Sending love and positive thoughts to you both!

Sending love, healing thoughts, and lots of hugs.

XOXOX!!!

Sending love and empathy from a fellow traveller on this road, you will feel like you are on a rollercoaster, wish I was nearer for support purposes but you are not alone xx

Hugs. Definitely hugs. :-)

Sending love and prayers.

My heart goes out to you Melly. You are not alone. Sending you positive thoughts and prayers. Take care my friend.

Oh sweet Melly. I am in tears. I have been where you are - 3 times. I did not have to have chemo so I cannot share that, but I do know all too well that initial reaction to this news. I thought I might as well be walking around with a big red C on my chest. I will send something to Leslie for you. I will hold you in my heart with healing thoughts and prayers. Hang in there.

I am sending lots of love and hugs and strength. Tears run and my heart aches for you. Fight, my friend, fight!

Love and hugs. Lots of it. A a little more.

Sending lots of love and healing thoughts!

I send you lots of love from the UK; but even at this distance I know you are already full of love and so much energy, now you have to use it all for yourself, so you can come back and share it with us again.

Leslie, thank you for your care and the loving help you are giving my daughter. Friends and advocates like you will help her pull through with flying colors.

Much love and healing thoughts! We will be here when you are ready to talk and share, Melanie!

Thanks, Leslie, for being a good friend and sharing with us while Melly is not yet ready.

also sending positive thoughts

Melly, love you. wishing you strength. please know I'm here for you......... soooo sorry you are going through this.
keep makin' your art..as you know, art heals.

Hugs hugs prayers and more hugs from Smush and Sparty!

Sending you my love,healing prayers and strength.

Oh Melly - welcome to my family - Cancer Survivor famdamily.

I was diagnosed with bone cancer 18 years ago - just around this date. It was the HARDEST and BEST thing to ever happen to me. Yep - BEST - you'll see.

POSITIVE thoughts:) Your mind is POWERFUL.

LOVE you,
jojo

ps - don't waste your money on a wig - it just spins around on a bald head in the wind. . .

Sending lots of positive thoughts. One of my relatives was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago, went through chemo, kept her hair, and is cancer-free. You can get through this, and will have as much support as all of your friends, family, and fans can give. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers, Melly.

My heart feels for you. Love sent your way. I hope you heal well and fast.

You are loved. You will beat this. Repeat until done. Sending healing thoughts just in case. And Leslie, thank you for being such a loving friend to Melly and sharing this with us. Its journey that is better off shared, even if that's difficult.

You are loved. You will beat this...

Love love love love love to you, Melly. And David too!

I am sending all my love your way, Melanie. My mom is a 15 year breast cancer survivor. Hang tough and remember that there are so many people who care, and we are here if you need us.

Melly,

Sending you strength and heart-felt wishes and hopes. Ask for help when you need it... in the meantime, ignore all else that doesn't send positivity and love in your direction. We're all here for you.

Melly, you have been so good to me and to all of us, and we all care about you more than you will ever know. Sending love to you and David. You will do what you need to, and you will come out on the other side.

it will be ok

Melly.... a soft hug and sharing your tears...I can taste the salt.
I am sending you warm love and am hoping for the best... this cancer has come a long way toward being beaten...I think like Jude... 'it will be ok'....

Melanie, I only met you once (at the Dinner for Eight dinner in Houston), but have admired you for a long time. My very best wishes for an absolute and full recovery ... from all I know and have heard about you, you are a very strong lady, and will do very well. As my Grandma would say, "Keep your chin up!"

Much love and prayers for your recovery, Melanie, because you can recover from this terrible thing. You have so many friends who have never met you (like me) but who have been touched by you as an artist. Hold fast.

Hi Melanie, My daughter Janet met you in Chicago and loves your work so much - so I feel like I know you. I never did get my head around this diagnosis 2.5 years ago, I just kept moving forward and my daughter was with me every step of the way. You will be in my heart and I wish you the very best. You will beat this, I have no doubt, you are strong - I see it in your eyes. Always be positive and get plenty of rest.

Melanie, this message carries much love, healing energy, and a huge cyber-hug. Make that two--think bear. Thank you, Leslie, for helping to bring us all into this circle of love and support.

