From Alpine Ontario's Website

Melodina Herman 1991 -2009

Melodina Herman passed away Saturday, January 10th at 10:00pm, three years to the hour after she was first admitted to the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. She had a three-year fight with cancer, HLH and a compromised immune system. Melodina is an inspiration and a hero to people all over the world. Her struggle is truly epic. She taught all of us so much in so many ways. The primary focus of her life was ski racing. Like many young people, she hoped one day to represent Canada at the Olympics. During her career, Mel raced for Chicopee, Caledon and the Huron Alpine Development Team. She raced in both Canada and the US.

Mel was admitted to Sick Kids following a high fever that became apparent between runs on a Thursday at the first K2 Individual race of the 2007 season. She did complete her second run. Her doctor was not available until the following Monday so Melodina trained on Friday and Saturday. Her coach told her to rest Sunday as she appeared tired. She went to the doctor Monday and had tests done. Tuesday morning she wrote a math exam and by the afternoon was rushed to Headwaters Hospital and then to the Hospital for Sick Children by ambulance.

During that first winter, Melodina could not race so she took courses and became certified with both the CSCF and the CSIA. She did this while on medication that hurt her performance. She was in a severely weakened condition. She went on to train in Karate, receiving a hairline fracture in her leg from a kick because both the drugs and the disease weakened her bones. Throughout that year she maintained her position as an honor student.

By October she was back race training in Switzerland with HADT. She also achieved her Black Belt in Karate from the Technical Director for the world in her type of Karate. On his instruction she taught new technical Karate moves to a 5th Dan Black Belt and others in India in November and returned to Canada to train and race in her first (and only) FIS season.

Melodina’s goal for the 2007 season was to lower her FIS points, be on the podium once in a J race and improve technically. She achieved each of these goals. Tuesday February 12th blood tests at Sick Kids showed that once again both her red and white blood cells were severely compromised. Her immune system and her energy level were deteriorating. She was on the podium in J races each of the next two days. Her technical abilities were demonstrated in April that year while on a ski vacation to Alberta. Mel had a broken rib due to her brittle bones, yet skied well on all steeps, bumps and all terrain through a vast variety of conditions, from ice to powder. She had fun. It was the last time she skied.

By the fall of 2007, Melodina needed an emergency splenectomy and regular intense Chemotherapy treatment. She had a stem cell bone marrow transplant on February 7th 2008. Since that time, she was only out of the hospital for 10 days. While in the hospital, she inspired many all over the world with her positive attitude. She never gave up her hopes and dreams. The possibility of getting back on skis this winter helped keep her going. In the end, infections and multiple organ deterioration were too much and she passed away peacefully at the hospital.

Mel’s spirit, attitude and outlook can be summed up in her own words “I am so grateful. I'm so grateful I had cancer. It taught me so much about myself. I learned that I am so much stronger than I ever knew I could be.”
Mel’s family would like to thank everyone in the ski community for the extraordinary amount of support Mel has received from many, many people. Your prayers, wishes, and other efforts have been a great source of strength and encouragement to Mel and her family. You will never be forgotten. Special mention and gratitude goes out to Kelly Vanderbeek for her unfailing support and encouragement. Kelly kept in constant contact with Mel and was a source of strength, hope and inspiration for her. Also, while too numerous to mention individually, coaches, racers and their families were constantly supportive and encouraging to Mel. Thanks go to each and everyone.

Mel’s father has been writing a blog with Melodina's story. Mel would have been 18 on January 31st. Her short life was truly remarkable and touched many people (see the blog at http://teenwithcancer.blogspot.com). Mel wished to have an 18th birthday party which was also a fundraiser for The Sick Kids Foundation. The Sick Kids Foundation is the largest provider of funds for research into childhood diseases in Canada. In keeping with her wishes there will be a celebration of her life on January 31st with a silent auction to benefit the Foundation. Those who wish may also donate to the Foundation by clicking on Mel's Tribute Page www.melodinatribute.org.

Celebration of Life

Melodina loved life. She asked that, should she die, we not hold a funeral or a memorial but she did agree to have all of us celebrate her life. In addition, Melodina was planning her 18th birthday party to be a fundraiser for the Sick Kids Foundation.

In keeping with Melodina's wishes and our needs we are holding a Celebration of Melodina's Life on what would have been her 18th birthday, Saturday, January 31st. It will be at St. George Hall, 665 King Street North, Waterloo, Ontario between 2:00 and 5:00 in the afternoon. Everyone who has been touched by Melodina and her life in any way is welcome.

Because of Melodina's wish to hold a fundraiser at her birthday party there will be a silent auction to raise money for the Sick Kids Foundation at the Celebration. You will find indications of the importance Melodina placed on the work of the Foundation elsewhere in this Blog. You may also wish to donate to the Foundation in Melodina's memory. You can do so on Mel's Tribute page on the Sick Kids Foundation website by clicking here.

We know from the kind and inspirational e-mails that we have received this week that Melodina touched many lives, some who knew her and many who had just heard her story. If Melodina has touched your life we would be honoured to see you again or meet you for the first time. Please come, if you can, to the celebration of her life.

