Hello, my name is Melissa! It is wonderful to meet you!
Although fighting these diseases and preparing for what life post-transplant will look like are a huge part of my life, those things do not define who I am as a human being. I was born and raised in Port Angeles, WA. I moved away after high school to attend Vet Tech school but after fighting my severe allergies for two years from working with animals, it became pretty clear this would not be a healthy life for me so I moved back home. I had my daughter, Elizabeth (you will see her referenced as Eli in my blogs, it is her preferred name) in my early twenties and I truly believe she saved my life, which was beginning to steer towards a self-destructive and unhealthy lifestyle. But once I laid eyes on this beautiful and perfect thing that I created and knowing that I was now responsible for her life and molding her into a good, kind human being - it was easy to walk away from a life with very little direction and parties every weekend. I had my son, Alden four years later. Through my entire pregnancy we were told I was carrying another girl. So imagine our surprise when at my final ultrasound he revealed that was not the case! Twig and berries! I have been blessed with two amazing children and have spent their entire lives trying to be the best mother I can be. Although they are older now (Eli is 18 and Alden is 14 as of this day in 2020), I have found I truly enjoy these older versions just as much as when they were babies, toddlers, elementary age, you name it! I love seeing their true personalities shine and get to watch them develop into these super cool, kind, funny, highly intelligent and driven human beings. What else could a girl ask for?
I am incredibly close to all of my family. My mom actually lives with us and I don't know what we would do without her! My sister, Rochelle and my brother, Randy both live in Port Angeles with their spouses and I would do anything for any of them! And I am reminded constantly what a beautiful relationship we have, they are not just my support system, they are my best friends.
I don't talk about it much but have decided this blog will be a 'pull out all the stops' style. Nothing left unsaid. I know in creating and maintaining this blog I will reminisce, I will laugh, I will get angry, I will get sad but mostly I will be grateful. One topic that I will only touch on briefly because it really is an important part of my life and who I am today is my marriage. I was married in 2014 to Rory and we bought our first home together that same year. It is a beautiful home and what feels like my safe space now. We never really settled into 'the ideal' marriage. He was in the Coast Guard so our entire dating history was spent with him living in California and then in New Hampshire. So it was a huge adjustment when he retired and he was at home full time with his wife and two step children - all of which he had never attempted cohabitation with! I won't say anything badly about Rory, as we have managed to maintain a very respectful, loving and supportive friendship. I truly believe some people just aren't cut out to deal with seeing their loved one navigate what comes with a terminal illness. It was difficult for him and I felt it would be best for my health and my spirit (as well as for Rory's!) to seek a support system that I knew could handle the good, the bad, and the ugly things that come with my diagnosis. I will never fault him for not being able to be there for me in the ways that I truly needed. And he will probably always be a part of my life in some way. Currently as I write this (August of 2020), we have been separated from living together for 13 months. We decided in March of this year that it was time to look into getting a divorce. So, that is where we are with that and I will just say I am thankful for his continued support and the reminders now and then how much he truly cares and that he loves us.
I am a proud member of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, located in Sequim, WA. Canoe Journey during the summer used to be my way to 'reset' for the year. Being on the water with my fellow pullers, singing songs, taking in the beautiful scenery only found in the Pacific Northwest as we pull from Tribe to Tribe to our final destination - there is nothing else like it and it is impossible to describe the spiritual feelings associated with it unless you have done it yourself! I hope someday after I have my transplant to be back out on the water with my people - maybe not even as a puller but to be able to sing our traditional native songs - well, I just can't wait for that day to come!
I have worked all sorts of jobs since I was a teenager. Most notably, is my time spent working for the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe. I began in payroll at 7 Cedars Casino back in 2005. In 2008, I was recruited to work more closely with our native people in the Wellness Program. That job gave me so many opportunities to learn about our people, I began to immerse myself more and more into the culture at that point in my life. AND I was helping our Tribal Citizens! It was a great job but an even better opportunity opened up for me to work as a Case Manager in the Social Services department for the Tribe. I was there for a few years and I absolutely loved going to work every day! My coworkers were all incredibly intelligent and compassionate people. We were able to strengthen ties with the folks in our community. It was truly my dream job. Sadly, my disease made me decline so suddenly in February of 2020, I worked my last day and didn't even know it at the time. I called in sick one day because of my oxygen levels and just not being able to get enough air into my body so I figured resting at home might help my body reset. Just days later I was in ICU at University of WA, fighting for my life. I haven't been back to work since but am hopeful for what the future holds, once I am healthy enough!
I am incredibly close to all of my family. My mom actually lives with us and I don't know what we would do without her! My sister, Rochelle and my brother, Randy both live in Port Angeles with their spouses and I would do anything for any of them! And I am reminded constantly what a beautiful relationship we have, they are not just my support system, they are my best friends.
I don't talk about it much but have decided this blog will be a 'pull out all the stops' style. Nothing left unsaid. I know in creating and maintaining this blog I will reminisce, I will laugh, I will get angry, I will get sad but mostly I will be grateful. One topic that I will only touch on briefly because it really is an important part of my life and who I am today is my marriage. I was married in 2014 to Rory and we bought our first home together that same year. It is a beautiful home and what feels like my safe space now. We never really settled into 'the ideal' marriage. He was in the Coast Guard so our entire dating history was spent with him living in California and then in New Hampshire. So it was a huge adjustment when he retired and he was at home full time with his wife and two step children - all of which he had never attempted cohabitation with! I won't say anything badly about Rory, as we have managed to maintain a very respectful, loving and supportive friendship. I truly believe some people just aren't cut out to deal with seeing their loved one navigate what comes with a terminal illness. It was difficult for him and I felt it would be best for my health and my spirit (as well as for Rory's!) to seek a support system that I knew could handle the good, the bad, and the ugly things that come with my diagnosis. I will never fault him for not being able to be there for me in the ways that I truly needed. And he will probably always be a part of my life in some way. Currently as I write this (August of 2020), we have been separated from living together for 13 months. We decided in March of this year that it was time to look into getting a divorce. So, that is where we are with that and I will just say I am thankful for his continued support and the reminders now and then how much he truly cares and that he loves us.
I am a proud member of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, located in Sequim, WA. Canoe Journey during the summer used to be my way to 'reset' for the year. Being on the water with my fellow pullers, singing songs, taking in the beautiful scenery only found in the Pacific Northwest as we pull from Tribe to Tribe to our final destination - there is nothing else like it and it is impossible to describe the spiritual feelings associated with it unless you have done it yourself! I hope someday after I have my transplant to be back out on the water with my people - maybe not even as a puller but to be able to sing our traditional native songs - well, I just can't wait for that day to come!
I have worked all sorts of jobs since I was a teenager. Most notably, is my time spent working for the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe. I began in payroll at 7 Cedars Casino back in 2005. In 2008, I was recruited to work more closely with our native people in the Wellness Program. That job gave me so many opportunities to learn about our people, I began to immerse myself more and more into the culture at that point in my life. AND I was helping our Tribal Citizens! It was a great job but an even better opportunity opened up for me to work as a Case Manager in the Social Services department for the Tribe. I was there for a few years and I absolutely loved going to work every day! My coworkers were all incredibly intelligent and compassionate people. We were able to strengthen ties with the folks in our community. It was truly my dream job. Sadly, my disease made me decline so suddenly in February of 2020, I worked my last day and didn't even know it at the time. I called in sick one day because of my oxygen levels and just not being able to get enough air into my body so I figured resting at home might help my body reset. Just days later I was in ICU at University of WA, fighting for my life. I haven't been back to work since but am hopeful for what the future holds, once I am healthy enough!
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