Mel Sudsbury Swing's POWER OVER CANCER!!!
Donation protected
Melanie Sudsbury-Swing has been one of my best friends for almost 25 years. We have shared “fall on the ground” laughter, and tears of loss and sadness over the years. In the fall of 2018 we cried the most fearful tears when she learned she had Stage 3 Small Cell Lung Cancer.
She claims that “she couldn’t have done the grueling long hours of Chemo and Radiation without me”over the winter. It struck me, writing this letter, how very strange that was coming from HER!She has always fended for herself! What I mean to say is that she is one tough cookie. Despite Mel’s tiny size, she has always been larger than life with a fiery zest for all things wonderful and beautiful in life. Whether it was organizing a music festival (where we met), or planning her next photography shoot, her creative and kind soul was contagious. As a strong and independent lady she has worked as a very talented stylist/designer from everywhere to N.C., to GA., to CO. for over 30 years.
Melanie’s inner strength payed off. By the Spring of 2019, she was in remission! Her family and friends were elated to have this news. Unfortunately, her physical strength has left her unable to return to work. The bills for the treatments are astronomical as she did not have insurance at the time she was diagnosed. (Just one of her many bills at $65,000) During the hustle and bustle of having recently moved, marrying her long lost love,(Bryan) and buying a new home, the insurance detail had not quite been figured out yet. It just figures right! – that something of this magnitude in her health would happen when she finally decided to settle down, at age 50, after completely being in charge of all aspects of her own life. Not to mention, it should be the happiest time of her life!
Bryan and Mel still rejoiced in her news of remission. Bryan, having confidence Mel would be OK, had bought tickets to see Dead & Co. in Charlotte and two shows in Boulder as a Christmas present during the middle of her treatments. A group of old friends celebrated Mel’s remission by going to see the band together in Charlotte. Bryan and Mel are lifelong fans and Mel had adopted their lyrics “I will get by, I will survive” from song “Touch of Grey” as her mantra. We all burst into tears, when the Dead & Co. played the song for the encore. Maybe everything was looking up!
Returning home, the bills remained and stress was building for Bryan at work as the only bread winner. THEN TRAGEDY RANG AGAIN AT MEL AND BRYAN'S DOOR. Bryan was in a horrible car accident. So as I write, he remains in the hospital in critical condition. With a broken neck and severe head trauma, he has been in ICU 2 weeks. Soon Mel’s husband will be moved to a Brain Recovery Unit of the hospital. It is unclear if there will be permanent disability to his brain. It is most likely, that on top of everything else, he will be unable to return to work for quite some time, (if at all) and his own medical bills will no doubt be a lot.
After the cancer and so much stress about her husband, Mel’s already small frame, is now at less than 100 lbs. She struggles to find that amazing energy which shines a rare and uplifting kind of light. What she doesn’t understand (and I truly don’t!) is how she STILL is so positive about life. The fortitude with which she powered through each day of treatment was nothing less than inspiring. Melanie has always had an out-going fun personality when it comes to work, traveling to 100s of music events, and her love for the visual arts. However, she has a very pensive, reflective, respectful and deep side that simply doesn’t allow for being the “type” to ask for money; hence, my role in asking for your help. Needless to say, I am devastated at the suffering, pain, sadness, and hardship that has fallen upon my friend Mel. I want her infectious smile and truly powerful loving soul to return. The world is brighter when you are shining Melanie!
Melanie is now faced with her husband’s health crisis, her own cancer recovery, bankruptcy, and losing their home!
With neither Mel or Bryan able to work, I humbly ask for your prayers and urgent donations to help. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Sincerely, Lida Witherspoon
She claims that “she couldn’t have done the grueling long hours of Chemo and Radiation without me”over the winter. It struck me, writing this letter, how very strange that was coming from HER!She has always fended for herself! What I mean to say is that she is one tough cookie. Despite Mel’s tiny size, she has always been larger than life with a fiery zest for all things wonderful and beautiful in life. Whether it was organizing a music festival (where we met), or planning her next photography shoot, her creative and kind soul was contagious. As a strong and independent lady she has worked as a very talented stylist/designer from everywhere to N.C., to GA., to CO. for over 30 years.
Melanie’s inner strength payed off. By the Spring of 2019, she was in remission! Her family and friends were elated to have this news. Unfortunately, her physical strength has left her unable to return to work. The bills for the treatments are astronomical as she did not have insurance at the time she was diagnosed. (Just one of her many bills at $65,000) During the hustle and bustle of having recently moved, marrying her long lost love,(Bryan) and buying a new home, the insurance detail had not quite been figured out yet. It just figures right! – that something of this magnitude in her health would happen when she finally decided to settle down, at age 50, after completely being in charge of all aspects of her own life. Not to mention, it should be the happiest time of her life!
Bryan and Mel still rejoiced in her news of remission. Bryan, having confidence Mel would be OK, had bought tickets to see Dead & Co. in Charlotte and two shows in Boulder as a Christmas present during the middle of her treatments. A group of old friends celebrated Mel’s remission by going to see the band together in Charlotte. Bryan and Mel are lifelong fans and Mel had adopted their lyrics “I will get by, I will survive” from song “Touch of Grey” as her mantra. We all burst into tears, when the Dead & Co. played the song for the encore. Maybe everything was looking up!
Returning home, the bills remained and stress was building for Bryan at work as the only bread winner. THEN TRAGEDY RANG AGAIN AT MEL AND BRYAN'S DOOR. Bryan was in a horrible car accident. So as I write, he remains in the hospital in critical condition. With a broken neck and severe head trauma, he has been in ICU 2 weeks. Soon Mel’s husband will be moved to a Brain Recovery Unit of the hospital. It is unclear if there will be permanent disability to his brain. It is most likely, that on top of everything else, he will be unable to return to work for quite some time, (if at all) and his own medical bills will no doubt be a lot.
After the cancer and so much stress about her husband, Mel’s already small frame, is now at less than 100 lbs. She struggles to find that amazing energy which shines a rare and uplifting kind of light. What she doesn’t understand (and I truly don’t!) is how she STILL is so positive about life. The fortitude with which she powered through each day of treatment was nothing less than inspiring. Melanie has always had an out-going fun personality when it comes to work, traveling to 100s of music events, and her love for the visual arts. However, she has a very pensive, reflective, respectful and deep side that simply doesn’t allow for being the “type” to ask for money; hence, my role in asking for your help. Needless to say, I am devastated at the suffering, pain, sadness, and hardship that has fallen upon my friend Mel. I want her infectious smile and truly powerful loving soul to return. The world is brighter when you are shining Melanie!
Melanie is now faced with her husband’s health crisis, her own cancer recovery, bankruptcy, and losing their home!
With neither Mel or Bryan able to work, I humbly ask for your prayers and urgent donations to help. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Sincerely, Lida Witherspoon
Organizer
Melanie S Sudsbury
Organizer
Kernersville, NC