sharon blake

@kindnessdignity @HumanityChad It’s Melissa’s mom. She’s on Instagram now. Check her out there.

@HumanityChad I follow Melissa, and she hasn't posted since 2023. Is she ok? Did she go to another platform and I missed it?

A post made in response to trolling.

@RetroCrone You are so right! Good to see you again. I’ve been off X for awhile!

I think we need to stop moving thru our day like life is normal. We are watching equivalent of a 3 yo walking around w/ an endless supply of weapons & mindlessly pulling the trigger. While his play date lets dangerous diseases out of their cages We are ALL in jeopardy.

@mikejwhelan Thinking of you both!

REBECCA UPDATE

@mikejwhelan I would have loved to be there for you and Rebecca. You both deserve true friends. Settle for nothing less. ❤️

MIGHT NOT BE A NEXT TIME It wasn’t even dinner. Just appetizers. Drinks. A few tiny bites, And one giant piece of hope, cut into twelve invisible slices. Twelve people. Twelve old friends. Twelve lives I poured into like a man who believed There was no such thing as running dry. I wasn’t asking for a celebration. No gifts. No toasts. Just an hour. Just some shared air. A few memories traded across a coffee table. And yeah—this Wednesday is my birthday. Not that they knew, Or maybe they did and just didn’t care enough to say it. I told Rebecca, “This is all I want this year—just them. Just…us again.” She smiled, Even though Parkinson’s makes everything harder now. She got dressed like it mattered. Because it did. She said, “Maybe if they see us… really see us… they’ll remember who we were.” We cleaned the house. Put out the good glasses. She even helped slice the cheese, Fighting through her tremors To cut straight lines in a world that’s gone crooked. We lit candles. We waited. The playlist was set— A soundtrack to what we thought would be a warm reunion On a quiet birthday night. And then— Nothing. No knock. No car. No laughter coming up the sidewalk. Just a voicemail: “Something came up. We’ll catch you next time.” Next time? How do you say "next time" To someone who’s already beaten death three times, To a woman who can barely walk but still put on mascara for the memory of you? Next time? There might not be a next time. And that’s when doubt came in, Took a seat on the couch Where someone else should’ve been. And whispered, "Michael, maybe they’ve moved on. Maybe you should too." And for a moment, I almost listened. Because when the people you once fed Can’t even be bothered to show up for a birthday glass of wine— You start to wonder if you ever meant anything at all. But here’s what they didn’t see: Rebecca and I? We still showed up. We ate the olives. We had a drink. We clinked glasses with ghosts And laughed in the face of abandonment. Because we are not the ones who disappeared. We are the ones still trying. Still loving. Still hoping that humanity might surprise us yet. So here’s the truth: This was never about the food. Never about the night. And not even about my birthday. It was a test of loyalty. Of friendship. Of whether people still remember what it means To show up when it actually matters. And to the twelve who didn’t? Don’t worry. Your chairs are gone. Your slices of cake eaten by time. From now on, This table is sacred. Reserved for the rarest kind— The ones who show up without being reminded. Because if you can't come for my birthday, When time is running out— You don’t get to come when the candles are already blown out.

@mikejwhelan I know this is hard for you and I admire what you are doing for Rebecca. When my husband had brain cancer it was my greatest honor to care for him but I do recognize how hard it is.

CANCER UPDATE Regarding Rebecca... I want to sincerely thank everyone who’s reached out lately—with concern, compassion, advice, and suggestions. Your kindness has meant the world to me and to her. It’s comforting to know that people are thinking of us, especially now, as Rebecca’s condition continues to decline. Her Parkinson’s, now complicated by Stiff Person Syndrome, has made daily life a constant challenge. I'm in the process of changing her neurologist and bringing in a Movement Disorder Specialist because the care she’s been receiving just hasn’t been enough. Her rehab team fell short. And the medications—while essential—can bring frightening side effects. The cognitive changes in particular have been deeply painful to witness. Physically and emotionally, she’s struggling more each day to get around our small home. We downsized years ago to a modest 1,100 square foot house built in 1986. It’s cozy and full of love—but far from ADA compliant. If we can get her strong enough to keep using her cane or walker, we’ll be okay. But if the time comes when she needs a wheelchair… we’re in real trouble. A contractor recently quoted us $75,000 to retrofit the house for accessibility. That’s simply not something we can afford. And our HOA had some issues with some of our requests. And forget about a scooter—there's no space for that here. So, I’ll keep doing what I can. I’ll take her to the best doctors I can find. I’ll remain her full-time, round-the-clock caregiver. We have a kind neighbor who helps when possible, but our family is 3,000 miles away, and we know we’re on our own. They have their own life and they've not been available to help--I will leave it at that. And no—I’m not putting her in an assisted living facility. That’s not even an option. Not for Rebecca. In the midst of all this, I do feel incredibly lucky that my latest PET scan came back NED—No Evidence of Disease. After everything I’ve been through with cancer, that news gave me a moment of deep gratitude. But the truth is, I still face a long list of collateral health issues—some days are brutally hard. But I’ll never stop carrying her. No matter how tired I am, no matter how broken I feel, I will keep going. Because love doesn’t clock out. I'm on call---24 hours. Recently I’ve poured my heart into my writing—a book and a screenplay that I hope might help us financially. That hope still burns bright. People in the media biz are interested, but realistically, if things continue the way they are... it’s going to be very hard to get anything published or produced until late 2025 or 2026. I hope we last that long. We're walking a tightrope. One day at a time. Everything you've mentioned I've looked into. 😥 So again—thank you. For your messages, your prayers, your suggestions, and your presence. You’re helping hold us up. 💏

@mikejwhelan That is beautiful, Michael, keep the calm close.

