A Tribute To My Beautiful Sister-In-Law
This week I have been a little MIA on my website and social media, but with good reason. I have been holding vigil at the hospital where my dear sister-in-law, Melissa, was fighting for her life.
I first met Melissa at my wedding rehearsal on June 9, 1995. Her dad was dating my fiancé’s mom and she came with her newborn baby girl, Randee Jo, in tow. She was not shy and just waltzed in with ideas for my “big day”. We needed someone to stand in for me to walk down the aisle during rehearsal and she gladly stepped up. From that day on, she was a part of my life. Her dad married Tim’s mom and our families became one.
I found out I was pregnant with my first child, Allie, in February of 1997 and she soon found out she was pregnant with her second child, Rachel. We shared our pregnancies together and had two baby girls two months apart.
We raised our children together and our families revolved around spending time at Nana and Pop’s house. It was wonderful to have family to spend all of the good and bad times together.
We didn’t always agree or get along. We both had strong personalities and liked our way, but we never stayed mad long. We were family and that mattered the most.
When Melissa was diagnosed with cancer, I had do doubt she would beat it. She was one of the strongest women I knew. And, boy, did she fight. I have never seen such a determination to live by one woman. It awed and inspired me. She never complained. She always had a good attitude and she never let it stop her from doing the things she loved.
When I tried to take my life in July 2019, she was upset with me. It hurt me, at first, but I soon understood. She couldn’t tolerate me trying to give up on life when she was fighting so hard to keep hers. After that, I valued my life more and she saw that. She reached out and we became close friends. We made shopping trips together, loved to go out to eat and we enjoyed our “The Bachelor” and “Miss America” watch parties. I loved spending time with her and constantly admired how she kept fighting her cancer when she would have so many setbacks.
My last visit with her at home was a week ago Tuesday. I went to her house and we just talked and watched television (“Fire Country”) together. I left there elated for the good visit. I had no idea that a week later I would be at the hospital when she took her last breath.
I know Melissa is with Jesus and seeing things we cannot even fathom. I envy her that. But, the selfish part of me wants her still here and healed with us and her devoted husband, Jeff, and beautiful girls. I guess that’s just the human part of me.I don’t want to let go of my loved ones and she was truly loved.
After almost 30 years of knowing her, I have to rely on memories now. I choose to remember all of the good times we had. The laughs, the jokes, the trips and all of it are forever etched in my mind. I know I will see her again and that comforts me. She will be waiting for me when I get there and she will probably start singing “I’m Proud To Be An American” and laughing (inside joke). Until then, I count myself blessed to not only have been her sister-in-law, but her friend.
I love you, Melissa!