Melanie B Villafana - a wonderful sister, friend, mentor, mom, wife, daughter, entrepreneur… an absolutely beautiful person. She was diagnosed with a rare bile duct cancer six and a half years ago. She fought. She fought HARD.

For those of us who knew Melanie, her loss hurts. For those of us fortunate enough to call her friend, her loss is crushing. For those who were blessed enough to call her family, her loss is devastating!

Melanie fought with everything in her. She was an active participant in her treatments - taking on chemo, radiation, Y90, surgeries. And then tackling all of that again, for years. She rolled with the punches and tried again. Sadly, cancer is an @-hole.

Her loving and courageous family and friends are heartbroken. This loss is just too much! More than that, her family must now figure out how to move forward. She was a force - she worked tirelessly to support and encourage and organize her family and her businesses. The one person her family turned to for the help and encouragement needed to get through hard times was Melanie. And now she is gone.

Here is how we can help. Please, if you are able, consider making a donation for the family to help defer the upcoming expenses & the already waiting bills. If you are not in a place to do so, please consider sharing this fundraiser! Maybe you know more of the folks Mel and her family know than I do! Or maybe your family or friends will be moved to help a family completely crushed by this six-plus year battle against this awful cancer.

Arrangements are pending. I will update with that information as it becomes available.