Melanie was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) in November 2023, which is a rare cancer that affects your bone marrow and blood. This cancer prevents your body from creating normal blood cells and instead creates immature blood cells called blasts. These blasts can multiply uncontrollably and prevent the production of the blood cells your body needs to stay healthy and fight off infections.
Melanie began receiving treatment immediately after being diagnosed at Highlands Oncology in Fayetteville, AR. Highlands Oncology is a special place for Melanie because this is the oncology center that helped Melanie beat ovarian cancer twice before. That’s right, Melanie has been diagnosed and beat ovarian cancer twice – once in 2015 and again in 2020. After going into remission in 2015, Melanie decided to pursue a medical degree, hoping to one day work for the clinic where she received such great care. She graduated and began working for Highlands Oncology in 2016 as a Medical Assistant and, in 2019, moved to the Research Department. In 2021, she took a step back from full-time as she was again recovering and began working part-time for the Director as an Administrative Assistant.
This blood cancer is so complex. Melanie was referred to a team of specialists at UAMS in Little Rock, AR – about three hours away from home. These two teams created a treatment plan to help Melanie find a path to recovery.
Melanie has followed this rigorous treatment plan over the last several months, which has consisted of chemotherapy, infusions, pills, and injections to help build up bone marrow that had depleted from the chemo. During these last few months, Melanie has become transfusion dependent, commonly receiving a blood transfusion once, twice, and sometimes even three times a week to daily more recently. As you can imagine, Melanie was spending most of her waking hours either resting at home, at the oncology clinic receiving treatments, or at the hospital receiving blood and platelet transfusions.
After a follow-up appointment involving a bone marrow biopsy at UAMS in March, Melanie learned that her cancer had progressed. The chemotherapy has not reduced the percentage of blasts; instead, the blast count has increased so much that her cancer is now considered a form of leukemia called Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).
Melanie’s biopsy appointment was on March 21st, and her doctor called late that Saturday afternoon on March 23rd after receiving the pathology report. He spoke with urgency and stressed that they needed to try a more intensive form of chemotherapy to help slow the progression of her cancer. On March 25th, Melanie was admitted to inpatient care at UAMS in Little Rock, AR., where she continues to receive treatment and around-the-clock care.
The goal of this specialized treatment is to set her up for the next phase of beating this cancer, which is a bone marrow transplant. Melanie’s hemoglobin and platelet levels have been too low for her to receive a transplant, along with the elevated blast.
Today, Melanie remains positive that she can soon return home to continue her treatments and get the results she needs to move forward with the transplant. Her family is cheering her on from as close as her bedside to several miles away.
Those of you who know Melanie know she is a lover and a fighter, but most importantly – she’s a survivor. Melanie needs our support right now more than ever. The last ten years have been challenging for her emotionally, physically, mentally, and financially. Please consider supporting Melanie in any way possible.
Ideas for support include a message to her on her Caring Bridge page, a message on Facebook, or a monetary donation. She could use any of the above to help lift her spirit on the not-so-good days, keep her spirits high on the good days, or minimize the stress of not being able to work at this time. Your donations will help cover monthly bills and co-pays for her medications and treatments.
On behalf of Melanie and her family, we appreciate any support you choose to give.
We will continue to update this page as we have more information on her progress.
Thank you so much for taking the time to send her words of encouragement!
Melanie was released today from UAMS and is happy to be going home and sleep in her own bed tonight. She has been so positive and strong the past seven weeks, you would hardly believe she is going through what she is. As she anxiously awaits the phone call from MD Anderson in Houston, Highlands Oncology in Fayetteville will continue to manage her care giving her platelets, blood and antibiotics as needed.
Please continue to send Melanie positive thoughts and keep her in your prayers over the days ahead. We all thank you for your encouraging words and generosity!
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