My name is Melissa Winstead I am 51 years old and I’ve just been told after 20 years that my melanoma cancer is back. I have no $0 in my bank accounts. And I have no job at the moment, mainly because I can’t lift anything with my right arm because of the tumor on my forearm. I was on SS for about 14 yrs and against doctors wishes I gave it all up to go back to work. I stopped going to all doctors and enjoyed the few jobs I was able to acquire over the past 8 years. (Now knowing that it was the worst thing I could do and wish I had been smarter)
I have been married for 32 yrs to a great man. I have 3 beautiful sons and 3 daughter n laws and 1 adopted son. 9 grandsons and 3 granddaughters. Yes I’ve been more than blessed with a large family and thank God every day.
I have a $8500 copay for my insurance and have $0 money to pay any of it. When I went for my biopsy the lady said that my copay was $679 and I felt like running away because I was unable to pay a dime. I didn’t even have parking money.
And if that isn’t enough I stay in a camper that has no hot water and the toilet doesn’t work because the black tank is completely solidified. It leaks in the kitchen bathroom and all the way across the bedroom. No heat system and one small window ac unit that works enough to ‘cool you off if you sit in front of it. My lot rent is $550 per month. I go to pantries for food. And we only have 1 car.
Over the last 8 years it was like everytime we seem to be starting on a good pathway everything would be shattered. We would lose the places to live and jobs acquired would be lost or car would break down, And we would be back to square one all over again. Over and over again and again and again. And now the cancer returns. It’s like a never-ending curse of bad luck my entire life. Make a person want to just throw in the towel and give up.
I’m going to swallow my pride and ask for help to anyone who can and will.
Thank you and God bless everyone.