Support Melody's Journey to a New Heart

My name is Corey. My family and I are raising funds for my beautiful, smart, sassy and incredibly strong niece, Melody. Melody was recently placed on the heart transplant list as she continues to battle a heart condition. She has fought this battle since she was born, just 15 short years ago.

Towards the end of 2008, my sister, Melissa, told us all that she was expecting a second child. We were thrilled to welcome another baby into our extended family. A few months into her pregnancy, Melissa went for a routine ultrasound. That’s when those words came.

“There’s something wrong with the baby.”

The next few months were a whirlwind of doctor’s appointments, tough discussions and preparations. We all tried desperately to understand what Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) was. In medical terms, it meant that the left side of her heart was extremely underdeveloped, from her mitral value to the aortic arch and ventricle. For those of us who don’t really understand medical terms, the left side of her heart was almost completely missing.

As we all worked to grasp what was happening, Melissa’s incredible strength shown through. In between dealing with her own heartbreak and trying to answer all our questions, Melissa also had to break the news to her other young daughter, Arianna. I cannot imagine having this conversation with your child. Somehow, Melissa did it.

We would soon learn all the other things that HLHS meant. It meant that immediately after birth, Melissa would have only a brief moment to see Melody. Instead of holding her newborn daughter, Melissa would only be able to watch as a team of doctors and nurses quickly moved Melody to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

For the next 5 days, Melody would remain sedated and heavily medicated until her first open-heart surgery. This surgery went well, and we were already beginning to see Melody’s incredible strength. While we cautiously breathed a sigh of relief, we knew this was only the beginning.

The multitude of medications continued after she was discharged from the hospital. Not only was Melissa caring for a newborn but a newborn with a very complicated medical condition.

Then, at only 6 months old, Melody went in for her second open-heart surgery. For the second time in only 6 months, the world stood still, and we all held our breath. Once again, the surgery went well!

As you would expect, the medications continued, the tests continued, and a cautious normalcy set in. Melody grew as any toddler would, finding her voice and developing an intense curiosity about the world around her. Despite the battle she found herself in, she was constantly smiling. That incredible smile continues to this day.

When she turned 5 years old, it was time for yet another open-heart surgery. Once again, everyone’s world stopped until the doctor walked through the door. Another successful surgery! With tears in our eyes, we could breathe again.

Shortly after this surgery, Melody was diagnosed with Protein Losing Enteropathy (PLE). PLE is the excessive loss of blood proteins through the GI tract. This meant even more medications for an already complicated medicine regimen.

Over the next several years, Melody’s condition was relatively controlled by a slew of medications and close monitoring. She grew into a beautiful, compassionate, strong young lady. She developed a love for dance, a love for animals and a love for her family.

Despite all the school she has had to miss for doctor’s appointments and procedures, she has continued to work incredibly hard and succeed in her studies. At the end of last year, as she was graduating from middle school, she was awarded the “Keep Showing Up” award, recognizing the incredible effort she has put forth to maintain her schoolwork.

After many years of relative normalcy, an illness in August of 2023 triggered liver issues. Another illness in December of 2023 further complicated her liver issues. Her legs and stomach began to swell. Even with the pain she was experiencing, she still maintained that beautiful smile. Then came all the testing.

The morning I answered a call from my sister and heard “Melody has cancer” is a morning I will never forget. As an uncle, I simply couldn’t process this. I cannot even begin to imagine what it was like for my sister to hear this about her little girl.

The doctors said that she would need both a heart and a liver transplant. Due to the complexity of the operations, her care was turned over to Pittsburgh from Rochester. Multiple trips to Pittsburgh and nearly endless testing confirmed that she would need a new heart but determined that she did not have liver cancer. Nonetheless, they found multiple lesions on her liver and stated that she is slowly entering liver failure.

As of right now, she has been placed on the heart transplant list as one of the highest priorities. The doctors have indicated that the liver will begin to slowly heal itself after the new heart is in place and she will likely not need a liver transplant.

With Melody officially on the heart transplant list, all we can do now is wait. As we wait, we are very well aware of the family on the other side of the transplant. The heartbreak they will be going through is simply incomprehensible. There are no words to express the gratitude and respect we have for the family that chooses to donate so that Melody may live.

When the call comes in that a heart is ready, Melissa and Melody will have to very quickly get to Pittsburgh. Melissa, the primary breadwinner, will be out of work for at least 3 months to care for Melody. Additionally, the out-of-pocket costs have already begun to stack up.

With this financial burden in mind, I very humbly ask you to donate if you can, to share this link wherever you can, and to keep Melody in your thoughts and prayers.