For Melanie... Our Inspiration

Last time we spoke, I discussed women hero's amongst us.  Women who offer us the opportunity to look inspiration in the face and think, "Man, that woman is who I want to be".   You know what makes me special??!?! One of those women (lady really) is my fifteen year old Melanie.  Oh, that's right... she's fifteen, and I call her "mine", because she is really Cosy's, and well, because of that, she is "mine".  And at fifteen Melanie has easily become one of the most influential women in my life.  Melanie (and we call her "Melmany" the phonetic pronunciation from a 20-month old's perspective) is the epitome of the societal-enforced juxtaposition of warrior-like strength and endless selflessness.  The definition of mental and physical fortitude and the emotional awareness of a meditation guru. What's wild is I recently attended a "Women in Leadership" conference where we discussed the importance of acknowledging the power of a woman; our emotional agility and our unending strength provides us infinite opportunity to respond to our world with thoughtful, intentional actions with a constant eye on compassion. 

That is what strikes me about Melanie.  I attend conferences to learn how to accept myself as she has already mastered.  She has single-handedly shown the power of a woman by her consummate strength and emotional awareness; completely debunking the aforementioned juxtaposition and laying the foundation of what strength we have as women in her footsteps.  She has done so while supporting my home.

You see, Melanie cares for Cosy.  Cosy loves her.  Loves.  Like screams at me when I don't stop at "Melmany's" home when we drive by- type of love.  Melanie allows me to work by caring for my youngest lovey.

I write this post about this phenomenal lady because in the month of March, Melanie's family asks that we donate blood in her honor.  Why blood one might ask - insert part two of our conversation:

I have copied a brief description of Melanie's (oh my stars) complex medical history from her Mom (Amber's) perspective below:

It is March, and in honor of Melanie's miraculous survival seven years ago (which included 43 blood transfusions over the course of one week), we are going to do a blood donation challenge in her honor. As of 2015, Melanie had more than 140 blood product transfusions (pRBCs, platelets, cryo, FFP), not counting the every-two-week IVIG infusions she has received for more than six years. I have lost count of how many transfusions she has had since 2015. We would like to see how many donations we can get in her honor during the month of March. If you are local, you can tell the desk you are participating in a blood donor challenge for Melanie Gates, and they will give you a slip of paper to fill out. They will also offer a card for you to fill out that they will mail to Melanie (she LOVES receiving these cards!). If you are not local but would like to donate in her honor, please send me a message, and I will add your donation to the tally. The local blood donor center will send me weekly updates on how many people have donated in her honor. We are excited to "give back" with this challenge as we know first hand how life-saving these donations are!

I ask, that again this year, if you have ever loved me, or my family - for the seemingly thousands who have propped us up and brought us to where we are today, that you donate in honor of Melanie this month.  She is "the why" for nearly all things.  She has, and will, continue to move mountains with her spirit, love and heart. 

She inspires, guides, and loves more than any woman I know.  She, and her incredible family, inspire me each day. 

Please reach out if you have questions about how to donate in her honor.  Thank you, my "Melmany" for breaking every mold; for bringing us infinite joy, and for being my/our inspiration by simply being amazing you. 

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