I am honored to share this video tribute to my amazing daughter, whose candle burned brightly for a brief time.

Meleah Michelle Jeffress
May 4, 1996 - November 18, 2021

Shortly before Meleah died, I asked her if she could come back as any animal, what would she be. Immediately, she smiled and said, "A dolphin." She went on to talk about how free and graceful they are. So, I decided to have her portrait tattooed on my arm as a mermaid and added the two dolphins to represent her two daughters. I am grateful for Kelsey (@kelseytattoos) at Fate & Fortune Tattoo in Nashville, TN, for doing such a wonderful rendering of Meleah.

Selfie collage that Meleah created and shared on social media with the message below.

ID: A square collage of four copies of a selfie of Meleah Jeffress. Meleah's her right palm is resting on top of her bald head. She has on makeup and is wearing a tank top that reveals the scar on her shoulder where her port was surgically implanted.
"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 ❤️"