Healing thoughts...

best wishes

Hi! Melanie, I was diagnosed with stage 3 uterine cancer 4 years ago next month. I went through surgery, 2 months of radiation, and 6 months of chemotherapy. I cried at first because I was so sad and overwhelmed. I wondered why I had to go through this...after much soul searching I realized it was not anyone's fault...just that our bodies are not perfect and this is not a perfect world. I knew I would lose my hair; so I bought a present for myself to open on that day. I had a wig prepared as close to my own hair as I could find, not really expensive. When that day came, I put on the wig, then opening my present. Honestly, I NEVER cried over my hair even though I was bald for a year. I realized that there are much more important things than temporary hair loss like family, friends, pets, and caring people who will support you and help you through this. I decided to wear a wig and wear makeup because I wanted to look and feel as normal as possible...wigs are so natural these days that most people didn't even know; and when you look in the mirror, you look almost the same to yourself even though you are dealing with so much. (My wig did not twirl around in the wind because I had a nylon cap under it that stabalized it to my head.) My hair came back, and I never...I mean ever...complain about a bad hair day now. Being brave through this will make it easier on those around you and help them realize that they could go through this too if they had to...they are scared, too. Even the chemotherapy was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. My last advice would be to find things that you enjoy doing to make this as pleasant as possible for yourself. You can get through this, and there is life after cancer diagnosis. Most of all, remember, Melanie, that positive thinking, faith, and prayers are more important than you could ever know.

Miss Melly, I know you are scared... probably terrified! I would be. But you have so much love and support coming your way from all of us who have been touched by you! We'll be here for you, and I will pray each day for your speedy recovery.
Blessings and hugs,
Judy

From one of your legions of lurkers:

I wish there were words to make it all better, Melly. I wish this difficult path didn't lay before you.

But you can do difficult things. Use the arsenal of friends and family to support yourself, but you are strong and you can do difficult things.

May God hold you in his loving arms. All the best.

Chris

Will keep you in my prayers. love,

Mellie Mels, be strong, we are all with you.

Melly Mells-
We love and are behind you 100% of the way. If you need anything, just ask. My thoughts, wishes, and prayers for your happiness are with you, David, and Arrow. XOXO my friend! Now, what kind of amazing hat can I make you? Hmmm...
(And thanks Leslie for helping out our girl!)
Cheryl / Muppin

Hugging you and sending my best healing thoughts your way, dear Melly. You are in my heart.

I read aloud for you the blessing for a friend on the arrival of illness by John O'Donohue. Here is a portion of it:

When the reverberations of shock subside in you,
May grace come to restore you to balance.
May it shape a new space in your heart
To embrace this illness as a teacher
Who has come to open your life to new worlds.

Melly we LOVE YOU and are sending BIG HUGS, WARM THOUGHTS, MUCH PEACE and LIGHT your way!!!
-Tracie

Melly,

Keep your chin up and know that you are loved. Sending more love, prayers and healing to you!

Oh, honey! We'll be brave with you - and for you when you just really can't for a while. Whatever you want, or need, or feel is ok. Just want, need and feel it.

More good thoughts coming your way. Do what you need to do, how you need to do it. Take care, Marjorie

Melly,
Sending you my prayer for healing, peace, and God's loving embrace of comfort.

I don't usually reply on blogs. Just had too! I am 3 1/2 years out from my BC diagnosis. I know the anxiety, the questions swirling in your mind. My friend the best advise I can offer is to take care of YOU!
Sending prayers and full healing for you! We will all be here WHEN you are ready!
A fellow blog lurker,
Susan

just mailed a package filled with big Texas love and healing light, Deb

We've never met, but I always follow your blog and love when you are on QATV.
Sending you lots of good vibes and strong healing thoughts. Many hugs...
Gisela

