#WongStrong - Help Mel Beat Cancer!

Life is so unpredictable and can change in the blink of an eye. The day before Thanksgiving we were celebrating the start of the holiday season. The day after, we received the devastating news that our 42-year-old sister, Melanie (Phillips) Wong has Stage 3 Metastatic Low-grade Serous Carcinoma, a rare type of ovarian cancer that spread to the peritoneum and omentum. On Friday, November 29, 2024 a 13cm tumor was removed and a partial omentectomy was performed.

Although she is still recovering from that surgery, Mel needs to start chemotherapy treatment immediately due to the aggressiveness of this type of cancer. She will have a port placed Friday, December 13, 2024 and will begin round 1 of chemo the following week. The current plan is to do 3 rounds of chemo and pause for a complete hysterectomy. She will then resume chemo followed by hormone therapy. All treatment will be at Hawaii Pacific Health-Pali Momi Cancer Center in Aiea, Oahu.

Mel will need to make frequent trips to Oahu in the coming year (every 21 days). She will also be on extended leave from her job as a Firearms Registration Clerk at Maui Police Department where she has worked for 12 years. As you can imagine this is all very overwhelming and the urgency makes things more complicated. For this reason, we are starting this GoFundMe to help alleviate the burden of costs for airfare, lodging, transportation, and medical expenses so that Mel and her family - Husband Randy, Skyler (23), Landon (20), Haeley Raine (13), and Maddyx Storme (8) - can concentrate on her treatment and recovery.

We know as the holidays approach funds may be limited but even a small donation can make a big difference. We appreciate you sharing Mel’s story and are grateful to everyone who has reached out so far. We would also appreciate your continued prayers as we help Mel fight cancer!

“We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.” #WongStrong