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Melanie’s Story

Site created on October 11, 2018

Welcome to my CaringBridge website. This time cancer really has it in for me, but I'm tough and have everything to live for, so I'm fighting hard. I appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. If you are also able to help me with the costs of this fight, you are my answered prayers. Thank you.

One of my friends wrote the info below to help my new friends and people who don't know me yet to understand what the past ten years have been like, and what I'm going through right now. Those of you who know me know that I'm not really a writer, and I'm not always comfortable sharing the private stuff, but people can't help or pray for you if they don't know what's going on. So here it is, in my friend's words.

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Anyone who doesn't know Mel yet, you've been missing out. She's got a heart of gold, a sense of humor that can make you pee your pants, and an infectious laugh. I love her, obviously. She's one of my favorite people. She's also had to go through some incredibly hard stuff in life. I'm just going to write about her fight with cancer, here.

Mel: 1, Cancer: 0.
The first time she battled cancer was ten years ago. She was 35 with a toddler and holding down a full-time job. Somehow she managed to make that fight look easy—but it was the bravest thing I’ve ever witnessed. Her daughter Maddie was too young to understand what was at stake but we all know a child growing up without her mom isn’t the future we want for anyone. Everyone celebrated with Mel when she got the “all clear” remission news.

Mel: 2, Cancer: 0.
A few years later, cancer tried to make a comeback but Mel fought harder—going with a complete double mastectomy, more chemo treatments, needles and medications, tests and scans, and many biopsies. It’s been nearly four years of celebrating life as it should be with Mel since her second battle.

Mel Today: Fighting Hard.
Daughter Maddie is now 14 and loves to bake with her mother and to go shopping, or go to the zoo. Mel had a tough conversation with her last week about fighting against cancer once more. Mel’s spine, liver, and lung are now affected. Maddie’s old enough this time to be scared, but she’s handling the news just like her mom: she’s brave and hopeful that they’ll win this fight against cancer just like before.

It’s her hardest fight yet, please do everything possible to help this brave woman and mother.

Mel positively refuses to give up—there’s so much she still needs to do as a mother. She wants to see Maddie go to prom and to graduate high school. To help her navigate the teenage years, boyfriend tears. To love and to witness her daughter’s happiness and wellbeing that everyone wants for their children as they grow.

If somehow you personally didn’t know someone who’s suffered or is suffering because of cancer until this moment, now you do.

There’s much for Mel to do right now, and under incredible stress; it can be overwhelming without the support and help of others.

Thank you for reading this, and for showing Mel your support and love right now.

- C
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Newest Update

Journal entry by Melanie Hall — Oct 29, 2018

As of Friday, October 26, my Radiologist was able to get the SRS treatments approved (after being denied twice) and I will have three treatments starting this Wednesday, then Friday and next Monday. That should conclude radiation, YAY!
I am fortunate that through my job's Specialty Pharmacy, I will be able to get Xeloda for $67 monthly verses the ACS price of $794.
I meet with Oncology on November 9th and will start receiving Zometa infusions which will help repair damage to my spine and I will begin taking the Xeloda as well.
I will be getting Genetic Testing completed the first week of 2019 and if I have the BRCA mutation, I will mostly like have a total hysterectomy completed.
I have been doing great with my new diet plan. I do not consume breads, pasta, sugars or red meat. Surprisingly, it was not a difficult change. I am very thankful for some new cookbooks I received (Gretch, you're awesome because I was overwhelmed looking at cookbooks and went home empty handed) that have many amazing recipes I can't wait to try.
I know everything is moving forward in the right direction due to everyone's good thoughts, prayers, positive vibes and love. I am blessed and grateful beyond words!

Read More of the journal titled "Good news"

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