Decision

Today we were able to meet with the surgeon who performed Melissa's surgery in 2023. He laid out the situation for us and presented two options for moving forward:

• Melissa remains on antibiotics and lives with the damage to the aorta caused by the infection. The damage is such that the aorta could rupture at anytime and that would be fatal.

• There is a vascular surgeon at the hospital who has dealt with two similar cases. He can perform an endovascular procedure (i.e., angiogram) where he places a coil in the damaged part of the aorta. The coil will stabilize the weakend part of the vessel. The procedure carries significant risks of bleeding and potential stroke. Even with a successful procedure, Melissa will need to continue on antibiotics for life.

We were also able to meet the vascular surgeon and talk through the procedure with him. He showed us pictures of a previous successful procedure and answered all of our questions. He also told us that during the procedure, if it became clear he could not successfully place the coils, he would back out.

Melissa is not ready to give up fighting and has so many things she wants to do and experience. So we decided to move forward with the endovascular procedure. We do not know yet when it will be scheduled.

We are grateful for continued prayers, and also for gifted doctors and staff taking care of Melissa.