Melanie Newsted is a 48-year-old single mother of her 15-year-old daughter, Kate. Growing up in Montgomery County, PA she enjoyed school, marching band, and theater. Melanie has devoted all of her energy into raising Kate in a healthy and wholesome home. They left their home in Conshohocken to move to the beautiful town of Jim Thorpe in 2015. Melanie worked hard and always made time for her family and friends.
In January 2022 Melanie’s physical health declined unexpectedly. After she fell and was left unable to get up, she was transported to the hospital where she stayed for two weeks. Doctors had a difficult time determining the actual cause of her partial paralysis. Following multiple tests Melanie was identified as having lymphedema, bulging disks, pancreatitis, and extreme nerve pain in her extremities. Doctors finally diagnosed her with Gillian-Barre Syndrome. This leaves her unable to stand or walk and has decreased sensitivity/mobility in her hands. Melanie spent the next five weeks in a rehabilitation facility receiving physical and occupational therapy.
Future prognosis is hopeful but still unknown. Currently Gillian-Barre has rendered Melanie unable to care for herself and is solely reliant on her sister for day-to-day needs. Some days Melanie’s hands are so swollen and painful she cannot hold her phone or perform even the most basic tasks. Melanie is non-ambulatory, requiring a mechanical lift to get in and out of bed as well as a wheelchair for all transportation.
This was a single income home and now there is no consistent income. This family is under a tremendous financial burden and desperately needs help. Melanie needs a vehicle that can accommodate a wheelchair so she can go to doctor appointments. She needs financial assistance with the cost of medical bills, medication, accesible transportation, daily care products, as well as basic household expenses including food, utilities, etc.
Donations to Help Hope Live can help ease the financial burden we are facing as a family and give Melanie back the independence she needs.
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Family and friends of Melanie Newsted are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with Catastrophic Illness.
Melanie has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button.
For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.
Thank you for your support!
