Elementary school teacher and fitness instructor Laura Melling is raising two boys, ages 11 and 13, which is certainly no small task! #boymom! This jack-of-all-trades mama didn’t plan on adding “cancer patient” to her resume.

It Takes a Village.

In July 2022, Laura was diagnosed with breast cancer–a grade 3 mass that has moved to her lymph nodes. As a single mom, this felt extra scary. How would she handle all of the things?! Friends jumped in to help clean the house and even provide lawn care. Ethan, Kip’s father, and his wife also “stepped in to help whenever needed.” And, of course, Laura’s parents make a regular journey from Ohio to support their daughter and grandsons, too. We always say, “many hands make for a light load,” and Laura’s village is helping in every way possible.

Laura’s boyfriend, Michael, has also taken on the very unexpected role of caregiver. Laura says she’d been praying to meet someone like Michael for seven years and now knows why God was waiting. Michael and Laura had been together for just one year when she received her diagnosis, and Michael has jumped in to be by her side at appointments and treatments.

The “Unexplainable”

Laura’s most important role is “Mom,” so her first concern and focus were making sure life for Ethan and Kip remained as normal as possible. With a long road of surgery and treatment ahead, Laura wants to ensure her boys can maintain regular activities like school and basketball. Future Hoosiers??!

The Melling family draws strength from their faith. Laura says, “The unexplainable may exist, but I have hope and faith that this will be a temporary season, that we can learn to appreciate the blessings along the way.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, Laura!

Cocktails & Caregivers is providing a $2,000 grant to help cover the cost of care for Ethan & Kip so Mom can focus on getting healthy.