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Melissa Watkins

@meli_living

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Sharing the life and times of Melissa Ellyn

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Some friendships are measured in years.
Others are measured in moments when life gets real...
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I recently had the blessing of spending time with my childhood friend, my sister-friend, Melissa Ellyn. I had the opportunity to love on her, support her, laugh with her, and just be present.
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Then she gave me an honor I didn’t take lightly.
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She allowed me to accompany her to a CT scan as they prepared her for upcoming radiation treatment...
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And honestly…I had no idea...
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I had seen the pictures. I had seen her...because in true Melissa Ellyn fashion, she has walked into and through this season with STYLE...
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But I didn’t understand the mask.
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Not until I was sitting there...
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That mask is custom-made to gently hold her head in precisely the same position during each radiation treatment, allowing the radiation team to accurately target the area being treated.
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But sitting there, watching prepping for her CT, I realized something...
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That wasn’t just a mask.
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It was a tangible reminder of what my sister-friend is facing...
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And yet, there she was...
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SMILING...
STILL HER...
STILL FLY...
STILL TRUSTING GOD...
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My sister-friend is DOPE AF...
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My sister-friend is STRONG...
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My sister-friend is WALKING WITH THE LORD...
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And I learned something watching her…
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Sometimes walking by faith doesn't look like having all the answers...
Sometimes it looks like showing up for the next appointment...
Taking the next step...
Trusting God with what you cannot control...
And choosing to believe that your story is still being written...
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Melissa, thank you for allowing me into this moment.
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Thank you for trusting me enough to let me walk beside you...not just in the good times, but in a moment that reminded me just how precious life, friendship, and faith really are.
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I, we, love you
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And as you walk through this, just know…
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You're not walking alone.
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Keep your head held high.
Keep your faith strong.
Keep being YOU.
Keep spreading joy to all you encounter.
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Because even in the middle of something you never expected…
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God is still God.
God is still good.
And God is still writing your story.
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Life is good
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Y'all go check out her website, www.melissaellyn.com by @meli_living

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17

a month ago

Been going since 12 years old...

33 years later and still going...
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In those 33 years a lot of life, separate and together...

I often say, we all know the cliché, “You can’t appreciate success without failure.”
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But I believe it goes deeper.
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You cannot fully appreciate love without knowing heartbreak.
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You cannot fully appreciate life without encountering death—in some shape or form.
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You cannot fully appreciate joy without knowing sorrow.
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Sometimes, it is what breaks us that teaches us how to live.
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It is at our lowest, the we hear God the clearest...
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I traveled to California to support a sister-friend. I could hear the discouragement in her text messages, and I knew something simple but powerful...
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Sometimes, showing up is the prayer.
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I know the power of prayer...
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I know the power of having someone pray for you...
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But this trip gave me something I didn't expect.

We talked deeply...
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We sat in vulnerability...
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We revisited our origin stories; the experiences, wounds, triumphs, and people that helped shape who we became.
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And somewhere in those conversations, I realized something profound:
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Some people...even our parents...may not have been able to give us what we needed.
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Not always because they didn't love us.
Sometimes they simply didn't possess what we were asking them to give.
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And what was missing in our childhood cannot remain a life sentence.
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At some point, what we did not receive becomes our responsibility to heal.

Not to blame.
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Not to rewrite the past.
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But to understand it, honor it, and refuse to allow it to dictate our future.
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Every person we encounter matters...
Every experience carries meaning...
Every chapter contributes something to the story...

And as I watched Melissa interact with healthcare professionals, I was reminded of something I never want to forget in my own practice of medicine:
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I am never just meeting a patient. I am meeting a person carrying an entire story I cannot see.
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I don't know what happened before they walked through my door.
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I don't know what they are carrying silently.
I don't know what they lost, what they fear, what they survived, or what they are desperately hoping someone wi by @meli_living

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12

2 months ago

Last week marked my third successful craniectomy. I am eternally grateful to Dr. Won Kim (@inspiredbrain), his team, and for the prayers that carried me through.

