Totally Giving Back

Totally Giving Back: Foundation fights pediatric brain cancer

Losing a child is something no parent wants to think about for even a second. It’s devastating and cruel. You never really recover from such a deep heartache.

An Ohio family is doing their best to march on following the death of their little girl, Melina Michelle Edenfield, in 2020. The Edenfields are raising funds to help find a cure for the pediatric brain cancer that took their daughter’s life at the age of 4.

Michelle and Keith Edenfield created the Melina Michelle Edenfield Foundation after the sudden loss of their youngest child. Michelle is president of the organization; her husband is vice president.

A mission to honor Melina

The couple’s fundraising efforts help them honor Melina's short life.

“Honestly, I think your greatest fear as a parent who has lost a child is that they will be forgotten,” Michelle said. “And Melina deserves so much more. These events allow us to fight her fight.”

Sharing Melina’s name gives their daughter the power to help and inspire others, her mother explained.

“Trust me, my baby was extremely competitive. Even if she had a 1 percent chance to fight, she would have,” 

Michelle said her daughter taught all of us that we can’t stop bad things from happening. It’s how we choose to respond to those things that matter, she said.

“And if my 4-year-old could face death — and yes we know she knew she was dying — and she could choose joy, then so can I,” Michelle said. “So, every day, even in my darkest moments, I remind myself that I have a choice. And I choose joy for Melina.”

Playful and loving to the end

Family and friends described Melina as a “joyful, energetic and brilliant” little girl who adored her family. She was the baby sister of Klara and Emilea. She was affectionately known for her wild hair and exuberance for life. Melina's passion and competitive spirit were evident in everything she did, from T-Ball to dance class, swimming and the many games she loved to play, her family said.

Melina suddenly became ill in mid-May 2020. Morning vomiting and frequent headaches led to an emergency room visit at a hospital in Akron, Ohio. Imaging showed ventricular swelling; not long after that, a brain tumor was found.

The family held out hope for a positive prognosis, but Melina's health rapidly deteriorated. Then they received a diagnosis that rocked their world: Melina had a very aggressive form of diffuse midline glioma. Just 32 days after falling ill, Melina died in her mother’s arms on June 24, 2020.

“Choose Joy” is the driving force behind the mission

Melina’s family created the foundation to prevent others from going through the devastating loss of losing a child to pediatric brain cancer. All proceeds directly fund research. Pediatric cancers are woefully underfunded, Michelle said.

The foundation held its fourth annual “Choose Joy for Melina” event on Aug. 5, 2023, at The Green in Canfield, Ohio. The special day was founded by Melina’s 10 “besties” just eight weeks after she passed away. The Joy Team, as they call themselves, sponsored a giveaway table in Edenfield’s front yard that first year. They took donations and gave away items that Melina loved, her mother said.

The free event grew and now takes place in the center of the family’s hometown. The celebration of Melina’s life includes music, dancing, workout classes, balloon animals, bouncy houses, cheerleaders, face painting, a craft station, therapy dogs and much more.

Totally Promotional this year donated 250 color-changing cups for kids to take home during the Choose Joy for Melina event.

This year’s event raised more than $15,000, Michelle said.

Other fundraising events sponsored by the foundation include four virtual 5K runs with 500 participants each time, two golf outings and two galas called “Evening of Joy.” The family’s community also has organized fundraising events for the foundation such as a haunted car wash and a competitive fast-pitch softball tournament.

To date, the foundation has raised more than $900,000 for pediatric brain tumor research. Donations can be made on the foundation’s website

The foundation is Melina’s voice

Michelle said the foundation shares Melina’s philosophy: Choose Joy.

“Our foundation has the power to share that message,” Michelle said. “And to think of the impact that this can have on others … Melina will have done more in her lifetime than I could ever imagine.”