Hi Melly, Just wanted to tell you to keep your chin up and a positive attitude, it is one of the most important things to beat this junk! I am a 22 year survivor of breast cancer. I was diagnosed at 29 years old, recently divorced, no children and my first thought was not survival but that I would never have children. Silly looking back and I did get a family later, 5 wonderful step-children but that's another story. LOL I had a full mastectomy (lymph nodes were involved) and 6 months of chemo, did not lose all my hair, it was getting very thin but never had to buy a wig or head covering. I only got sick once during chemo and I had a very bad headache when I took chemo that day and I really think that contributed to being sick that day. My best advice is take a pro active involvement, feel free to question your doctors, if they don't take an attitude that you are partners in this fight then find one(s) that does. You now are in a "sisterhood" that you never signed up for but we're there for you, lots of info out there and support. You are in my prayers! I remember what it's like to not want to talk about it, and that's OK. I hope this helps, I know what I looked for was the survivors, it helped to know that it is beatable and they are out there. I know the cancer changed my life but for the better, I changed a lot of things, put my priorities in place and it made me a better person. One thing I did after paying off my medical bills was buy myself the best sewing machine I could find and take quilting lessons. I told people I just paid for something I didn't want now I was ready to pay for something for me. I found a life long friend, my BFF LOL, in my quilt teacher. We've been friends for almost 20 years now and I am so grateful. I have surrounded myself with great creative women since then and have a lot of friendships because of that one thing I wanted to learn. Sorry this is so long, take care of yourself, I'll be following your blog and keeping you in my prayers.
Pam

Oh, Melly, my heart goes out to you. Sending good thoughts daily, and many many blessings. Reach out and feel all the love coming your way...
Carol

Love and prayers to you, Melanie.

Melly - the post came to me through Interweave. I too am a BC survivor - just a few months really. I completed 16 weeks of chemo in April '10. I remember vividly the overwhelming sense of not knowing the right questions, having too much information, wanting to "get started" but not sure I really did. Take it one day at a time. And most importantly, work with a doctor you can admire, and do what the nurses tell you to do. It's really the nurses who are the sheroes on the battle lines. They will be your rocks. My thoughts are with you and my best for a full recovery. BP

Melly,I'm so sorry that you have to go through this. My thoughts and prayers are with you. And they'll be with you for all the days to come on your road back to total wellness. There is so much love and positive energy coming your way from so many people! I hope you can take comfort and find strength in that.

Stay positive! Hugs...

I am a lurker usually, but wanted you to know I am keeping you in my thoughts. Much love and positive energy.

Dear Melly, you are not alone. We're here praying and believing for your complete healing.

Melly, I too normally reading not writing, but I wanted to say 'You can do this!' Be strong and positive, my thoughts are with you.

Oh Melanie,

All my love and Hugs. Positive vibs flying to you from Australia

Warm Hugs and Positive Thoughts!

xo

I'll be praying for you. Honest, not just saying that. Too many women, young and old, have journeyed (are journeying, will journey)on your same path.

I will not only pray for your cure, but for strength and comfort for you on your journey.

Stay as positive as you can and talk to us when you feel able.

Once you choose hope, anything's possible. ~Christopher Reeve

Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops... at all. ~Emily Dickinson

Never, never, never give up. ~Winston Churchill

You are in my prayers.

Hey Dude!

Jeff and I are holding you close to us! However daunting this may seem, this can be an exciting journey -- and you can do it -- and we're right behind you!

Call if you need to chat or if we can do anything for you! We are at your service! xoxom (908) 876-1208

Adding my positive vibes, healing wishes, and encouraging thoughts to the mix....you will get through this!

healing energy coming your way...

I'm thinking of you Melly!

Healing thoughts coming your way. Stay positive!!!

Melly,
I am so sorry that you are having to go through this. Wish I could give you a real hug, but til now the cyber one will have to do. My heart is with you.

I told you once before that I hope that everything that you give out comes back to you! I still do, you've touched the lives of so many of us and given us inspiration and encouragement. Now I only wish that I could place all these words and loving thoughts under tulle and stitch them up into a guardian angel doll that would take all your worries and fears from your shoulders. May you find the courage to face this as your eyes did the camera in the photo on this post, head on and strong. Along with the loads of love and hugs I'll include strength/courage.

Melly: my thoughts, prayers and healing wishes are with you.
Marsha

love and light....I hope you can find solace in the things/people/activities that bring you joy..

