My tribute to Michelle
The church gathered around Michelle and I lifting her up to God in earnest prayer. Crying out to God through tears, our hearts filled with faith. I thought if God heals Michelle, this will be the moment.
The cancer continued its relentless march destroying the body of the woman I loved, breaking the hearts of those who loved her. Yet Michelle’s trust in God remained strong.
It all began in 2019 with a year of powerful abdominal pain with no accurate diagnosis. During Covid tests were cancelled. Later she was turned away from hospital emergency twice. Finally a scan revealed it was bowel cancer which was spreading through her lymphatic system. She was rushed into surgery. After months of chemo, the cancer was stopped in its tracks. Her levels were back to normal.
We hoped the treatment had bought us years, in the end it was just twelve months—but what a precious time we had. Every morning we woke up, looked at each other and gave thanks to God for another day. For three months we took off in our camper van and wandered up and down the southeast coast of Australia, cherishing every moment.
Then the cancer came back. This time the chemo was powerless.
Incredibly she was managing her pain with Panadol. She rarely complained and would just focus on the joy of being alive for another day.
Our last trip together was to the tropical rainforests of far north Queensland. Every day was a gift. Every day Michelle’s condition grew worse.
When we returned home Michelle was placed in the hands of the palliative care team of Calvary Hospital. She was determined to die at home. My downstairs office was transformed into a hospital ward. For the next six weeks our children and I cared for her around the clock. It was awful and it was wonderful.
We never stopped praying that God would heal Michelle, around the world hundreds of people were praying with us. God heard our prayers and answered, just not in the way we hoped.
Yet every day God’s love and light shone out from that woman.
Towards the end the children and I would gather around Michelle’s bed at night and tell her what we loved most about her, then we would read the Scriptures and pray. They were holy moments.
On one occasion I felt led to read the story of the woman who wept at Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:36–50). Jesus said of her, she loved much because she had been forgiven much. Michelle was that woman.
In 1977 Michelle dropped out of college and took off on the hippie trail around Australia. For two years she lived in a tent, eating only raw vegetables, dabbling in drugs, waiting for aliens to save the world.
Then one day, in an outback town someone introduced her to Jesus and she followed him ever since. That was the secret of her incredible life.
At her funeral the church was packed to overflowing. Hundreds attended and hundreds watched online. Michelle had organized the whole thing and it ran smoothly. Her life spoke that day as her sisters and children and I paid tribute to the only grandma I know who rode a Triumph Bonniville 1200cc motorcycle.
Before she passed we talked about our 42 years together. We celebrated and declared, “We did it! We finished well!” Despite all the hardships and failings, we loved each other to the end. We gave thanks for each of our children and our grandchildren. We gave thanks for so many loving friends and family. We gave thanks for all people who have been touched by Michelle life and the many people who came to know Christ through her and are still following him today.
Near the end she told me, “Steve I want to go. Will you release me?” We wept and I placed her in God’s hands.
Michelle and Jasper
She is buried by the ocean at Point Lonsdale and her plaque reads:
Michelle Ann Addison
1956–2023
Beloved wife of Steve. Mother of Danielle, Gretta, Robert and Lachlan
She lived life to bring people to Jesus.
I am the resurrection and the life.
The one who believes in me will live,
even though they die. John 11:25
