Terminally ill:

“I want to survive the prognosis”

Melanie* is being lovingly supported by her circle of friends - including with a crowdfunding campaign.(Bild: Mathis Fotografie)

Especially at festivals like Christmas, you realize how important community is. According to her doctors' diagnosis, Melanie* from Oberland is terminally ill with cancer. To support her, her friends have launched a crowdfunding campaign.

Six years ago, Melanie (*name has been changed by the editors) beat breast cancer once before. The mother of two sons found new courage to face life, returned to work as a psychologist and set up her own business as a mindfulness trainer. But then her temporary happiness came to an abrupt end when she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in February of this year.

When the diagnosis leaves no hope
After six years in remission, she returned to treatment - conventional and complementary medicine, as relying solely on conventional medicine was not an option for Melanie. This is because conventional medicine refers to metastatic breast cancer as an "incurable disease", which means that statistically she only has a few years left. "Melanie is very grateful that there are various treatment options from conventional medicine. But that's not enough for her," says her friend Christiane Mähr.

Above all, Melanie doesn't want to simply accept this devastating diagnosis, but wants to exhaust all possible ways and means. So she has opted for a holistic and integrative approach, following the example of other equally seriously ill people who have ultimately managed to be the exception to the rule and who are now cured.

What factors make cancer disappear?
Among other things, she relies on Radical Remission, a concept that was developed by US scientist Dr. Kelly A. Turner and is constantly being developed further. Turner has spoken to hundreds of "doomed" cancer patients around the world and extracted ten factors that favor spontaneous remission - i.e. an unexpected regression of the cancer (which, by the way, happens more often than you might think). In her book "Hope for a Cancer-Free Life", Turner devotes a separate chapter to each of the ten healing factors - including a radical change in diet and physical activity. The latest scientific findings and concrete advice are combined with encouraging stories and anecdotes.

Melanie is very grateful that there are various treatment options available from conventional medicine.

weiß ihre Freundin und Unterstützerin Christiane Mähr

Bild: Mathis Fotografie

This is by no means hocus-pocus, emphasizes Cathérine Sondermann, who is also one of Melanie's closest friends and who has studied the subject intensively: "A pilot study is currently underway in which a team of researchers at Harvard University is investigating the effects of the Radical Remission approach. The preliminary analyses indicate a significant positive effect."

When existence is also at stake financially
"I don't want to know how much time the doctors give me. I want to survive the prognosis and live as long and as well as possible," says Melanie. She is prepared to fight for her life - even if she can't actually afford it financially. Since July, Melanie has no longer received sick pay, as self-employed people in Austria are only entitled to this for 20 weeks. But how is she supposed to pay for the therapeutic and complementary medical treatments of over 1000 euros per month - on top of the costs that a family of four incurs anyway? With only one income and the rehab money, this is simply impossible.

So Melanie's friends thought about how they could help her and came up with the idea of launching a crowdfunding campaign. The campaign has been running since the end of October - thanks in part to the support of Raiffeisenbank Vorarlberg and Respekt.net. "We want Melanie not to have to worry about money, but to be able to concentrate fully on her health," says Alexandra Ludescher, who is also involved.

Especially in situations where life is challenging, it becomes clear how important friends and a social network are. As Melanie can no longer work, her social life is severely restricted. Her friends therefore try to spend as much time with her as possible. They also talk to each other regularly and discuss what needs to be done to keep the campaign going: "A situation like this is hard enough and as someone affected, you are alone with the diagnosis at the end of the day anyway. Nevertheless, good friends play a big part in making sure you're not completely alone," says friend Carina Kerle.

We want Melanie not to have to worry about money, but to be able to concentrate fully on her health.

Freundin Alexandra Ludescher benennt das große Ziel

Bild: Mathis Fotografie

A musical thank you
Music plays a major role in Melanie's life. That's why there will be a benefit concert on Maundy Thursday with Prinz Grizzley as the opening act, HØME, Junipa Gold and the DJs Medi&Doris at the Spielboden in Dornbirn. If you donate 100 euros or more, you will be on the guest list: "We are grateful for any support: When many give something, something great is created in the end!"

This is how you can support Melanie: Crowdfunding campaign