Last March our daughter was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma of the left breast. She had chemo therapy every two weeks for 6 months, then surgery,and then 37 radiation treatments. She is still receiving Herceptin every three weeks and Femera every day for the next 5 years. So far so good. A few things that made her life more comfortable....silk pillow cases and silk camisoles from Dharma...official Harley Davidson do-rags and t-shirts with "smack Talk" from CafePress. If I can answer any questions or if you would like to contact Kate I am here for you. She did start a Facebook group called "Breast Friends" and you may want to look into CaringBridge.com for a communication outlet. Remember FROG...Fully Rely On God.

Sending you love, hugs and prayers.

Sending you love, hugs and prayers.

My dear, dear friend:
You once said my love for you was fierce - well you were right and I am bringing it out in full force. You know that I have your back....100% of the way. And I am putting those cancer gods on alert - get the hell out our way! Visualize yourself healthy, Melly and take refuge in your art.

I LOVE YOU!
Lisa Chipetine

And I have tears in my eyes as I write this. Leslie, what a post...

Melly, we're all behind you and going to help you through this, ok?

Stay strong and know we're thinking of you...

Love you, Melly,

Pokey

If you knit, this hat would be adorable on Melly! I'm not suggesting it to plug an Interweave product, just thought it would be perfect for Miss Melly.
http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2011/01/24/cutest-hat-ever.aspx
Love to you Melly!

Hi Melly,
Sending positive vibes your way. Keep smiling your wonderful smile.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Hugs,
Barb

Thoughts and prayers are with you. You will be a better person when you come out on the other end of this unwanted journey. There is a wonderful community of friends and acquaintances here who are all pulling for you. You are greatly loved and love can heal many things.
luv Cindy

Melly, we are all traveling along with you on this journey to help with the heavy lifting, and jump for joy with you when you beat this thing. Wrapping you in love.

My love and support go out to you Melanie! I was diagnosed with appendix cancer two years ago, and just got back from a follow-up CT scan after the last surgery, so you may contact me if you ever want to talk about anything from cancer to fiber. Reading the comments posted, you will find out what fabulous friends you have to support you and help you get through this. You will have oodles of love streaming your way and that will help when your fingers and feet are cold and your energy levels are low from the chemo. Plus, hair grows back! My bald streak is covered with lots of hair now (and the grey hairs haven't returned! *grins*)

Know you are loved, and we are here for you.
Hoping to be a new friend *hugs*,
Ruth

Oh, Melanie. I wish you didn't have to travel this road. And I wish I could say something to make it better. When you can, use your art to process your emotions. It helps the spirit. If it feels better to work on things you can control, line up help to support you during treatment. Folks will offer to help, but they will likely feel helpless not knowing how to assist you and your family. I found that using Lotsa Helping Hands was a great tool to organize help, visits, meals, etc(www.lotsahelpinghands.com). I got free house cleaning during treatment from cleaning for a reason (www.cleaningforareason.org). As far as hats, I found that once I lost my hair, nothing fit quite right, so I stuck with wearing buffs (www.buffwear.com) or going bald. My treatment was during the summer and too hot for a wig. If your treatment center has a support group, I encourage you to attend before, during and after treatment. It's helpful to have women who know exactly what you are going through and can prepare you for what lies ahead. Better yet, find an art therapy group. MSKCC has both individual and group treatment. Take care of yourself, it will be tough, but you can get through it.

Melly, I, too, am sending all the best vibes and virtual hugs as you go through this stuff. Didn't have breast cancer - it was stage 3 colon 10 years ago; been through chemo and know that as not-fun as it is, it zaps the bad guys. Didn't lose ALL my hair but enough! And it came back in curly!!

Glad you've got a good medical team - and believe me, you have all of us who are with you in spirit, supporting and loving you.

Melly, My Shiva Dancer is dancing for you. Remember us laughing, ok? We are very funny and and we are filled with love and light. I love you, The Pampster

Mellie; You are such a true spirit of love and light. I am certain you will meet this development with the great creative energy and solid determination that you have always shown in your incredible body of work. Love, love love to you fellow artist and strength and even more love. xoxo

Oh, Melanie...I vividly remember the first time I met you (at a meeting of NSQG) and thought to myself, This Girl is Going Places. And you have! And you will! You have so many people pulling for you...sending warm hugs and all good thoughts.

