Meet the Models: Melissa Dupuis
Model Spotlight: Melissa Dupuis
Runway Show: New England | Diagnosed: January 2022 | Age: 39
When Melissa Dupuis heard the words “you have cancer,” her world closed in. It was January 5th, 2022 at 4:00 p.m., and the diagnosis came through her online patient portal. As she sat on the couch and read the results, her one-year-old daughter was calling from the other room. Paralyzed by fear, Melissa turned to her husband and asked the only question she could manage: “Am I going to die?”
The Power of a Village
From the very beginning, Melissa’s world filled with fear—but it also filled with love. Her husband became her rock: holding her while she cried, showing up at every chemo session, and helping shave her head when the time came. Her mother cared for her daughter and stayed by her side after surgery. Her sister took on the role of organizer, researcher, and emotional glue—creating a chemo care basket, launching a meal train, and designing one of the most memorable acts of support: bracelets representing each of Melissa’s six chemo treatments. After each infusion, the family gathered to cut one off in a shared ritual of strength. Those bracelets now live on in a Christmas ornament as a yearly reminder of resilience and love.
Melissa describes her community’s support as overwhelming in the best way: friends showing up with meals, text check-ins, and long walks that became acts of quiet care. “I’ve never felt so loved,” she said. “I wouldn’t change a thing. I am so lucky.”
What Cancer Took—and Gave
Melissa’s treatment brought a host of surprises—some painful, some profound. She was stunned at how her body managed to rebound from harsh medications and even more surprised by her own ability to stay positive, even in a world full of unknowns. Her heart broke most at the sight of children in treatment. “As a mom, I couldn’t fathom it. I thought I was the strong one—until I saw those parents.”
And through it all, she found meaning in the hardest chapters. After finishing treatment, her husband threw a “F&CK Cancer” party—surrounded by the friends and family who’d carried her through. And she honored her experience by writing a children’s book inspired by her young daughter’s view of her cancer journey: We Can Do Hard Things, a gentle and hopeful way to help other parents and children talk about cancer together.
A Message for Others
Melissa is candid about what’s helpful and what’s not. “Please don’t send us articles about others who have cancer—or who’ve died. It’s triggering. And don’t tell us ‘it could be worse.’ This is our worst.”
What does help? Checking in. Remembering treatment dates. Following up, not just during chemo but afterward—when survivorship can feel disorienting and lonely. “Just because the cancer is gone, doesn’t mean the healing is over,” she says. “Survivorship is hard.”
Advice to the Newly Diagnosed
“Breathe. Take things one minute at a time. Let people help you—you don’t have to do this alone.” For Melissa, connecting with others her age going through similar experiences made a world of difference. It helped her feel seen, understood, and never alone.
Melissa walks the Runway not just to celebrate healing, but to honor her daughter, her village, and the beautiful resilience that now defines her. With every step, she carries proof that hard things can be done—and that love leaves the deepest mark of all.
