Mel, this is the one I like!

This morning I got the news I’d been fearing for the past couple of weeks. My dear friend Melissa lost her almost 42 year fight with cystic fibrosis. This loss has definitely been the hardest for me because Mel was something special. We’d been in touch online for a few years and she was always there to offer support an advice for anything, CF or not. She has a daughter named Jazzy and a husband named Robert and they are from upstate New York.

Two years ago I got the chance to meet and spend some time and laughs with Mel when she was getting a “tune up” at St Vincent’s in NYC. I was in town visiting my uncle and seeing Broadway shows and heard Mel was in the club. I had to go meet her! When I walked through the door to her room I was greeted with a huge smile and even bigger hug..not before gowning and masking up though!  We immediately got to talking about life, family, music and everything else. Both of us laughed so hard we broke into coughing fits several times. What a great time.

The thing I remember most is when Mel’s physical therapists came to get her for some treadmill walking. I joined them in the exercise room and helped Mel laugh through her session. I was dying because she was in these giant slippers that looked like sneakers and she was just flopping away and talking the entire time. Hilarious!!!! She’s working as I’m lounging on exercise equipment. Mel came up with the name “Half Marathon” for me that day because I had just bought new running shoes a few blocks away and I told her I was starting to train for my first half marathon. Mel being Mel, razzed me because I was only doing a half and not a full..and she adopted that name for me which stuck with every message and email we sent to each other.

When I left the hospital that day I knew I had met someone special. Someone who I could always rely on for a laugh and smile. Knowing Mel was a huge NY Mets fan I decided I wanted to get her a new Mets tee shirt. So I searched the city high (Times Square) and low (China Town) to find the perfect shirt. Sadly I just couldn’t find one that I thought was perfect. Today I only wish I would have found the right shirt so I could have seen her smile again.

Recently Mel’s daughter Jazzy has been emailing me. Jazz is a great kid and has always been interested in the Rock CF scene because she loves the rock and roll…I LOVE her for that! She has been telling me about her crush (my lips were sealed as promised!), her favorite and least favorite subjects in school and other things. I’m so thrilled that she could open up and talk to me about this stuff. My heart is breaking for Jazzy and Robert right now and it kills me to think about all of this happening during this time of year.

I’m wracking my brain right now to think of a way to help Jazz and Robert through this time. I cannot stop thinking about Mel but luckily every thought I have is a great thought that involves a laugh.

I LOVE YOU MEL! Thanks for the friendship, support laughs and love. Breathe Easy.

Until we meet again.

Rock CF,

Emily

P.S. My 7 mile run today was fueled by Mel..thanks for the push.