WHEN: from 11.30 to 16.00, Saturday 30 July.
WHERE: The Green at Canfield.
WHY: To raise awareness and funds for pediatric brain tumor research. The free event will feature a DJ booth, face painting, bounce houses, balloon animals, kids’ yoga, a photo booth, Melina’s Craft Corner and giveaways.
GIVEAWAY ITEMS: Park Cycles 16” bike, American Girl Doll, Little Tykes Princess Horse & Carriage, Step 2 Push Around Buggy 10th Anniversary Edition, Melissa & Doug Vet Care Center, 12 Volt Powersport ATV, Strider 12 Sports Bike, The One Full Size Smart Keyboard, Step 2 Roller Coaster, Melissa & Doug Chef’s Kitchen, Kids Embrace Cinderella Platinum Car Seat, Chicco Key Fit 35 Car Seat, Infant Explorer Ride On Kit, Set of 24 RIWI Building Blocks, Lenovo – Flex 3 Chromebook 11.6″ HD Touch Screen Laptop – Mediatek MT8183 – 4GB – 64GB eMMC – Abyss Blue Spalding 60” Portable Basketball Close Jump Flex Trampoline.
Michelle Edenfield shares a Christmas moment with daughters Melina, Klara and Emilea.
INFORMATION: www.mmefoundationjoy.org; facebook.com/The Melina Michelle-Edenfield-Foundation. DONATIONS: May be made to: The Melina Michelle Edenfield Foundation, PO Box 34, Canfield, OH, 44406. Choose Joy for Melina is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
__________________________
CANFIELD – When Michelle Edenfield describes her young daughter, she uses words like now “spike” i “soldier”. He often talks about his Melina in the present rather than the past tense.
That’s the spirit that left a sweet, curly-haired 4-year-old strawberry blonde who died of a rare and inoperable brain tumor on June 24, 2020, just 32 days after her initial diagnosis. But he is certainly not gone, he lives on in the hearts, souls and minds of those who loved him.
Michelle is a licensed professional clinical counselor practicing in Canfield. Her husband, Keith, is the principal of David Anderson Middle and High Schools. Melina had two older sisters, Emilea, 8, and Klara, 10. She misses her a lot.
“For her I can write the rest of her story and I will fight every day for her and every family that faces this.” Michelle said.
Part of this ongoing narrative is an event called “Choose Joy for Melina.” It will be held this Saturday. Details are provided with this article. It will be the third fundraiser inspired by Melina’s ten best friends to carry on her legacy.
Fundraising will benefit Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG) research. I would excuse you if you have never heard of it. The disease is a rapidly fatal high-grade tumor. Most tumors are in the brainstem that controls many critical functions such as breathing, swallowing and heart rate.
“Pediatric cancer is so widespread and the underfunding is ridiculous,” Michelle said. “Our philosophy is to cure the biggest and the worst.”
Through “Choose Joy for Melina” and other community-wide events, including 5K runs, golf outings and even a semi-formal gala, have raised about $600,000 since Melina’s death. All money raised goes to the fight against pediatric tumors.
“Our goal was $100,000,” Michelle said. “I can’t credit the community enough. In a world in the midst of COVID, people gave to us. People’s kindness is unreal. People are amazing, just amazing.”
Forty raffle baskets at the Canfield event this Saturday alone are valued at over $200 each.
Because it is considered as such “rare” cancer, DMG receives little or no funding for cure research.
“I can’t sleep at night thinking this is the best we’ve got,” Michelle said. “Neil Armstrong’s daughter had the same type of tumor. Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. We haven’t made significant progress in treating this type of pediatric tumor in 60 years.”
When Melina got sick, the first natural reaction was perhaps a touch of the flu. He had swam eight hours the day before.
“The next day she threw up and was lethargic,” Michelle recalled. “Then that Friday he said he had a headache.”
She was initially screened at Boardman and later at Akron Children’s Hospital’s main campus.
“Melina never had a sick visit,” said his mother. “She had never taken an antibiotic. Imagine our shock…”
This particular tumor is sinister: it sits in the brain stem and grows through both good and bad cells, making it unapproachable compared to a single mass. It’s a death sentence for bubbly, vibrant, happy kids. Like Melina who loved her family very much, “Cheetos” Print (cheetah), giraffes, Starbucks Frappucinos and Target shopping. Her favorite color was green and all the colors of the rainbow. In one tragic month the tumor took everything from Melina. But he never lost his soul and the pure joy that only a child can foster.
Melina died under hospital care in her “second home” belonging to the maternal grandparents, Ken and Renee Popovec, and located next to the Canfield residence of Edenfield. She is buried in Resurrection Cemetery in Austintown. Michelle and her father walk with her every Friday.
The Melina Michelle Edenfield Foundation exists so that the dreaded disease can one day be prevented from ambushing other families. Visit the sites provided in this piece. Educate yourself Ask yourself to donate. Spend this Saturday afternoon in Canfield. Join the spirit of camaraderie and feel the pure joy. That’s what the Edenfield family and the army of those fighting alongside them hope you do. It reflects the competitive spirit of a beautiful little girl.
“She was amazing and very gifted” Michelle said of her youngest daughter. “Melina taught us that you can’t prevent bad things from happening. What can you do to choose how you respond.”
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