CANCER UPDATE IT'S HERE. Where the Light Hasn’t Reached Me Yet. My cancer PET Scans results are in. They sit in MyChart, clinical and quiet, like a sealed envelope on a table that trembles slightly with the weight of everything it might contain. My name is on them. My body is in them. My future, too. A few lines of text and numbers that could shape the rest of my life or signal its slow departure. And still, by choice I haven’t looked. I know the clicks it takes to open them by heart. I could do it now, before this paragraph ends. But I won’t. Not yet. Because there’s a strange, fragile grace in not knowing. Right now, I still live in a world where my cancer might not be back. Where the worst has not yet found me. Where I am still suspended in the space between the last bad news and the next. There is poetry in that space, and pain, and mercy, and a kind of aching holiness. A breath held so long it becomes a prayer. People will say I’m avoiding reality. That knowledge is power. That facts are the foundation of courage. But they don’t know what it’s like to read your own body rendered into statistics. They don’t know the sound your heart makes when it drops into the pit of your stomach, when your eyes scan a word you weren’t ready to see— words like "progression," "recurrence," "metastatic." I’ve misread results before. I’ve broken myself over a misunderstood phrase, only to be told days later by a calm doctor that everything was stable. Scar tissue. Healing. Nothing to fear. But I’d already buried myself in dread. Grieved a life I hadn’t lost. So this time, I wait. I wait because I love someone who still needs me to hold steady. I wait because the ritual of morning coffee, the rhythm of helping Rebecca get dressed, the gentle cadence of our small routines— those are the things that keep me grounded when the earth wants to shake beneath me. I wait because in this moment, I still have a little peace. And peace is rare in the world of cancer. It comes in pieces, in the breath before a phone call, in the pause before the doctor speaks, in the stillness before you open a result that may undo you. This moment—this not yet— is a sacred thing. Because once I look, everything changes. Hope becomes arithmetic. A soul becomes a prognosis. A name becomes a number in a system that does not know the sound of your laughter or the depth of your love. Once I look, I will no longer be in limbo. I will be somewhere else, a place I may not be ready to live in yet. So I stay here. Here, where I am still more than a diagnosis. Where I can still imagine that the future is mine to shape, not mine to fight. Here, where the light hasn’t reached yet— but still might. Where I am still someone who might be okay. And maybe that’s what makes us human— this impossible desire to hold off the storm for just one more moment of calm. To build a shelter in the pause between fear and fact. To choose love over certainty. To choose this breath over the next battle. To choose life— even if it’s only for one more day of not knowing. Because sometimes, that extra day or two means everything. 💙

@deverteuil68023 @ChrisDJackson No the requirements are the same for pres and vp, so if the president died then the vp could legally take over.

@ChrisDJackson He can run as the VP, that is legal. The newly elected POTUS can then resign making Trump POTUS for a 3rd term.

I hope everyone understands this isn't a drill. He is serious and his people will try to make it happen, even if they say otherwise right now.

@mikejwhelan @Deltalady880 So glad to hear this. When my husband had cancer, back in 2003, there was no such thing as a mental health team. Thinking of you. One day at a time!

@Deltalady880 i have a mental health team 💙

CANCER UPDATE Finished with Gastroenterologist Oncologist. I've got so much to do. They ordered a CT Scan to rule put Pancreatic, Bladder, Liver or Kidney Cancer. UGH! They need to look at my extended Bladder that might be responsible for the continuous UTIs. They want to look at my colon and intestins for infections or clogged issues. Then they ordered additional labs to look at C Diff. Pancreatitis, Colitis, and about 5 other bacterial infections or diseases. It's a lot. These fecal lab tests are overwhelming. You need an MIT degree to figure it all out. I'm very happy with my doctor but now concerned about what will be found. 😥💙

@RetroCrone Oh I am so sorry. I am thinking of you and wishing you peace. ❤️

I expected today to be tough waiting for election results. I had no idea My younger sister just passed away. ((I am 78, she was 76.). Kind makes are feel stupid for gritching about the DST change. My entire birth family is now gone. Wow. Just Wow.

@RetroCrone So true. I keep feeling like my world is getting smaller.

When people you know, are close to, pass away, it messes with your reality. When you are old, your realty is messed with a lot.

@mark_joubert Thinking of you all and remembering Gus and his journey.

We said goodbye to our sweet and beloved son, Augustus Elliott Joubert tonight, July 20th, 2024 at 6:50 PM. What a sweet gift. He changed our lives forever. The Lord is good. He gave us so much time together.

