Our friend (and Boss, Owner of Luers Group,)  http://www.luersgroup.com      Melanie took her final breath on this side of Heaven on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, at 52 years old.   

She had fought an often confusing battle with what came to be diagnosed as a childhood brain cancer, Ependymoma, and additionally they found another tumor in her intestinal area that was not biopsied or diagnosed.   She became sick in January of 2017 with symptoms that presented as the flu and then vertigo.  She and her family did their best to fight their way through the ups and downs of symptoms that seemed to have no definable cause. Sometimes all the care and tests in the medical arsenal are inadequate.

The moment that brought me the greatest joy these last few days was a little over a week ago when Melanie answered adamant "I am a born again baptized believer" when I asked her in the hospital if she knew Jesus as her Lord and Savior! I encouraged her to embrace the truth that when she took her last breath here she would "wake up"  in the arms of Jesus and then I shared some of my favorite scripture verses with her (#1 was the shortest verse in the Bible, John 11:35).    When I returned the next day and some info was shared with me that caused me to be unsure if she had really understood me the day before, I returned to her bedside and asked her some questions about her beliefs about who Jesus is, after responding yes to all my previous questions, when I asked do you want to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior she said (again adamantly) "I already did!"  I asked when and she clearmindedly shared the details with me.  So,  when I said "see you later" to her on Wednesday afternoon, I asked her to save me a dance and told her I would see her in Heaven! 

Melanie was still communicating 2 days before she died and the cards I read to her from some of her employees and customers from Luers brought a smile to her face!   Melanie went before (the lights of her life!) her daughter Katie (Freshman at LLCC) and her son Nathan (Sr. at ICC) and a very loving  husband Rob who has been by her side through this entire 22 month journey.  And also her parents,  and many other family members,  To her mom and dad, to bury a child first must be so heartbreaking..., may the peace and love of God be with you in your mourning.  

Please continue to lift Melanie's family in prayer.  Whether you donate any money or not, you can leave a comment that her family can read (and I will tell you from experiencing kind words of others after my own mother's death) The wonderful stories of what Melanie meant to you, or the tiniest way that she encouraged you, or treated you with care, integrity, etc... as a customer,  coworker, vendor,  private school employee.  Your words will give comfort to her family now.  

All monetary contributions continue to be only accessible by Rob and will be of great help to the family.  

Thanks for showing your love and support to the Raleigh Family and God Bless!