Helping Melissa Heal

We are hopeful you will consider donating to this campaign to assist with Melissa's costly medical expenses. Triple negative breast cancer (T2N2), stage three, are heartbreaking words, but Mel's fighting spirit and sense of humour continue to elevate and inspire.

Canada's healthcare system will cover her chemotherapy treatment, but it will not cover the burden of other medical expenses like the medications she has been prescribed to take after chemotherapy and it goes on. As you can imagine, this can be stressful at a time when she needs to focus on healing. So we hope the funds raised can help cover these expenses so she can stop worrying about work and money and focus her energy on healing instead.

Mel will begin her treatment journey in Toronto from her current home of Sydney, Australia. She hopes to return to Sydney for surgery and radiation and perhaps a clinical trial. It all depends on how she responds to the chemotherapy.

As many of you know, Melissa has devoted her life to great causes most notably a long tenure at the UN in Bangkok working to prevent human trafficking in South East Asia, and most recently working on child protection advocacy and programming for a major international NGO in Sydney, Australia. She is a leader in her field and a true global citizen with friends all over the world. Her infectious laughter, sharp mind, kindness, loyalty, and generosity endear her to people - old and young alike. She is auntie to so many friends' children it's uncountable. As Melissa navigates these unchartered waters, we've never seen her waver once. She is pragmatic and strong-willed and her laughter carries all of us through this journey. She is a special woman with awe-inspiring bravery.  

All that know and love Melissa, can appreciate her indomitable spirit and joie de vie that brings the brightest sunshine to everyone's day. 

Thank you for considering a donation.