Support Melissa's Liver Cancer Journey

Hello everyone!

My name is Ariella (Melissa's best friend) and I am putting together this campaign to help support Melissa’s Liver Cancer Journey. Melissa is a woman who constantly and happily gives all of herself to animals and others. She works for a non-profit organization as a wildlife rehabber and helps orphaned and injured wildlife. She is a daughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend. Mel (as I call her) is funny, witty and a hero with no cape. She is a beautiful person who deserves to live the best life possible. Mel has overcome many obstacles in life to be who she is today – a fighter. She also fights a chronic illness, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease as well as having a fused spine due to the severity of her scoliosis. Melissa’s diagnosis of Liver cancer came as a complete shock to all of us. Hepatocellular Carcinoma has taken her world by storm emotionally, physically, and financially. It is an honor to be able to help someone who continues to inspire us all with her fight, strength and determination to not let anything stop her. Below is a letter from Melissa to all of you:

"Getting a cancer diagnosis at 37 has been an overwhelming emotional roller coaster. I am no stranger to doctors and appointments as for many years I have been a scoliosis soldier and a Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease warrior but now I am navigating a whole new level of being strong that is completely new and foreign to me. I never expected in a million years that the routine CT scans I get to check my old spinal fusion would lead to "we see a shadow on your liver", further testing where drs said "It's probably nothing" to finally getting a biopsy "just to make sure" and reading that report that confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma aka liver cancer. My body went numb and I lost it.

Some days I still break down and others I just want to spread awareness that cancer can happen at any age. Doctors think that mine is a complication of long term birth control pill use (which I have now stopped taking).

However, the most humbling and emotional part of this journey is learning how many people truly care for me and want to help in some way. For me, I have always been a caregiver to humans and animals alike, helper and friend, but I have always had trouble accepting care from others or asking for help. I thank my best friends for encouraging me to do this and for making this for me.

Many people want to know what I need and I want to start out by saying your kind words, stories and well wishes already meant SO MUCH to me and has affected me tremendously.

The part of this journey making me the most anxious is honestly the ability to pay for travel costs (gas driving to and from extra appointments across states) medical expenses not covered by insurance (ie: deductibles, copays, and max out-of-pocket costs) and food/self-care costs when the mental and emotional exhaustion makes it hard to care or cook for myself.

Even if you cannot give at this time I would greatly appreciate it if you could share my story." -Melissa

Thank you so much for caring!

-Ariella