If you know me, you know that asking for help has never come easily. I’ve always been the caregiver and the person who tries to be there for everyone else. Today, though, I have to admit that I can’t do this alone.

I was recently diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic melanoma.

What began as melanoma on the bottom of my foot two years ago has since spread to both my lungs and my brain. While recent scans have shown encouraging signs that some of the lung tumors are stable or even shrinking, I still have a long road ahead. Every bit of progress feels like a victory, but this fight is far from over.

I’m currently undergoing combination immunotherapy, one of the most aggressive treatments available for melanoma. While this treatment offers hope, it has also brought serious complications. In recent weeks, I developed severe immune-related side effects that caused significant gastrointestinal inflammation, dehydration, pancreatic irritation, and respiratory inflammation. My medical team has had to delay some of my immunotherapy infusions while working to control these complications with high-dose steroids and close monitoring, hopefully allowing my body time to recover before continuing the fight.

Cancer doesn’t just affect your health—it touches every part of your life.

Between specialist appointments, scans, infusions, medications, laboratory work, and unexpected emergency visits, the medical expenses continue to grow. There are also costs for travel, time away from work, and everyday living expenses that don’t stop simply because you’re fighting cancer.

Through all of this, I’ve tried to remain hopeful. I celebrate every encouraging scan, every good day, and every small victory. I continue to believe that this treatment can give me more time and more memories with the people I love.

This isn’t the first time cancer or a serious illness was has changed my life.

Several years ago, I lost my beautiful daughter, Faith, at the age of 18, after a lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis and a double lung transplant. Watching her face unimaginable challenges with such tremendous grace, strength, and determination taught me what courage and faith really looks like. Even on her hardest days, she found reasons to smile, to love, and to keep going. She fought hard to live the life she wanted to live in spite of her circumstances. She continues to inspire me every single day.

Now it’s my turn to fight with that same determination.

This fundraiser is intended to help cover not only current medical expenses, but also the ongoing financial impact of living with Stage IV metastatic melanoma, including treatment-related costs, imaging, medications, lost income from frequent appointments and immunotherapy side effects, and the many unforeseen expenses that accompany long-term cancer care.

If you’re able to help financially, no matter the amount, I would be deeply grateful. Every donation helps ease the financial burden so I can focus my energy where it belongs—on healing.

If giving isn’t possible, sharing this fundraiser with your family, friends, and social networks is another meaningful way to support me.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your kindness, your prayers, your encouragement, and your support. Knowing I’m not fighting this battle alone means more than words can express.

Cancer is part of my story, but it is not my whole story. I’m still a mom, a nana, a girlfriend, dog mom, a friend, competitive pool player, vocalist and someone who believes there are still many beautiful chapters left to write. Thank you for walking beside me in this journey and helping me strive toward keeping that story going! ♥️

With sincere gratitude,

Susan