THANK YOU! and hugs and smiles and love, and more hugs - gentle ones!! :)

I have THE best friends in the whole wide world! What a beautiful evening last night was with the celebration party my friends had for me! When I walked in the room, I couldn't believe how pretty everything was, and all the thought and hard work and planning that went into this event! I couldn't have been any happier, except maybe if my family could've have been there to share this experience with me! It truly was one of the best nights of my life and to see all of you that I haven't seen in such a long time, put (I think) a permanent smile on my face. How did I get so lucky to have such an incredible group of friends? I'm so thankful that you're in my life! And, all of the brand new friends I made last night, thank you so much for coming last night, and coming into my life! I feel so blessed!

I forgot to bring my camera last night, but there were some pictures taken, and I'll be happy to share them once I get a hold of them!

I want to thank everyone individually, and I'm terrible with names, and please please forgive me if I miss anyone, it is not intentional at all! Thank you thank you ~ The Old Angle Tavern in Ohio City and Alex, Dhruva, Meredith, Scott, Jill, Matt, Anita, Sam, Jim, Nathan, Assad, Tricia, Heather, Megan, Sean, baby Zoe, Alex (Sandy), Bill, Avril, Ruth, John, Martin, Holly, Kristen, Nikki, Angela, Alexis, Allison, Ron, Dougie, Steve, Chris, Matt, Diana, Arlene, Jennifer, Maureen, Rick, Susan, Marilyn, Joe, Karen, Meg, Dan, Terry, Jeff, Lydia, Billy, Mary, Wendy, Diane, Shannon, Aaron, Francesca, Roquel and all of the people who were upstairs that came down to see what was going on. There were a couple of new people that I met also and I apologize for not remembering your name, but thank you to you too!

I was smiling and laughing so much, my face was literally hurting, it was such a great night! And, congratulations to Assad, the winner of the Fusions Inc Salon and Day Spa package, and congratulations to Rick for winning the David Sedaris/Playhouse Square package! What a night!

Again, thank you so much, I really cannot tell you how uplifted I feel and the amount of love and support shown to me is truly amazing. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart!

Love love love,
Terri

PS - Hope is the belief that good things will happen!

I want to sincerely thank these people individually for donating to Mellon’s Melons website, in addition to the people that already have. I cannot believe the wonderful support I have, its truly overwhelming. Thank you ~ Heidi and Skip, Gordo’s Closet, Amy, Christopher, David, Alexis, Scott, Mick and Carly, Jason, Jessica, Kim, Geoff, Lydia, Shannon, Arlene, Susan, Wendy, Barbara, Cheryl, Jill, and so many others that I don’t readily have names for because it is against the law to write on cash. Anyway, I just really can’t say how grateful I am. Thank you sooo much for helping me to get better. Hope is the belief that good things will happen!

Much love and happiness to you and yours,
Terri

Terri's notes

Our goal is to raise $5000 by August 28th, to help cover medical co-pays & expenses.

Again, we cannot thank you all enough for all the kindness & support you've shown!!!
If you'd like to mail a check instead, please email mellonsmelons@gmail.com for a mailing address. The check can be made out to "Terri Mellon".

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Hello friends/family of Terri, & anyone on the interwebs coming to this page,

First, thank you so much for visiting this page.  We know that you either love Terri as we do, or you have love for someone who is/was in a similar situation.  Unfortunately, we all know someone who has battled cancer.

As you've figured, we've started this blog so that we can all help Terri in some way (off-set medical costs).

I thought that perhaps the best way to start this off is to share her story.  I'm re-posting her Notes that she's kept along the way, so that you are included in her journey to overcome this.

