About

Our Founders Story

In August 2012, at just 34 years old, I faced a life-altering diagnosis: Large B-cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. As a mother of two young daughters, I was terrified. A massive tumor in my chest threatened my life, leaving me no choice but to start intense chemotherapy immediately. Six rounds later, I was declared cancer-free — but that was only the beginning of my journey.

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Throughout those grueling six months, chemotherapy wreaked havoc on my body, and I couldn’t shake the thought: “Is this really healing?” One night, as I struggled through recovery, I dreamed of a wellness center — a serene, healing place that felt so vivid, so real. The next morning, I sketched it in my journal, inspired by the vision of a sanctuary for true healing.

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In December 2015, nearly three years after my initial diagnosis, I heard those dreaded words again: “Mellanie, it’s back.” Fear surged through me, but I didn’t allow it to linger. Over those three years, I had transformed my life. I became a Reiki healer, an herbalist, and a mindset coach. I started a business to help others on their healing journeys. This time, I was prepared mentally, physically, and spiritually. But my loved ones, gripped by fear, pushed me toward an aggressive chemotherapy regimen. Within just two rounds, my organs began to shut down.

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I knew I couldn’t continue down that path. So, I turned inward, calling upon everything I’d learned. I built a wellness plan that blended conventional and holistic therapies, and I rallied a team of trusted healers to support me. It was grueling, but with hope, support, and faith in the journey, I pushed forward.

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In April 2016, during a follow-up appointment, my oncologist’s words hit me like a storm: “Get your affairs in order.” But I refused to believe that was the end. I knew I had resources, hope, and a wellness plan I believed in. I leaned deeper into my healing journey, and within four months, I was cancer-free — and have remained so ever since.

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The treatments that saved my life came with a heavy financial burden. I used credit cards, taking on debt to afford the therapies that ultimately healed me. I knew I never wanted another cancer patient to feel that same financial pressure. And then, I remembered my dream of a healing sanctuary — a vision that inspired the creation of The Sand Dollar Foundation, a place where hope, healing, and support come together for those on their own journeys. 

  -Mellanie Smith, Founder Sand Dollar Foundation