Melina and Joy

September 12, 2025 

Understanding Pediatric Cancer

Tonight I was focused on this weekend, the Choose Joy Event. And every time I think of this event I can’t help but laugh, cry and feel everything in between.

This event started shortly after Melina’s passing in my parent’s front yard. We literally just gave away free things and people just gave donations. Melina’s amazing friends raised $8,000. After the event every one of them knew their friend was still gone, yet for a moment in time we all just breathed. It was rainbows, it was crazy, it was popcorn from a popcorn maker that my neighbor thought she could do better than movie popcorn! And you know what, she didn’t. But it was all of us being together, together in grief, but boy did we laugh.

Then we moved to the green. And it just got bigger. Amazing vendors continued to give. And so did we. If you have been there you have seen our infamous giveaway table filled with everything you would never buy your kid! LOL! But that was Melina.

Shortly after Melina was diagnosed she started to give her toys away. That sounds so sad to type. But it wasn’t. It was Melina, who knew long before us that her time was short, and she just simply wanted us to smile. She gave us a part of her to have the Joy! And boy did we. We started to laugh at who got the best stuffed animal and why her Nay Nay got the best moon and stars necklace and I just got a moon. Melina gave us Joy!

For the last two and half weeks as we have made our final preparations for this event I have laughed watching my lifers run around trying to make this all work. I watched my mom dump a basket in my dining room. I watched a few choice words over signs and numbers. I was greeted last night by my neighbor in pajamas who came for a delivery. I laugh at the Joy they find shopping in Target over what they think are Melina signs!

Sometimes, maybe they are but sometimes it is just an ugly Cheeto shirt! But I watch the best group of lifers that just continue to grow. I watch us all put together the most special event. We aren’t event planners. In fact I don’t even know how to hold an in person race. But what I have seen over the years is nothing but laughs and Joy. We will fail and we will learn and we will say we will remember for next time. I assure you we never do. But the laughs are what make it all worth it.

So why do we host this event? Why did I decide to make it all donation based? Why do I love this event more than anything? Because it is everything Melina. For weeks I get to hear her name. I get to hear families talk about coming. I get to watch parents trying to leave with their kicking and screaming kiddos because they don’t want to leave “Weena’s party.” I get to hear her name and Joy a million times. And in the mix of all of that I need everyone to know we have a fight.

Children deserve more, and we need the funding. But I also need to always live my Melina’s message. Melina reminded all of us in life we have choices.

This weekend …

I choose to celebrate the day.

I choose to fight for answers.

I choose to hug the 11 babies that loved my girl so big.

I choose to share her crazy tacky ways with all of you. I choose to laugh at my committees as we attempt to do this.

I choose Melina And I will always Choose her Joy.

So this weekend join us. We would love to have you.

It will be over the top.

It will be crazy, it will be ALOT.

But it will be nothing but Joy!