Melly-
Things like this are so hard to understand and I'm sorry you will have to deal with this experience, but I feel such confidence in your ability to deal with each thing that comes your way. You are a reservoir of strength, beauty and creativity. Hug your loved ones close, and know that there are hundreds like me out here in cyberspace holding you close.

Melly, my thoughts and prayers are with you. If I can pass along any lessons learned from battling illness, it is this: you will have good days and you will have bad days, and you will have days when it's impossible to feel positive about anything. Be gentle with all the sides of yourself, even the ones that surprise you, even the ones that don't seem the "best" parts of you. They all have a role in your healing. You are loved!

You WILL beat this! Will is key here. Positive attitude, the love of everyone here, friends and family will be key. My heart sends healing energy your way. Hold on and fight!

Stay strong. Do what you need to do and don't forget who you are and what makes you feel alive. You are superfantastic and I love your work! Everything will be OK.

Stay strong in your faith. Your faith and belief will get you through your darkest moments. You have a wonderful support group that are all praying for you. Hugs,love and prayers are amazing medicine.

Melly...

Please know your inspiration is a huge comfort and joy for us. We all send our love and tender thoughts your way...be strong, do everything you can to beat this and know we are here for you all the way!

Bethany, Kingston,ON

Melly--I felt awful hearing about your diagnosis. Know that you have lots of friends, students and supporters cheering you on and sending love and care your way. Take care of yourself and incorporate your art into your healing. Ask for support or humor or love or whatever you need when you need it from your community.

Sending you love, support and energy.

Dearest Melly, Our son is in the fight of his life with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma.. He lives in Budapest, Hungary with his wife, Judit and 4 young children. I can give more of my energy to send to you to be strong, get a lot of rest, stay close to your man... You are in my thoughts and prayers, and sure will miss you not being in Charlotte, NC this year...

xoxo

My heart breaks for you. Your amazing spirit will get you through it all. Keep making art and journaling and that will help you heal. I am sending lots of love and good wishes your way.

Mellie,

Although we only met for a few moments in Houston a couple of years ago, I follow your career closely (I gave you a wooden bird from the Wichi Indians in Argentina).
My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years back, and I was with her during her treatments. I wish you strength to get through these difficult moments, love to help you conquer all and above all, remember that you are in our thoughts and our prayers.
Whatever you need, whenever, we all here for you.
Ana

Melanie -
I haven't "talked" with you yet because i've never been in the position you now find yourself, and i think, "Maybe i don't know the 'right' thing to say..." But we are both humans, capable of putting ourselves in each others' place just a bit, i think.

I've been thinking about you often since Leslie posted.

I don't know you, but i've been reading your blog for a while now, and i feel like i know you a little... Even though you've never heard of me, nor heard from me... 'til now.

Leslie's post made me shed a tear. A tear for you, and a tear from all the responses you've recieved. There's a lot of Love here!

Do not think that you are alone.
You are *not* alone in this!

-W

I am sorry to hear of the diagnosis Melanie. I can remember my own like it was yesterday, it took me a while to accept what I heard and all that was before me. I am now a 25 yr BC survivor. Do try to find something to smile and laugh about every day, maybe a song, a poem, a funny children's book, whatever. A bit of humor thrown in helps the soul to bear through it all.

Melly, Just know that you are always in our thoughts and that you are loved.
Belinda

sending love, prayers, and hugs and more love your way, melly. xoxoxoxo

I just saw this post today. May I add my prayers and hopes to all the others expressed here. You are such a positive force. I am thinking of you.

My prayers and wishes for all the best road ahead. I just got back online after a few weeks away and was so sorry to hear about your cancer. It's obvious that you have a world of friends sending their love.

All these comments, and Leslie and your Mom's support - you are a rich woman, indeed! The shock will wear off, and then it will be getting through it. Sounds like an opportunity to start a new sketchbook/journal to put your private thoughts and visions in a safe place. Watch funny movies - my favorite is still "Singing in the Rain". Please let others do for you what you cannot do - it is a gift you give them. Peace and healing thoughts coming your way!

Dear Melly, I normally lurk because I enjoy seeing your creativity and learning all I can. I wish you lots of strength and would like you to know you have so many, many friends sending good wishes and support your way. I am among those. Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. Ambal.

