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Meriel’s Story

Site created on February 25, 2023

“I’m going to keep working throughout the chemo,” asserted my sister, shortly after nearly barfing on a clients head.

It was the second day after her first chemo treatment. She did not get any work done, but she did consistently issue grand pronouncements all completely at odds with chemo side effects (#1 side effect: barfing. Which is just one of her normal behaviors now that chemo has started).

My sister has stage four colon cancer, metastatic to the liver (at least! Minimally! Nobody knows anything more. Her doctors behave like any information about her situation is a state secret, and they’ve encrypted her test results. With cement).

Most of you know my sister as a Richmond, Virginia cultural institution of hair care, complete with verifiable journalistic archives. She’s probably either handled or secretly inspected your hair while passing at the grocery store, at least once in the last 15 years. For the near future, however; she’ll be managing nobody’s hair.

Because, spoiler alert, she will not be working through her chemotherapy. Because she can’t. Despite her insistence to the contrary, her family has convened to issue a slightly more conservative projection that she will continue barfing regularly during her six months of chemotherapy, and will therefore almost certainly NOT be taking any clients.

And so, we are establishing this site and https://gofund.me/38490331 on her behalf. Thanks for checking in.

We promise this will always remain a barf-free safe zone. Physically. But not in writing. In writing, you’ll be reading it all. Here.

How to help:

Mer’s cancer treatment qualifies as a one-two-punch budgetary meltdown, via simultaneous imposition of obscene medical bills + immediate loss of her service-based income.

If you want to help on this point, https://gofund.me/38490331 & Venmo is @Meriel-Thornley ❤️

Note: tribute donations to caring bridge, go to caring bridge - if you want to do that, awesome. If you want to reach Mer, Venmo or https://gofund.me/38490331 ❤️‍🔥

Newest Update

Journal entry by Sarah Thornley — Feb 6, 2024

Today we learned that Meriel has no more cancer so there’s no need to subject her compromised liver to any more chemotherapy, though she was looking forward to dropping 5 lbs this week after chemo. Now as she says, her cancer diet is over.

“‘Good night, little gir[l]!

Thank the Lord you are well!

And now go to sleep!’

said Miss Clavel.

And she turned out the light—

and closed the door—

and that’s all there is—

there isn’t anymore.”

—from Madeline, by Ludwig Bemelmans

..Except tremendous gratitude for all your prayers and acts of generosity 💙💙💙

Read More of the journal titled "February 06, 2024"

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