Diagnosed with breast cancer whilst navigating challenging circumstances

Melanie was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. Two years later, it returned with cancer found in 57 lymph nodes. A mother of two young girls, Melanie is navigating unimaginable circumstances. Her eldest, 11, lives with severe disabilities, and her youngest is just nine years old.

Then came the news no family is ever prepared for.

“In late 2025, I was told the cancer had spread to the lining of my brain. It was stage 4, and I was given a three-month prognosis,” Melanie explained.

Despite everything, Melanie says “At the moment, I’m just living day by day.”

A dream that became a lifeline

Before her diagnosis, Melanie had a simple dream: to take her family to Jamala Wildlife Lodge in the ACT, to be with her girls as they experience the animals up close and personal.

It was something she had always wanted to do but could never afford. Dreams2Live4 made it possible for Melanie to give her daughters something priceless, a joyful memory of time spent together, surrounded by animals.

“I needed something in the dark days, something to look forward to and be excited about. It has truly changed my life in the three months I’ve been given, and my children’s lives too. It’s something we wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise.”

For Melanie, this wasn’t just a getaway from the treatment and hospital visits - it was about creating something that would last long after she is gone.

“I wanted something my children would remember, a memory of me, and this dream has given my little family the most incredible gift.”