My name is Katie and I’m putting up this fundraiser to help a friend that is near and dear to my heart. She’s recently been diagnosed with stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma with spread in 3 lymph nodes adjacent to her left breast. She’s self-employed, and so unfortunately, while undergoing treatment, she’s not going to have any income coming in.

If you don’t know her already, my friend's name is Melody. She’s the owner of Wine on Wheels LLC. For my friends and family reading this, she’s the woman that brought one of her mobile bars and bartended my wedding. She would do anything for a friend or even a stranger. After the hurricanes Helene and Milton, she drove all over the place gathering up supplies and dispersing them to anyone in need that she could. She was on social media asking people if they needed help and did everything she could for everyone…strangers and friends alike. This is the kind of person Melody is. She’s got a heart bigger than anyone I have ever met. This is our opportunity to return the favor; so please, if you can help at all, even if it’s just $5, it would be appreciated more than I can even tell you.

This diagnosis was a shock to all of us. Here’s the timeline, and the way the universe blessed her to find the cancer before it got worse than it already is:

9/20/24. How we found "it"

While volunteering for an event supporting those impacted by breast cancer, Melody received a donated mammogram.

11/23/24

Diagnosed: Stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma with spread in 3 lymph nodes adjacent to her left breast.

Now, as she faces this journey, she needs help in a lot of different ways. One way she needs help is financially. The out-of-pocket medical expenses are already piling up and she will need funds to help pay her bills. There are also many treatments not covered by insurance.

It’s vitally important that she have the ability to remain calm and centered as she navigates this path. Knowing that she is supported financially will help her immeasurably.