Meet my sister-in-law Melanie. I have known her for 13 years and I can honestly say we are friends – good friends. She is a wonderful wife and mother to four great children. Three are boys that are all under the age of 8.
I have blogged about her before when we first got “The News“. You see this last November, Melanie had a seizure in her bed early one morning. As a result, she had an MRI that showed a tumor in her brain. The news rocked our family to the core.
About Yahoo! Women Who Shine:
Yahoo! Shine wants to celebrate the women in your social circles who are blazing new trails, changing lives, and doing extraordinary things every day. Help give these inspiring women the recognition they deserve by nominating them for Women Who Shine. The woman who receives the most votes by the end of the program will win a $10,000 cash prize* (see terms and conditions).
You can nominate a women in your social circle in the following 8 categories:
- Activists
- Athletes
- Entrepreneurs
- Healers
- Public Services
- Mothers
- Survivors
- Teachers
My Yahoo! Women Who Shine Nominee
After an official diagnosis, stage 2 Astrocitoma mixed Oligodendroglioma, and two brain surgeries, Melanie is now tumor free but not cancer free. Melanie’s story, is not one of a victim though – it is one of challenge, growth, survival, love and best of all – hope. This is why I am nominating my sister-in-law Melanie for the Women Who Shine contest.
Three Amazing Things Learned From the Brain Tumor:
- God and family are what really matters
- The dreams that you have for your family need to be sought after – proactive living
- Getting healthy (mind and body) is vital
Melanie will never be “cancer-free”. Her life expectancy has improved but this tumor can eventually take her young life. But our greatest prayer and hope is that the tumor never grows back. Despite this unexpected medical crisis, Melanie has grown into a stronger woman – her faith, family relationships, and health have taken a front seat in her life. She is not a victim – she is a survivor.
This is why she should win in the Women Who Shine contest, don’t you agree?
Won’t you please take a moment of your time to vote for Melanie Kabo?ย
You can find Melanie at Bucket List Family to learn more about her story.
Yahoo! Women Who Shine – goo.gl/beL6k via @longwait4bella Vote for Melanie yhoo.it/UeO7Au #womenwhoshine #cancer #mother
โ LaVonne @Long Wait (@LongWait4Bella) September 17, 2012
*Disclosure: I was compensated for this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. To read more posts on this topic, click here.
Bonnie says
God is Amazing!
LaVonne says
Yes, He is Bonnie! Thanks for coming by.
Gena says
I’m so glad to hear she is doing okay and relying on God. That is the most important thing of all.
My father in law had a brain tumor removed 10 years ago. He doesn’t have cancer, but the after affects of something like that are huge. God bless your sister in law and your entire family!
LaVonne says
Wow, ten years later? That is great Gena. Thank you for kind words.
Kathleen says
How scary and she is very brave to not give up on life and be able to see lessons in her life experiences, great nominee!
LaVonne says
We are hoping she will win! ๐ Thanks, Kathleen for stopping by. I appreciate it.
melissa says
That is so scary. I am so glad she is doing okay and will continue praying!
LaVonne says
I sure appreciate that Melissa. Prayer really does work. We have learned that through this trial for sure.
Katie Smith says
How sweet to think of your sister in law that way. Its great to marry into a family where you can really make a good friend out of it.
Liza @ Views From the 'Ville says
What a touching story! I would say she definitely shines and definitely deserves to win. Good luck to her in the contest, and prayers for the entire family.
LaVonne says
Thank you Liza. I am going to add a vote link to this post once Yahoo Shine confirms that she has accepted her nomination. I am excited for her chance to win. God is good!
amber says
Good Luck.
Michelle says
Its great to marry into a family where you can really make a good friend out of it.Its a great and touching kind of stories..
Kim says
AH!!! I love Melanie!!! Any help you need, getting this out there, just let me know…
Sukhmandir Kaur says
A friend’s granddaughter was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor just after her second birthday. She was given 6 months to live with radiation which would offer no hope of cure. Instead they took her immediately to Hippocrates Institute for 3 weeks. She has been on exclusively raw foods (no fruit because sugar feeds tumors) for 3 1/2 years and is healthy although there is an affect of the tumor on her coordination. She is the only one alive out of 2400 diagnosed at that time. She has been under physicians care the entire time and has had laser light frequency treatments and turbsonic sound frequency treatments almost daily for a couple of years. A group of us have have been praying daily for her as well. There is hope. Keep praying.
Holly (Woman Tribune) says
It is so terrifying to see a loved one going through such a terrible illness, but it’s great that you and your family have found ways to come out of this experience stronger. Good luck with the Yahoo Women Who Shine contest!
Melly Schug says
She is such a survivor. I hope she continue to be doing fine!
Let’s just keep praying.
Beatriz says
Continue to pray…I really appreciate this inspiring stories…Hope your doing fine..
Maria (Mammahomemaker) says
I’m the daughter of a survivor myself. God works wonders when you whole-heartedly believe. I am so glad that she is doing better. Just keep the faith! I will be praying for you al!
AlannaB says
Voted! Prayers for her and your family!