Most of you know the horrible struggle my niece Shelly Lin has been engaged in now for a long time. Michelles aggressive form of Multiple Myeloma has ravaged her body and so far has not responded to any treatments. Michelle has endured Chemo, radiation, marrow biopsies, grafts etc. She has spent countless days going to and from and admitted to hospitals all while being sidelined from the music teaching job she loves so much and was so remarkable at. To say she has been dealt a cruel hand would be a massive understatement. Throughout this whole ordeal, she has exhibited a superhuman amount of courage and determination. While there have been moments of hope along the way, most of her journey has been one disappointment after another and capped off by the events of the last week and in particular the last 24 hours, Sloan Kettering, last week essentially told Michelle that they were out of ideas. Her condition did not respond to anything and was in fact getting worse. In short, they said they could offer nothing more than comfort. Crushing news. After some tears (who wouldnt?) Michelle basically told them that was bullshit, and she wasnt giving up. In her words, I feel like I have to claw my way out of this. I was there as a witness. Im quite sure I would have been sobbing like a baby for a few weeks, but not her. She was ready to fight, just like her Grandmother. She had been making plans to go to a world renowned hospital in Arkansas for a second opinion and now she put this idea into a solid plan. The plan was as follows, Go to Cape Cod today with her sister and niece Katya. Friends and family would join there and celebrate her birthday this Friday and generally have a great time before her next challenge. Then on Sunday, Michelles good friend Lesley, who would also be arriving over the weekend, would help Michelle get to the airport and fly with her to Arkansas and stay with her for the planned several days ( Lesley, Thank you!). Michelle of course was hopeful that Arkansas could help her and she was so looking forward to the Cape Cod trip. But Michelle was to be tested again. Her sister Laura was bravely fighting off a respiratory bug, but it was getting worse and at about 3 am Wed. she called her sister ( really Laura 3am? lol) to give her the bad news. Now Michelle obviously can not risk a 5 hour car trip with Laura sick, and Cape Cod is off. Michelle had made all the arrangements and now after this latest horrible disappointment was left to make a calls cancelling, trying to get deposits back and in the middle of all that she decides I am not going to sit here another day, I am getting myself to Arkansas. More calls, flights cancelled and re-booked. Secretly, I was horrified. My niece, who can barely walk was going to get dropped off at LaGuardia, and BY HERSELF fly halfway across the country starting at 3 pm and not arriving till nearly 10 and then getting herself admitted to this new hospital in a strange place....alone! Well shes there safe and sound and first reports are that the hospital is amazing and of course we all pray that they will have the right treatment to halt the march of this cancer, but I had to share with you the courage of this woman, my niece Michelle. Faced with the same struggle, I would have given up long ago but she amazes me every day. Michelle will be on her own till her friend Lesley arrives and she will be undergoing around the clock testing starting this morning, so while encouragement texts and posts are fine, I would say calls probably not a great idea until the weekend, when she will be resting and not in treatment. Michelle, you are loved so much and no one can explain why you are being tested in this horrible way, but your strength and courage inspire and amaze us all.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 09:48:44 +0000
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