Melissa’s Journey
“I was 23 years old when I noticed a small lump in my breast. My doctor told me not to worry. It was probably just a cyst. One week later, I got a call that the “cyst” was actually an aggressive form of breast cancer. After a grueling year of chemotherapy and radiation, I had lost a sense of identity after shaving my shoulder length red hair. I no longer trusted my body, but I anticipated the worst was behind me.
I was 25 years old when my cancer came back. I decided to remove both breasts to ensure that this would be my last time dealing with this disease. While I planned my double mastectomy, surgeons said nothing about the possibility of the cancer spreading into other parts of my body after the surgery.
I was 28 years old when I was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer. If my story can help even one person it’ll be worth it.”
Melissa was 32 when metastatic breast cancer stole her from this world.
Melissa’s Legacy
Melissa believed in the power of film and spent her life using that power to support women and mend impacted by cancer around the world.
We at the Melissa & Jimmy Boratyn Foundation aim to live up to the standard she set by creating art that makes an impact.
Inspirational Founders
The Melissa & Jimmy Boratyn Foundation was founded by husband and wife filmmakers Melissa and Jimmy Boratyn. They created the feature length dramatic comedy, Ginger (based on Melissa’s own experience) which portrays the journey of a 23 year old woman being diagnosed and living through treatment.
Melissa saw a lack of content and support for young adults, often being told she was too young for cancer. After taking Ginger on an international tour, she realized that the need for inspirational and educational content was immense and decided more needs to be done.