has been placed on her mother and family, and if all else fails provide aftercare for her 4 children. Anything is greatly appreciated and if you cant no worries, thanks for viewing and sharing.   The full story is available to view below. 








On June 15, 2020, I received a devastating call from my 33 – year, old daughter Jeselle, a single mother of 4 living on her own in California. My 4 grandchildren’s ages range from 6 months to 14 yrs. Jeselle stated, “they said I have a brain tumor”. Those 7 words were the worse words I ever heard. As a Registered Nurse with more than 20 years of experience and a Bachelor’s degree in Science, I had heard those words many times but when they came from my own daughters mouth my knees buckled, and nothing but sorrow flooded my mind as I knew the pathway she was headed if she wanted to fight this insidious monster called Metastatic Mucosal Melanoma.

 

The next day, I packed my luggage and drove from Las Vegas, Nevada to San Bernardino California. When I saw Jeselle, she was very thin, visibly weak, and presented with a massive headache. She and I were to see the Oncologist for the first time after the diagnosis to see what options she had to treat the Mucosal Melanoma. As we began to walk from the parking structure to the medical offices Jeselle suddenly loss the use of her legs and had to be taken the rest of the way by wheelchair. Dr Lau informed us that the stage 4 tumor was the size of a tennis ball and had to be removed immediately and she had a 5% chance of survival. He also stated if she declined the brain surgery she would surely pass and very soon. Jeselle chose to accept the brain surgery and we were confident that God would pull her through. After a 10- hour surgery, 90% of the tumor had been removed and Jeselle recovered very well. After 1 month and several MRI’s, CT Scan’s and PET Scan’s, 3 more cancerous tumors were found in her brain, many were found on her liver and many were found on her spine. This was the beginning of the fight for her life against this insidious monster named Metastatic Mucosal Melanoma.

 

The next 12 months Jeselle endured 12 acute hospitalizations from the side effects of the treatments meant to fight off the cancer. There were multiple 3rd degree burns inside and outside of her body from the radiation treatments, uncontrollable pain from the cancer invading her body, a pulmonary embolism, nausea/vomiting and widespread blood infections caused by the chemotherapy. She endured 2 more brain surgeries that required her skull to be opened from ear to ear and then, replaced with tiny screws. The flap did not seal, so Jeselles’ head swelled to the size of a basket ball and had to have the fluid withdrawn by inserting a large bore needle several times.

On September 1, 2021, the brain tumor came back and grew so big, it robbed Jeselle of her eyesight. Jeselle was told by a team Neurosurgeons and Oncologists that Jeselle was no longer a candidate for any other treatments to fight the Mucosal Melanoma. They stated her body was too weak for any more surgery, she had received the maximum amount of radiation that could be administered and the immune/Chemotherapy was not working. On October 23, 2021, Jeselle was placed on Hospice care at home to spend her last days/weeks/months with her 4 Children and family members. Jeselles pain is being controlled with 2-50 mg patches of Fentenyl and Morphine drops as needed for excruciating pain and she is so weak that she sleeps 20 hours per day.

 

The year before she was diagnosed with Metastatic Mucosal Melanoma, Jeselle was a hard-working, lively, loving mother of 4 who brightened the room when she walked in. She cared for Elderly Citizens in their own homes on a part time basis. She graduated from High School in San Bernardino and was planning to return to College to finish getting her Associates Degree. After her diagnosis, Life Insurance was sought but over 20 insurance companies turned her away. When it is her time, she will leave 4 children who will need and receive love and care from Jeselles family members. Donations for services and her Children’s needs are needed and are greatly appreciated.