MALS Foundation
IMPACT
Our financial assistance program is geared towards helping individual melanoma warriors where they need it most.
The following are Michigan residents who have been positively impacted through the MALS Foundation Financial Aid Program. If you are a Michigan resident currently going through treatment for metastatic melanoma and could benefit from our program, more information can be found here.
Pat - Pat was initially a MALS foundation supporter, present at many of our fundraisers since the beginning. In September 2023, Pat was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in his neck. He is currently undergoing immunotherapy infusions in attempts to reduce the size of the tumor, and hoping to avoid surgery. He reached out to us to help with the costs associated with these treatments as his insurance only covered a percentage.
Lynne - Lynne discovered a lump in her armpit during a yoga retreat during the spring of 2021 and was ultimately diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in the summer of that year. After removal of the lymph node, PET scans showed that Lynne was in NED (no evidence of disease). Unfortunately, in 2022 she discovered another enlarged lymph node, which biopsy confirmed was melanoma again. She has been in immunotherapy treatments since December 2022 and reached out to us to help her with the costs associated with these treatments.
Mike - Mike, a husband and father of two, was initially diagnosed with melanoma on his elbow in January 2021. His melanoma spread to his elbow, armpit and shoulder. He has been hospitalized due to complications of treatments and other medical conditions, and had to significantly cut back on work, financially affecting his family. He was suffering from severe joint and back pain, and was hoping to purchase a new mattress to help ease some of his discomfort. He reached out to us and we were able to provide him with the funds to purchase a new mattress to help him be more comfortable while he continues to go through treatments for his melanoma.
Later in 2023, we were able to give him an additional grant when his health ultimately led to him being not able to work.
Deb - Deb, a wife and mother, was diagnosed with vaginal mucosal melanoma in 2021 which had already spread to her surrounding lymph nodes at the time of diagnosis. Shortly after her diagnosis, she was also diagnosed with a meningioma in her brain and underwent extensive brain surgery, which unfortunately delayed her immunotherapy treatments. She was being treated at University of Michigan, but lived 4 hours away. We were able to help offset her travel/hotel expenses and some of her medical costs associated with her treatments. Deb ultimately lost her fight to melanoma at the end of 2022.