Thank you, thank you, thank you ALL.

~~~~~~~~

Words cannot express how thankful we all are that so many of you have reached out through the interwebs to connect with someone that could use your support. You have been so generous & kind!

We've planned a celebration event - to commemorate Terri's completion of the chemo treatments. Her mastectomy is scheduled for a few weeks from now. So, before that happens, we'd love for you ALL to come join us & Terri at the Old Angle on Sat. August 28th from 7pm - 11pm.

Please rsvp, write your thoughts/comments/well-wishes, share your own stories/anecdotes, give us a joke, whatever; at the Facebook Event page we've created for it.

Also, please share this & the FB event page for the party with others!

Feeling really good

I hope everyone is having a good weekend! I'm feeling better and getting back to normal life, finally. I've had such a great response to the Support Mellon's Melons website, thank you very much! In particular, special thanks go out to Tony, Kevin, Jerry, Bill, Jim, Jason, Leslie, Laura, Amy, Francis, Nathan, Heather, Michel, Krissy, Lisa, John, Jennifer, Nicole and last but not least, Dhruva. Dhruva, you have done so much for me, creating this website and maintaining it. I don't know how you do it? I cannot thank you enough, for everything!

I hope to see lots of friends at the celebration at the Old Angle on Aug. 28th! My friends put this together and it is sounding like its going to be a lot of fun! I'm really looking forward to spending a nice evening with friends and hopefully family, (Jay, that's you - I hope you and Katina can make it!!)

I'm getting nervous for my surgery, the closer it gets, the more real it is. But, my Dad and Ronda will be with me, and afterwards my sister Angela is coming to Cleveland, and then my stepdad Benny will be coming out around Oct. 1. I'll have lots of help, and lots of support. Thank you!

I'll probably be on facebook a lot during my recovery, resting and being at home. Then it will almost be winter, where did the time go? It was early Spring when I was diagnosed. Time has really flown by.

I hope everyone is well, and having a great soon to be last weekend of the summer.
Sending warm thoughts you way ~ Terri

Update - Aug. 11, 2010

I have to start by thanking my WONDERFUL friends and family. My friends got together and created a website to help raise funds because I was denied short-term disability, as my cancer is considered a pre-existing condition. I was surprised and delighted. It is so thoughtful and appreciated. My friends and family have been posting the website on their profiles, and the support is truly overwhelming.

Meredith, Stephanie, Petros, Kathleen, Tricia, Salvatore, Catherine, Anthony, Michelle, Kenneth, Kathleen, Robert, Kelly, Jennifer, Sheila, Ruth and Gina ~ my goodness, all I can say is THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!!!!

I’m starting to feel a little better. Will almost be back to normal in a week or less I hope. First appt with plastic surgeon this Friday. Very confused on the whole reconstruction phase, but will have a lot of answers after that appt.

Surgery on September 14, my Dad and Ronda are coming to stay with me. It doesn’t seem real, it doesn’t even seem like all of this has happened, but I’m sure the reality will set in soon enough. That date will be here in no time.

I’m hoping to have a couple good weeks, then the surgery, and then radiation after I heal from the surgery. Its not a short process, I figure I’m almost 1/3 of the way there. They are not removing the port until the pathology from surgery is completed. My surgeon said if there is one living cancer cell, I’ll have to have chemo again. I did not like hearing that, but I think everything will be just fine.

That’s all that’s going on around here, cancer, cancer, cancer. Blahg! I’m sick of this subject!

Anyway, hope this note finds everyone happy and healthy and having a fun summer!!!! ~ Terri

Happy to have this in my past

Wow, I'm really surprised how 'fast' the 3 1/2 months of chemo went. But, this one is by far the hardest. Everything tastes sweet, even water, yuk. Sleeping a lot, watching bad tv, but its over with, just gotta get through the last side effects, I'll be so happy in about 2 weeks or so!!

My Dad is coming for a visit this week, staying with my brother, they're going to the Bridgestone Golf Tournament, I think that's what its called. I'm sure they'll both enjoy that a lot! I'll try and get down to meet them for dinner after work, hoping to feel up to it.

I can't believe how much I've slept, even with the steroids. Those awful pills are now history!

Surgery is scheduled for September 14. Next phase of this journey. As it gets closer, the reality sets in a bit more. My Dad and Ronda are coming out and will be helping me with everything right after. I think it would be really tough to do on my own, so I'm sooo very happy they're coming out. Plus, just to spend time with them. And Jay and Katina are loaning me a recliner to use during my recovery, that will be really nice and helpful.

I feel so blessed to have such a great family and the wonderful support of my friends. It would be much harder to go through this without all the kind words, thoughts and prayers.
Thank you so much! I hope you and yours are happy and healthy.
oxoxox
Terri