The Beauty of Compassion
She’s Got a Story: Michelle
When family lore has a story about you comforting another child on a kiddy ride at a carnival (even though you can’t remember it), describing yourself as compassionate seems appropriate. The longer I spoke with Michelle, the more compassion bloomed in her life through her business—Willow Moon Healing, advocacy, non-profit, and caring for others.
“I changed careers into bodywork. That's not what I started off doing, and it was because I wanted to be able to help people. I'm in the process of starting a charity called “It Sucks Sometimes,” and it's to help cancer patients. We started a monthly support group, and we had one person, but it wasn't zero! I was very happy with that. I do a lot of advocacy work. I go to Capitol Hill once a year with the Melanoma Research Foundation and have meetings with staff of my members of Congress for money for research. I share my story. I've done that for six years. I'm very open about my cancer. I help give voice to those that aren't here anymore to talk about it and to spread awareness. Compassion is just a core value of mine.”
“Six years ago, I was diagnosed with Ocular Melanoma. It's also called Uveal Melanoma. It's a rare subtype of Melanoma, and it has nothing to do with UV exposure like it does with skin or cutaneous Melanoma, but it occurred in my eye. It's very rare - it occurs in five out of 1,000,000 people. For six years, I have been NED, which means no evidence of disease (which is pretty much what people used to call remission), and in February of this year, because of a chest X-ray, we ended up discovering that my cancer had come back and it had spread to my lungs. So, I have metastatic Ocular Melanoma, so I'm stage 4. I have seven tumors within both of my lungs.”
While Michelle’s cancer literally changed her vision, it also changed how she sees life. “I've definitely switched more to experiences. I try to live more in the now, in the moment, and be present. That is easier said than done.”
“I find a way to keep going.” She tells me in the midst of stories of swimming with sharks, traveling, learning new hobbies, and her business.
Admittedly, Michelle isn’t sure where the drive to keep going comes from. Whether fueled by perfectionism, a stubborn streak, or something else, Michelle is wired to push through. “I've run marathons and half marathons and multi-day endurance events. I've always crossed the finish line. Once, I had bronchitis and a bone ankle, and I still did it…. Giving up has just never been an option for me. It's never been in my lexicon.”
Michelle’s story did not begin with her cancer, and it will not end with her cancer. Michelle’s story is about squeezing the most out of the moments of life and caring for others. With an easy laugh, a drive to keep going, and a huge heart, Michelle navigates her new normal.
I adored Michelle from the moment we sat down to chat. Her calm energy, quick laugh, and vulnerability drew me in quickly. As she shared with me, I was struck repeatedly by the beauty of kindness and compassion in another human being. Michelle sees where others are struggling or hurting, and while part of that is the nature of her work, I think it really goes to the core of who she is. She identifies needs in her community and works not only to fill the need but also to make room for others to be authentically themselves in the midst of life’s circumstances. Compassion is in her DNA.
