A mother-of-four suffered the heartbreaking deaths of two of her closest loved ones just six weeks apart – before learning she was also suffering an incurable medical condition.
Melanie Nast Young, 45, from Bega on the south coast of NSW has been diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that is causing her organs to shut down.
Ms Young has Alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency, a genetic condition that causes major lung and liver damage.
The damage to her lungs has been so severe that they are only working at only 25 per cent capacity. Her heart is also damaged and there is potential damage to her liver.
Tragically, a lung and heart transplant that could potentially save her life is not possible because of a neurological movement disorder called dystonia that Ms Young has endured for 10 years.
Ms Young has been told she could only has six months to live.
In March, Ms Young sadly lost her father to lung cancer, then to compound her grief, her ex-partner Todd Young passed away not long after, leaving three of Ms Young’s children without their father.
It has been a truly devastating year.
Melanie Nast Young (pictured) is a 45-year-old mum of four from Bega on the south coast of NSW and is suffering from a rare genetic condition that is causing her organs to shut down
Ms Young (pictured) is much loved in the fishing community, having run her business Young Guns Fishing Adventures with ex-partner Todd Young, father to three of her children
With Mr Young, Ms Young introduced thousands of people to the world of fishing, including people with disabilities and at-risk kids
Ms Young’s best friend Mischelle said ‘It’s the worst story… you couldn’t even write a worse story.’
Ms Young is much loved in the fishing community, having run her business Young Guns Fishing Adventures with ex-partner Todd Young, father to three of her children.
With Mr Young, she introduced thousands of people to the world of fishing over 20 years, including people with disabilities and at-risk kids.
Mischelle told Daily Mail Australia what Ms Young endures with dystonia, a movement disorder that causes the muscles to contract.
‘I’ve seen her whole body twist and contort and … I’ve seen her … actually (have) her leg turn all the way around the other way,’ Mischelle said.
Even though she was suffering from the ravages of dystonia, Ms Young still worked with Young Guns Fishing Adventures.
A GoFundMe page has been created by Ms Young’s friends to ‘give Mel a few resources to be able to do a few special things while she still can.’
The page also states, ‘Mel would like to have some special times with her kids before the cruel hereditary disease cuts things short.’
Sadly, Ms Young’s close friend Frank Prokop who organised the GoFundMe said Ms Young is not well enough to tick off any bucket list items.
He praised Ms Young’s positive attitude.
Ms Young’s partner Todd sadly dies earlier this year, the pair both love fishing
Todd and Melanie share three children together who are now could also lose their mother
Ms Young’s close friend Frank Prokop praised Ms Young’s positive attitude, ‘She (says) I’m not brave, I’m just stoic. You just got to get up and do it the next day, because there’s no do-overs.’
‘She (says) I’m not brave, I’m just stoic. You just got to get up and do it the next day, because there’s no do-overs.’
‘It may not be fair, but it’s just the reality,’ he told.
Mr Prokop said Ms Young empowered women through fishing.
‘Her passions in life are teaching the next generation about how to move forward and to overcome obstacles and she uses fishing as her mechanism,’ he said.
‘Fishing is a quite strongly male dominated activity so she’s kind of come in and said ‘here I am’.’
Mischelle said Ms Young’s children have struggled to deal with their mum’s illness as they are still comprehending the death of their father.
Mr Prokop said Ms Young (pictured) empowered women through fishing, ‘Her passions in life are teaching the next generation about how to move forward and to overcome obstacles and she uses fishing as her mechanism,’
A GoFundMe has been created to support Ms Young’s children
‘I think they just, it’s so unfathomable, they can’t deal with it,’ she said.
‘Its horrendous.’
The Go Fund Me page reveals the what Ms Young’s children are enduring.
‘Mel’s youngest is only 7 years old and has seen way too much for someone so young.’
Mr Prokop said money raised through the GoFundMe will help support Ms Young’s three children who will be left parent-less and her current partner Jason who will be a single father to Ms Young’s seven-year-old.
‘She’s worried about what legacy she leaves her kids,’ he said.
‘I think more she’s interested in now putting stuff away for the kids, for their education and stuff.’
As the GoFundMe page states: ‘Think about giving something back to someone who has given so much.
The GoFundMe for Ms Young has so far raised over $5,000.
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