I’m still here, I’m still smiling, and I’m still living life to the fullest!

These photos were inspired by a vision of my future self telling me, “I am here.” 📸: @Lisa_mariephoto
👗: @batanikhalfani
Feeling encouraged, grateful, and golden. taken in Long Beach, California by @meli_living

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5 months ago

Brought in the New Year in my @tierrawhack wig at the Walt Disney Concert Hall #CQ #2025 taken in Walt Disney Concert Hall by @meli_living

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2 years ago

September marks my twelfth year in #losangeles and today I finally went to my very first #dodgers game with my dear friend Marie @i.am.guh!! Yayyy!!!! #letsgododgers #2024 by @meli_living

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5

2 years ago

So… my fourth brain tumor was surgically removed just two weeks ago. Shout out to the entire UCLA Health team their care. Special shout out to my sister and friends who held me down during and after surgery.

It happened so fast that I didn’t get to tell many folks - I’m always honored and amazed by the positive thoughts and prayers that came my way everyday- please keep ‘em coming, they matter!

Yesterday, one of my dear friends @i.am.guh and her beautiful daughter came to pick me up - we shopped, hung out, and got burgers. My day was brightened in a major way and I felt so “normal” again.

Quick PSA- For anyone who might be expeiencing health issues, like cancer, - I encourage you to not give up the fight! I know it gets hard, but please stay on top of the appointments and take care of yourself.

Cheers to living - it’s a gift to see another day.

Oh yeah, for anyone who wants to check out my #beautyofacceptance #fivestagesofgrief photos, they are currently on exhibit at the @OntarioMuseumofArt for the next few months.

#letsgoooo
#2024
#lifebelife-ing taken in Long Beach, California by @meli_living

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90

2 years ago

I am honored and grateful to have my #fivestagesofgrief photographs included in the Art of Healing exhibit curated and presented by the @ontariomuseum_artsculture! If you're in the area, please stop by to check it out (check their hours tho.) #beautyofacceptance #yay #lifeisbeautiful taken in Ontario, California by @meli_living

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13

2 years ago

I’m honored to be a part of a show co-curated by @tedmeyerart and @annieclaflin at the Grossmont College Hyde Art Gallery in a few days! #healing #art #yay #gratitude #cancer taken in Hyde Art Gallery by @meli_living

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10

3 years ago

I’ve always been a fan of #thewiz, but the theatre adaptation that’s touring right now is nothing less than magnificent. The casting was perfect, costumes were jaw dropping, and the singing was mesmerizing.

Put it this way - they left no crumbs!

Peep my necklace - it was a gift from my homegurl @cakesbychante ! She’s amazing and so are her cakes.

#thewiz
#losangeles
#pantages
#hollywood taken in Hollywood Pantages Theatre by @meli_living

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31

3 years ago

Eeekkk! I'm expressing excitement and gratitude for an event I had an opportunity to attend at the amazing @almabackyardfarms in #compton yesterday! @common discussed his new book #andthenwerise & signed copies. He was kind to wish me well on my health journey, can't wait to dig into the book. Shout out to my friend Marianna who invited me!! Cheers to the joys of living. #losangeles #health #communitygarden #farmermarket #commontherapper #common taken in Alma Backyard Farms by @meli_living

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3 years ago

So grateful for the opportunity to participate in the #usckeckschoolofmedicine #heal program for the month of January. #tedmeyer is a fantastic artist and curator. I appreciate everyone who attended in person or virtual (or watched after!) Link to the talk in bio. #2024 #arttherapy #artandmedicine #breastcancerawareness #yay #beautyofacceptance taken in USC Keck School of Medicine by @meli_living

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3 years ago

Lissen here, #alisaddiq did not disappoint. I laughed the entire set! Laughter really is the best medicine.

#comedy
#losangeles
#acehotel
#dtla taken in Ace Hotel Los Angeles by @meli_living

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0

3 years ago