KinnaSTRONG - Medical Bills Support
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Melissa & Noland's heartbreaking joint battle has given them a unique bond and Noland’s strength through treatments in the past has helped Melissa deal with her own cancer. "I'm very positive when it comes to myself because I have seen for myself what Noland has been through. I figure if my kid can do it, I know I can do it. Our family life has revolved around hospital appointments for so long now, but we just move on taking it one day at a time - we have to. What other choice do we have?”
More about Noland:
Noland is a lot like other 15-year-old boys, he is very active, enjoys hanging out with friends, and loves sports - especially baseball. Where he is different is in the fact that he has more life experience than most kids will ever see in their lifetime. In 2011, at the age of seven, Noland was diagnosed with a benign inoperable low-grade brain glioma (pilocytic astrocytoma) and has been through chemotherapy and taken a MEK inhibitor over the past four years to battle his tumor. The new treatment has been working great and Noland’s tumor is the smallest it has ever been.
More about Melissa:
Melissa was diagnosed with stage 3 cutaneous t-cell lymphoma (erythrodermic mycosis fungoides), an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in February 2018. Her diagnosis was a complete shock to her and her family, but the Thurmont community has been a strong and uplifting support system to her and her family. "When you go through things like this, you come to realize how much you rely on others," Melissa said. "The kindness of people is amazing.” Unfortunately, there is no cure for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but with today’s medical improvements Melissa has high hopes for her future. Melissa is currently undergoing systemic treatments before moving on to electron beam radiation, chemotherapy/immunotherapy and allogeneic stem cell transplant.
More about Noland:
Noland is a lot like other 15-year-old boys, he is very active, enjoys hanging out with friends, and loves sports - especially baseball. Where he is different is in the fact that he has more life experience than most kids will ever see in their lifetime. In 2011, at the age of seven, Noland was diagnosed with a benign inoperable low-grade brain glioma (pilocytic astrocytoma) and has been through chemotherapy and taken a MEK inhibitor over the past four years to battle his tumor. The new treatment has been working great and Noland’s tumor is the smallest it has ever been.
More about Melissa:
Melissa was diagnosed with stage 3 cutaneous t-cell lymphoma (erythrodermic mycosis fungoides), an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in February 2018. Her diagnosis was a complete shock to her and her family, but the Thurmont community has been a strong and uplifting support system to her and her family. "When you go through things like this, you come to realize how much you rely on others," Melissa said. "The kindness of people is amazing.” Unfortunately, there is no cure for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but with today’s medical improvements Melissa has high hopes for her future. Melissa is currently undergoing systemic treatments before moving on to electron beam radiation, chemotherapy/immunotherapy and allogeneic stem cell transplant.
Organizer
Melissa Kinna
Organizer
Thurmont, MD
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