WHEN: 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, July 30.
WHERE: The Green in Canfield.
WHY: Raise awareness and funds for pediatric brain tumor research. Free event will feature DJ booth, face painting, bounce houses, balloon animals, kids yoga, a photo booth, Melina’s Craft Corner and giveaways.
RAFFLE ITEMS: Park Cycles 16” bicycle, 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 sport 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, Infento 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 Hoop, Jump Flex Trampoline.
Michelle Edenfield shares a Christmas moment with daughers 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, P.O. Box 34, Canfield, OH, 44406. Choose Joy for Melina is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
CANFIELD — When Michelle Edenfield describes her youngest daughter, she uses words such as “spitfire” and “trooper.” She often speaks in the present and not past tense about her Melina.
Such is the spirit left by a sweet, 4-year-old curly-haired strawberry blonde who died from a rare and inoperable brain tumor on June 24, 2020 — just 32 days after initial diagnosis. But she certainly is not gone, continuing to live in the hearts, souls and minds of those who loved her.
Michelle is a licensed professional clinical counselor practicing in Canfield. Her husband, Keith, is the principal of David Anderson Junior and High schools. Melina had two older sisters, 8-year-old Emilea and 10-year-old Klara. She is sorely missed.
“For her I get to write the rest of her story and I will fight every day for her and for every family who faces this,” Michelle said.
Part of that 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 such fundraiser inspired by Melina’s ten best friends who are continuing her legacy.
The fundraiser will benefit research into diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs). You would be excused for never hearing of it. The disease is a quick-striking and lethal high-grade tumor. Most of the tumors are found in the brain stem which controls many critical functions like breathing, swallowing and heart rate.
“Pediatric cancer is so spread out and the underfunding is ridiculous,” Michelle said. “Our philosophy is to cure the biggest and the baddest.”
Through the “Choose Joy for Melina” and other community-wide events such as 5K runs, golf outings and even a semi-formal gala, some $600,000 has been raised since Melina’s passing. All money raised goes into 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 were donating to us. The kindness of people is unreal. People are amazing, just amazing.”
Forty raffle baskets at the Canfield event this Saturday alone are each valued at $200-plus.
Because it is considered such a “rare” cancer, DMG gets little to no funding for a 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 a significant advancement in treatment for this type of pediatric tumor in 60 years.”
When Melina became ill, the first natural reaction was maybe a touch of the flu. She had swam eight hours the day before.
“The next day she threw up and was lethargic,” Michelle recalled. “Then that Friday she said she had a headache.”
She was initially examined in Boardman and then subsequently at Akron Children’s Hospital Main Campus.
“Melina never so much as had a sick visit,” her mom said. “She had never been on a antibiotic. Imagine our shock….”
This particular tumor is sinister: sitting in the brain stem and growing through both good and bad cells, rendering it unapproachable compared to a single mass. It is death sentence for bubbly, vibrant and happy children. Like Melina who dearly loved her family, “Cheeto” (Cheetah) print, giraffes, Starbucks Frappucinos and Target shopping. Her favorite color was green and every color of the rainbow. In a single tragic month the tumor took everything from Melina. But she never lost her zest and the pure joy that only a child can foster.
Melina died under hospice care in her “second home” belonging to maternal grandparents, Ken and Renee Popovec, and located next to the Edenfield’s Canfield residence. She is buried at Resurrection Cemetery in Austintown. Michelle and her dad walk with her every Friday.
The Melina Michelle Edenfield Foundation exists so that the dreaded disease someday will be prevented from ambushing other families. Visit the sites provided in this piece. Become educated. Become prompted to donate. Spend this Saturday afternoon in Canfield. Join the spirit of camaraderie and feel the sheer joy. That is what Edenfield family and the army of those fighting alongside are hoping you will do. Reflect the competitive spirit of a precious little girl.
“She was amazing and extremely gifted,” Michelle said of her youngest daughter. “Melina taught us that you can’t stop bad things from happening. What you can do it to choose how you are going to respond.”
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