July 20, 2016

Michelle drew her last breath surrounded by family and friends.  She passed away July 19, 2016, less than an hour before her official 50th birthday.

We have truly felt light and love from so many of you throughout this experience.  Thank you so much for your service, your love, your prayers and your faith.

We will post details of the service when they become available.

Update

Michelle continues to decline physically and mentally.   She is getting increased medication to try to help with the pain.  At this time, we are praying for her to be comfortable and be able to rest more easily.

Because of Michelle's rapidly changing circumstances, we have decided that it's no longer in Michelle's best interest to have her 50th birthday party.

We realize many of you would love to be here on her birthday!  We also know that she knows and feels of your love and will feel that on her special day.  Thank you for your faith and prayers throughout this journey and at this time especially.

Scan Results

Michelle's scan from last week wasn't what we were hoping for.  She has increased tumor growth throughout her body.  At this time, the doctor has recommended the discontinuation of the treatments since the evidence shows they aren't working.

Michelle is enjoying time with lots of family right now.  We have seen a marked deterioration in the past week.  Not sure what to attribute it to--medicine, the progression of the disease, or both.  We will be starting hospice care soon.

Thank you so much for the fasting and prayers, thoughts, and support.  Thank you for the sweet birthday wishes!  Your faith and love are so much appreciated!

With the current circumstances, we would just ask for a quick text before stopping by.  It will help us to make sure that it's an okay time for Michelle.  At this point, conversations with Michelle are quite challenging; her responsiveness is limited and varies.

Hello Friends and Family of Michelle,

We have a last minute request here.  We're creating a "Celebration of 50 Years" memory book for fabulous Michelle.  Therefore, ASAP we're hoping all of you (her friends, students, family, coworkers, school friends, church friends...) can send her a message, poems, pictures, good memories with Michelle, your love for her, whatever you want to have represent your friendship and consideration for her,  so we may add it to our book compilation to give to her on her 50th birthday JULY 20th, 2016.  It doesn't need to be lengthy if time doesn't permit.  Even a funny joke or thought.  

*Send entries no later then July 18th if you want to be added to the book before she receives it (late entries will happily be added after the bday as well)

*Please make sure to add your first and last name and how you know Michelle so that we can organize the book properly--and so she'll know who the kind messages/thoughts are from.

Okay--get to work!  Oh--and send your contribution to melindamd@gmail.com (Michelle's sister).

Thank you in advance!

Quick Summer Update

Not much new to report, but I thought I would update.   Since I wrote last, I enjoyed a fun visit from the Dibb family.  We celebrated Baby B's first birthday--pinata, water fight and all!   Not much has changed for me physically; I am still struggling with a lot of pain, weakness, and lack of appetite.  But I have a great view out a new glass door of the flowers and grass and blue sky.  I am grateful for beautiful things.  I have also been enjoying the Olympic trials, artichoke hearts, and apple juice.

I have my CT scan this coming Friday, and a follow-up consultation Tuesday.  I am looking forward to getting some more information.

Please continue to pray for the guidance I will need to make decisions about my treatments this next week.  Thank you for your faith, love, and prayers.  They help me every day.

Some dear friends in Alpine, Utah organized a concert on my behalf last Friday...I put on my fancy concert attire to give everyone a smile when I Skyped in.

Last Chemo Before Scan

Apparently the blood transfusion from last week did what it needed to do to qualify me for one last chemo before the next scan.  I think it went well.  It's hard to know how to measure these things.

My parents have been here with me all week, which has been terrific.  There has been less nausea and pain over the last few days too, always a bonus.

I have been the recipient of many well wishes with regard to my upcoming birthday in July.  I just wanted to share one that really made me smile.  My nephew Nicolas recreated a childhood antic where he turned himself into a cupcake.  He's so cute and funny.  I put both videos below.  The most recent one he made this week as a birthday wish for me.

I also received a fun visit from my former neighbors, who walked me out to my little garden so I could see its progress.  It was such a little thing and so fun.  It's the little things that we need to appreciate that make us smile.

 Wilson Family

My little garden!

Charmelicas

These days, Charmelicas (named for my niece and nephews Amelia, Nicolas, and Charlie who gave him to me) is sporting some fancy jewelry.  He got a new blood band Friday when I had to go to Boise St. Luke's for a blood transfusion.  My blood counts were low, which would have made it unsafe to do my typical chemotherapy.  We rescheduled the chemo for this coming Thursday.  In the meantime, I am resting and working on getting my platelet counts up!

I wasn't surprised to receive these lab numbers as I have been extremely weak and sick this past week.  I never feel great, but this has been a particularly hard week for this sick body of mine.  I continue to be amazed at the inspiration so many receive at just the right time to help me out.

Thank you for your divine guidance and your sensitive spiritual hearing.  So many of you seem to show up at just the right time with just the right thing.  Please keep praying and praying and praying for the guidance and help I need as we make treatment decisions in the near future.