@mikejwhelan Thinking of you. Take good care and let others care for you as well. It is a gift to care for someone struggling with cancer. I am so thankful for the time I had caring for my husband. ❤️

CANCER UPDATE My family is coming out for awhile because im not doing well emotionally. 😥 I or someone in the family will keep you updated. 😥💜

@RetroCrone Same here. 30 years teaching on concrete floors has about done me in!! Who knew? May your feet give you a break today!

To all the young’ns out there: a message from the future. Take care of your feet. Cardio, strength training, etc: Great! But don’t take foot health for granted. At 78, my feet are a mess, causing me pain & limiting what I can do. I should hv taken early issues more seriously

@mhdksafa Yes

@mikejwhelan I think of you often, even if we’ve never met. Hoping for a good day for you and a working oven!

CANCER UPDATE Thank you for your kind words. I hear from many that I've helped them through my daily authenticity. That's an honor. Almost 4-5 years ago I made a promise and a conscious decision to use my page to help those who don't have a voice, or, who don't know where to turn in their darkest days. I loved the opportunity. The next thing I knew I had 21,000 followers! WTF! My page consists of the everyday struggles and the triumphs of someone who is battling cancer, serious mental health issues, crumy job issues and who is fighting everyday to be a full time care partner to the one person I love more than anything on this planet, my wife and along this gritty sojourn it's about a man who is just getting older by the day. That's life. Every now and then I reflect back to the early years of my life and post pictures of my youth when everything seemed so much better and innocent. That's probably not 💯 true but that's how I remember those days and experiences. Through all of this, I remain truthful and positive but I don't sugarcoat the reality of my journey. My life has not been a Hallmark Card! The cancer and mental health community now have a few people who offer other choices to their experience. It's all great!Those who follow me have told me that my last 5 years have been like watching an HBO miniseries. Many of you not only know the story lines, but the characters as well. I take that as a compliment. Unfortunately these past few weeks have been somewhat shitty. While I will never ever give up, my life has become a bit of a bitter pill to swallow. Every night before I go to bed I write a couple of pages in my journal. Something I've been doing since I was a sad, depressed, lost teenager. I'm sure when I die those journals will be auctioned at Sotheby's by Rebecca for big bucks. 🤣 And then the next day I transcribe the highlights of my journal onto my Twitter page. Last night I wrote a lot about being TIRED! Tired without rest! Living like the Energizer Bunny is not always a good thing. I'm tired of not being healthy. I'm tired of watching Rebecca wilt a little more every day. I'm tired of spending 35 hours a week at a job that I'm too old to be at while making no money. I'm tired of talking about my Go Fund Me. I still need a lot of help but it's humiliating to continue to ask. For the first time in my life I'm a little scared about dying. Not so much regarding the final act, but the road I'm traveling to get there. I thought I'd have a lot more joy and serenity in my life during my golden years. And yes, I'm very disappointed that I didn't get that job that I thought would so perfectly fit my skills. The one thing that I'm good at is getting over disappointment quickly. So that summarizes a little bit about why I've been flying low. I will discuss my newly discovered health issues when I know a little more about my choices. At some point it's okay not to want anymore treatment. Right now Rebecca is trying to get my attention. Okay, I just learned oven has died. UGH 😬 Of course it did! Why wouldn't it?!🤣 Okay boys and girls have a great Sunday. Things do get better, just not on our timetable. It's never too late to learn patience ❤😎

@RetroCrone So sorry. It is so hard to lose our pets. 💕

When a pet dies, people console you w/ “You gave her a good life.” I do it myself. But today as I grieve for Penny, I realize she was the one who gave me a good life, certainly a better one than I would otherwise hv had. & she gave me ALL her life. RIP Sweet Dog. I miss you!

@JohnAda10163823 Thank you for letting us know. Good thoughts to all of you. ❤️❤️

Good morning everyone this is johns daughter Helen I have looked at his iPad today and he has received lots of messages asking how he is doing. Unfortunately dad is now in a hospice as he deteriorated very quickly. He has been made very comfortable and he is peaceful. ❤️❤️❤️

@dremilyportermd Glad he is ok. My daughter had so many surgeries in the 80’s and 90’s and there was no way to check things. One time I had them mail me all the bills and it was a couple inches thick and came bulk mail! Hoping for a fast recovery!!

My 2nd grader developed appendicitis overnight. The hospital required a $1,463.93 pre-payment in the ER before they would take him for an emergency surgery but no one could tell us how they calculated that amount. Our ER copay is $250 and it’s waived if you are admitted.

@GrievingBloke It’s so hard to go on after losing your spouse. I remember the early days, feeling that if I didn’t wake up it would be ok. But then I thought of my kids, who needed me, especially after losing their father to suicide. It took me years of weekly counseling, but things are better.

So tired. Wish I had the option of giving up. #grief

@RetroCrone So sorry to hear this news. Thinking of you all.

My sister was close to ringing the bell to celebrate her recovery from Stage IV cancer. But it is back. All over her body. With treatment she is given 6 months to a year. First question is whether to go ahead with hip surgery. And to arrange FT care. Her son is being great help.