 ID: Family Picture of Meleah Jeffress with her partner and two daughters, all standing and holding hands in a field with trees in the background. The caption reads "Meleah Michelle Jeffress 5/4/1996 - 11/18/2021
A message Meleah posted to social media soon after she was diagnosed with cancer for the second time on September 11, 2019:
"When I found out I had cancer in 2008, when I was 11, the first thing thought that came to my mind was, “Am I going to lose my hair?” It was really scary to me at that age, because, I was a very shy kid. I was very self conscious about losing my hair and what people would think of me. Would people stare? Would people judge me? Would people know how much it bothered me? I wanted to cry every time someone stared, so, I bought a wig and never went outside without it. The only time I would take it off was at home or at the hospital when I was admitted for chemo. My oncologist used to joke around with me all the time about taking off my wig, but I couldn’t; I was scared.
"Now, fast forward to 2019, and I find out I have cancer again, only now I’m 23. I’m finally starting to be comfortable in my own skin, but, it has taken 11 years. I have lots of people who have encouraged me over the years and made me feel beautiful and special, no matter what I look like; hair or no hair. Although, I may still wear a wig sometimes when I go outside, because it still bothers me when people stare, this time, I will be more confident because I am beautiful and I know I have lots of people that love me the way I am. "It still has taken a lot of courage to be able to post this picture, but, when you have cancer, you have to accept the ugly parts too. Cancer is a horrible disease, but there can still be good things that come from it. You realize how important the little things in your life are and it makes you more aware of how your life can change at any second. Make time for the people you love, because, you never know when something might happen to them ❤️" |
 ID: Picture of Meleah and Michael Jeffress standing in front of the Parthenon replica in Nashville, TN.
I am so sad to announce that my beautiful baby girl has passed away. She fought so hard for so long against the cancer that steadily progressed and was mostly unresponsive to treatments since September 2019. The picture of the two of us to the left was taken in the fall of 2020. For about the last 6 months of her life, Meleah was in almost constant pain from a tumor in her lungs that was pressing nerves against her spine. She was referred to hospice care in August of 2021, but she resisted starting it. I think it was in part because she knew she was not done fighting. How she wanted to live and see her girls grow up! I think the main reason, however, was that she did not want strangers coming into the house and upsetting her kids. They were everything to her. She finally relented and allowed hospice to come in just days before she died. We are glad that she experienced a few days with a little more comfort, but, my God, she suffered so much! But she did so with dignity and grace. She never complained. She never stopped putting others first. She never stopped smiling. I have no right to ever complain that I am having a bad day after witnessing her strength and positive attitude over the past two years. I will never stop grieving for her--and for her brother, Ryan, who we lost in 2013--but I will try to live in a way that honors their examples of love, humility and sacrifice.
Meleah requested not to have a funeral service (just another example of her humility and not wanting to trouble people or have them be sad). If you would like to make a memorial contribution in her honor, the proceeds will go to helping provide for her two daughters, please click the button
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