In Michelle's Words - A young cancer patient's diary
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Michelle
passed away on October 4, 2004 at 10:40 AM. Prior to her
death, she had been hospitalized three times in 6 weeks due
to seizures and overall poor health. In early September
2004, Michelle visited her doctor, complaining of horrible
pain that was making it difficult for her to walk. Tests
revealed that her metastasized colon cancer had spread from
her lungs to her right hip and left femur. Chemotherapy to
treat the tumors in Michelle's lungs was suspended and she
began radiation therapy to destroy the new tumors in her hip
and femur. Too tired to drive herself to her 14th(!)
radiation appointment, Michelle called her Dad at work and
asked him to take her instead. While at the doctor's office,
she experienced a seizure and was hospitalized. Tests
confirmed the presence of two new tumors in her brain which
could not be treated with chemo, and growth in the tumors in
her lungs. Michelle had also lost a lot of weight and was
no longer able to eat solid foods as the tumors in her lungs
were pressing on her esophagus making it extremely difficult
for her to swallow. She was moved to hospice care on
Friday, October 1st once it became clear that there were no
further treatment options available to her. She died a few
days later, surrounded by family and her beloved pet rats
Tasselhof and Mongo. Michelle
remained a fighter to the very end. Even when it was clear
that the end was near, she courageously held on until her
family and the nurses gave her permission to go. A memorial
service was held for her the following Friday at River Hills
Methodist Church in Burnsville, Minnesota. Her remains were
cremated, as she had requested in her will and her ashes are
scheduled to become part of an artificial reef at an as yet
undisclosed location in the Gulf of Mexico in 2005.
Copyright © 2004
- 2005 by Michelle Richardson - Church Host - all rights
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