UPDATE: Radio power couple facing fight of their lives

The radio community is being encouraged to rally around POWER FM Music Director and Announcer Chris Dzelde and his announcer wife Mel.

 Mel Dee, who is also the Program Director of both 5MU and POWER FM at Murray Bridge has been diagnosed with cancer – again.

This morning it’s been revealed Mel has been told she has two extra tumours on her liver bringing the total to four now… so her doctors have decided to speed things up a little.

The update on the Go Fund Me page read as follows:

…she’ll start daily chemo/radio on Monday (April 24) which will continue for 5 weeks before the first surgery.

 

She’s strong and scared and tough and shocked and so very moved by the help and compassion you have shown her.

Several years ago Mel had a tumour removed from her liver. Last year, she had a hysterectomy after doctors found cancerous cells in her uterus and now, she’s been diagnosed with four new liver tumours and another in “a most cringe-worthy spot”... cancer of the rectum.

“Mel has the best sense of humour and she’ll tell you straight up what a ‘pain in the ass’ having this kind of cancer is, but the reality is, having cancer is more than a pain in the ass, it’s expensive.”

Hence a Go Fund Me page has been set up for Mel by journalist and friend Claire Murphy to help the couple cope with mounting medical bills.

It’s hoped $10,000 can be raised.

“In the next 12 months, Mel is facing 2 surgeries and several rounds of both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. 

“She’s already used up sick leave and annual leave having a hysterectomy, now she’s facing a year of little to no income as she battles the disease while her husband (Chris) also takes time off to take care of her,” says Claire.

“She has a teenage son still at home and with a mortgage to pay, she came to me asking for help to sell something very close to her heart to help take the pressure off… her wedding dress.”

There is an emotional story attached to Mel’s dress which you can read about on the Go Fund Me page which she says she’s fine to sell but she’d also really love to see it “do more than make a few bucks to see them through”.

“We’d love to raise enough money for Mel to not worry about the medical bills for now, and instead, use the dress to pay it forward to someone else also in a tough spot,” says Claire.

To date, almost $5,000.00 has been raised in five days.

If you’d like to help click on this link.

“Please give a lady who has so much positivity and light she’s the shiniest God damn unicorn in the room, a bit of a break from the Big C’s expanding reach.”

 

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