Update from - SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2009 07:39 PM, CST

[Guest guest]

Things are going good. My surgery is 10 days away and life is pretty good right now. Since I have a absolute diagnosis it's like medical people don't look at me like I am nuts any more. My pain is more controlled now because they KNOW I am hurting. That is awesome.

I have to have some dental work done before my surgery. I hate going to the dentist. Because of all the health stuff my teeth are very brittle. I brush and floss religiously but I feel like I " flunk the dental exam " everytime, lol. This new dentist was awesome and very helpful. I have to have 2 root canals because I was eating scrambled eggs and broke a tooth! Anyway, so that will be next week.

I met, via a Chiari website, a lady that is having surgery the same day as me with Dr Oro. I am going to call her when I get off of here. That will be so interesting.

My friends and family have put together a benefit event. It is going to be SO MUCH FUN!!! It's kind of a strange position for me to be in but I am excited for it. A night with all eyes on me is a bit intimidating though.

So, on Saturday, January 31st we will have the fundraiser. It is going to be at Skagway Banquet Hall here in Grand Island. It starts at 6:30 and there will be a DJ there to play music and we can all hang out and have fun. There is going to be a silent auction with tons of amazing things! I am so amazed at the businesses around Grand Island for the generous donations that they have given for the auction. At 8:30 an awesome band named Pilot for Kite will play. Their lead singer, Luke, used to be the lead singer for the band After The Order. ATO split up when Luke moved and Luke now has this new band, Pilot for Kite. I am so grateful to them for playing at my benefit.

OH. Well this has nothing to do with health stuff, well kind of, but we took our van in to get fixed because we though the power streering pump was bad and it's hard to drive. We will be taking it to Colorado. Well we took it to Personal Automotive in Grand Island and the guy said it was just a hose. Thank goodness. asked how much it was going to be and the guy (sorry I don't know his name) said that he saw our flyer (about the benefit) and that he was not going to charge us. He also put new tires on our van free of charge so that we can get there safely!!!! How amazing is that? What a wonderful mechanic!!!

We have had so many wonderful blessings and I can not wait until I get better and am able to repay the people that are helping my family.

It will be amazing. I am excited that my life will be starting over soon. It seems like I have never been well enough to do the things I want with my kids but I will be able to by April. :-) says that we are having a " Happy Surgery Party " instead of happy birthday party, lol. He is so cool. Oh and he is SO EXCITED that he gets to meet real rock stars. :-)

Well I guess that's enough for now. I just wanted to let everyone know what is going on. So many good things right now. So much different than usual.

To send a message to melissa and family goto;

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/melissahall