Wonder Woman

Here is my amazing childhood friend, Melissa Waller, who was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer at the beginning of February this year. I got the opportunity to be her care giver twice, once in March and once in April. I met Melissa and her family when we were about 6 or 7 years old. Her family quickly took me in as one of their own and I became their "fourth" daughter. I was there so often that their mom equipped with a tooth brush to use when I went to their house. They took me on many family vacations and included me in every sport that they were signed up for. When we started middle school, I would ride my bike to her house early in the morning, have breakfast, braid her hair and then we would walk to school together.

Her mother was an amazing influence in my life. I remember one time, Melissa and Mary (her mother) showed up at my house unexpectedly and Mary said "I don't know why we came, but my car just drove here, so can you come with us?" Sadly, when we were 14, Mary passed away from brain cancer after a short fight of about 8 months after diagnoses. So finding out that Melissa has such a serious cancer, is living a night mare all over again. Mary was such an amazing example of strength and positive attitude during her illness and I see Melissa exhibiting the same strength and mental attitude as her mother.

Melissa decided in the beginning that after feeling anger, she did not need to feel that way because it would not help her to get better and make her more miserable. She decided to stay positive and accept the love and kindness that others are offering her. I look at her dedication to life with much respect and love talking to my kids about her abilities to stay positive.

Our conversations were filled with catching up with what she has been through, some of her fears, what she wants to do when she gets through this hell, and reminiscing our childhood memories. One memory we shared happened after her family had moved to Park City from Seattle. I went to visit her for the first time after she moved and as I walked off the plane, I was greeted with a hug and a friend full of joyful tears. She kept saying "I'm just so glad to see you!!" Those are some of the very few tears I have seen on Melissa's face and as I reflect back on that moment I am honored to know that some of her true joy was given to me. What a friendship and love we have! What a treasure it has been in my life to have Melissa as a friend!

I am truly impressed at her willingness to give, even when in her bed. She has shared details of her ordeal on her personal blog that has already become a strength to others. Out of all the people I know, Melissa is the one I know can beat the odds the doctors have given her.

This is a picture of a scrapbook page from my high school years. I love what I had wrote.

Here we are during my March visit