Shirley parents face dual cancer diagnoses, leaning on love and community

A Shirley couple deeply admired for their community involvement over the years are now facing the fight of their lives — together.

Tom and Melissa Tiedemann, parents of four children who range in age from 13 to 29, were both diagnosed with cancer last month. Just days apart.

Melissa, 45, underwent a double mastectomy on April 8 following a breast cancer diagnosis. Tom, 49, will undergo a complicated Whipple procedure on Friday, April 18, to remove a cancerous tumor from his pancreas.

Their ordeal began March 17 — only 10 days after the couple celebrated their eldest child Alaina’s wedding in Mexico — when Melissa received her diagnosis and shared it with her husband.

As she spoke, she noticed that her husband’s skin and eyes had begun to yellow — an early sign of pancreatic issues. His own devastating diagnosis came days later.

“They have always given,” wrote family friend Heather Crane, who launched a GoFundMe campaign for the Tiedemanns. “Now we have to come together, as a community, [to] help two of the best people in the world.”

In less than four days, more than $27,000 has been raised from 210 donations. The funds will help offset the couple’s living expenses and insurance payments during the period that they’re both out of work and focused on treatment and recovery.

The Tiedemanns, known for their deep community involvement — from coaching youth sports and serving on PTO boards to volunteering with local fire departments — have been overwhelmed by the support.

“We want to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support for us and our 4 children,” Melissa Tiedemann said in a Facebook post early Thursday. “Hard for us to believe this is our life right now, but we know God has a plan.

“It’s not every day you get to fight cancer with your best friend,” she added.

In addition to the GoFundMe effort, McCarthy’s Pub in Centereach has scheduled a May 18 “Tiedemann Family Fundraiser.” The event is from 2-6 p.m.; McCarthy’s is located at 2582 Middle Country Road. The event will feature a raffle basket, a 50/50 drawing, and food and drink specials.

_{Top image: GoFundMe photo.}