Positive thought and well wishes as you begin your path against this insipid disease.

Hi Melanie,
Know that there is more money poured into Breast Ca than any other cancer, it is so much more curable. I was diagnosed at 43. I am now 8 years out. Chemo, radiation, lumpectomy, the whole shebang... Things that got me thru- a caringbridge web-site, port for chemo, rest, a black journal for dark thoughts and red for good thoughts. This is a difficult road for any woman- especially a young woman to travel. I was treated at Kirklin Clinic in Birmingham, AL. I learned to ask for exactly what I needed. I had trouble sleeping because of fear, I took anti-anxiety meds, sleep meds sometimes. I hated taking this stuff because I feared getting "hooked". I learned to let go of that fear and do what I needed to do to get thru. I survived, still am and am doing well. Know that it is ok to cry...be afraid. If I had to do it again, and if I ever do have to do it again- I will practice yoga. Massages helped me tremendously. Please feel free to contact me. You have always been an inspiration for me. Blessings,
Cathy B from Birmingham, AL

Just back to blogs from a long break. Sending warm regards and healing thoughts.

Hi Melly. I was so sad to hear this news. My mom went through surgery and radiation for breast CA just 2 1/2 years ago. We were on our way to Singapore before the birth of my second son. We had planned a grand and relaxing time photographing Singapore and sight seeing before the baby came. Life is not always as you plan it Instead we saw the surgeon, and she had a ton of scans and tests. She had surgery within seven days of our arrival. She healed for a few weeks, the baby came and within a week we started radiation. I drove her to every radiation treatment for 7 weeks and the baby came too. During our down time after surgery and radiation, we watched all 7 years of the Gilmore Girls. It was something we could do together - it was fun and made us laugh. Being together helped us get through what needed to be done to get us to the next stage of our lives. I was so happy that I could be there with her every step of the way. Being a doctor, I had the advantage of knowing what to ask and what everything meant. Surround yourself with people you love and doctors you trust. I think you have already done this. Look at all the love that has gathered around you on your blog. Meeting you and spending time with you last summer in Chicago was the highlight of my trip to CREATE. You are a wonderful teacher and an exceptional artist. Your amazing energy and positive attitude will see you through this difficult stage so that you arrive safely and healthily into the next new phase of your life. I'm glad that Pat, Leslie and all of your art friends are there to help you through. We are all thinking of you too. I wish you strength, laughter, and a speedy recovery. Much love, Janet.

Hi, Melly,
I had the great pleasure of taking a soy wax batik class from you in Phoenix last summer. I just heard about the cancer and wanted to send good wishes and hugs your way!

I do not know you personally but from your work, books, articles I feel that I know you. I am a breast cancer survivor of almost 25 years. Treatment is much better now than it was then. I got 3 good pieces of advice that I will pass along: 1) feel whatever you are feeling. You don't have to sink and stay down, but acknowledge it to yourself. 2) let others do whatever they can for you; it is all they can do to fight your cancer. 3) Look at the future as you want it to be. Like a race car driver passing another car, if she looked to the left, she would hit the car she was passing. If she looked to the right, she would hit the wall. She can only look straight ahead at the track where she intends to end up. Wear blinders! There was a time during chemo that I almost lost my way and I had to remember #2. My husband made me see the light at the end of the tunnel. Hang in there. YOU CAN BEAT THIS. And you will learn invaluable lessons as a result.

Forgot to add a sense of humor helps as it's just a part of me/my life. I figure that cancer should not be "the big C" as that gives it too much power, so I when I laughed at anything conncected to it, I felt it diminished it. A wicked sense of humor makes everything better!

Melly, my heart goes out to you as well as healing thoughts. You are on a road that unfortunately many of us have traveled (13 + years ago for me). When we reach down deep within ourselves we find strengths we didn't know we had. Don't waste any time asking "WHY". There is no answer. Positive thoughts are healing thoughts. Hugs.

Another survivor here - not BC but cervical. Melanie, you have the most important survival ingredients: positive thinking, a strong will, and the prayers and good vibes from a world full of supporters who love you. I hope the scarf I am sending will bring you laughter and good cheer. Big hugs.