The Passing of a Hero

Melodina Herman passed away yesterday, Saturday January 10th at 10:00pm three years to the day after she was first admitted to the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. She had a three year fight with cancer and a compromised immune system. Melodina is an inspiration and a hero to people all over the world. Her struggle is truly epic. She taught all of us so much in so many ways. Her mother and I, her sisters and her niece, nephew and brother in law, her aunts and uncles and all who knew her and gathered their own strength through her great dynamic personality will miss her dearly.

Melodina is pain free now. While she was alive Melodina did everything she could for the Sick Kids Foundation. The Sick Kids Foundation is the largest provider of funds for research into childhood diseases in Canada. This institution was near and dear to Melodina's heart. If anyone feels moved to give or donate I know Melodina would want you to support the Foundation http://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/. Please feel free to to donate in Melodina's name.

I would like to thank everyone for the extraordinary amount of support Melodina has received from people of varying backgrounds, cultures and religions all over the world. Your prayers, wishes, and other efforts have been a great source of strength and encouragement to Melodina and her family. You will never be forgotten. You are the reason I believe that we can, with God's help, build a better world of Peace and Love and Unity. Thank you for your inspiration.

I will try to keep updating my blog with Melodina's story in the hope and faith that she can continue to inspire.

Christmas in the CCU - Grateful

We have had better Christmases but we have a lot to be grateful for. Melodina is in the Critical Care Unit at Sick Kids. I won't go into the incredible stress that provokes. Indira and I both stay in the room overnight. Maggie, Melodina's dog needed emergency surgery Christmas Eve. I guess she was in a doggy CCU Christmas day as well. This posting is to focus on some of the positive aspects of this unfortunate situation.

Melodina was diagnosed last week with an infectious pneumonia. She went down to the ISU early Tuesday morning because she could no longer breath on her own. Early that morning she went into surgery to get a lung biopsy and a scope to look around as well as some fluid collection was done at the same time. She went back to the CCU after Surgery. We knew this surgery was imminent for a few days. Melodina asked for a particular surgeon who she knows and trusts. He came in on the first day of his vacation to perform the operation and he came back the next day to follow up.

From the moment we arrived in the CCU we got wonderful cooperation from both the anaesthetist on the surgical team and the ISU doctors. We had one of the best and most compassionate of the Oncology Haematologist Staff Doctors to back us up. We discussed every aspect of her treatment and care before it was implemented. This was done in conjunction with teams of doctors. As results of the surgery came back a plan for treatment was created. The main architect was one of our favorite Oncologist/Haematologists along with the "Guru" of Infectious Diseases and a wonderful Staff Doctor from the CCU.

Throughout the whole process we have been a part of the discussions and Melodina's care and treatment has been modified to meet her past experiences and our observations. The caring, knowledge and attention to formulating all activities specifically to Melodina's personal situation and past experiences as well as her Mother and my observations have made the whole experience better and somewhat less stressful. We are confident that this negative situation which occurred at the worst possible time - the Christmas Holidays - has been handled with the best possible care and treatment. Melodina is still on a breathing tube as I write this but it should come out today or tomorrow. Her lungs have improved somewhat. We know she is on the road to recovery.

Maggie the dog got her surgery late Christmas Eve thanks to my sister, her fiance and Melodina's Godmother. She will fully recover soon. This was another blessing. The Veterinarian and staff at the Animal Hospital spent their vacation time looking after Melodina's dog. Wonderful people.

Indira pointed out that having the best people in place at the right time was her "Christmas Miracle." We have nothing but praise for the teams of doctors and nurses, the Respiratory Therapists and the other Sick Kids staff who have helped us through this period. Angels of Compassion; every one!!!

Oh, bye the way the diagnosis of pneumonia has proved to be wrong and the doctors who know have determined that Mel's lung condition is an adverse reaction to one or more of the drugs she's on. This is good news and treatable.

Inspiration

I think I have mentioned in this blog that one thing that keeps me going is that I know there are others in this life going through things that I can't even imagine. There are inspiring people everywhere. The link below is to a video that I found inspirational and I wanted to share it.

http://www.wimp.com/trueheart/

Former Patient and Her Family

I have mentioned before on this blog that you meet wonderful people in the world of cancer. Today we met a wonderful family. Shannon and her family and family friends came and brought a lot of presents for each and every child in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Sick Kids.

Shannon is a 17 year old post Bone Marrow Transplant patient. She left the hospital several years ago. For the past six years her family has provided gifts to help lift the spirits of the children going through what is , at best, an extremely difficult time. Shannon is so healthy that she was able to complete the Princess Margaret Hospitals ride this year. That means she rode 100 kilometers from Toronto to Niagara Falls one day and 100 kilometers back the next day, all to raise money for cancer research. A remarkable young woman and and inspiration to those who still struggle to regain their health!

It was a joy to see the smiles on the faces of the children as they received their gifts from Shannon and her family. It is a great and generous thing that they do. I have placed a photo of Shanon and Melodina on the Blog.

TV News Feature

Melodina will be the focus of a Global TV News Feature this Friday evening on the six o'clock news. I hope some of you can watch it.