Melissa was diagnosed with cervical cancer on March 31, 2009. After going through chemo and a couple of internal radiation treatments, she was told the cancer had spread. After that, she endured so much in such a short time. She had a blood clot in her lung, a staph infection, ecoli, infection of the esphagus, lesions of the esphagus, that developed into herpes simplex virus of the esphagus, internal bleeding, and a severe fluid build up due to her kidneys shutting down, and she had pnuemonia with blood in her lungs. She was on a ventilator but was alert and responsive until something attacked her brain. We were told it was either toxins from her kidneys shutting down or a brain tumor. She finally gave up her hard fight on Monday morning at 2 a.m.

Melissa is survived by her husband Michael, son Jesse Gomez, mother Jo Ann Tackett, brother Jerry Tackett, nieces Kayla Tackett and Desiree Vanderhyde and nephew Dylan Vanderhyde, sister Lisa Oswald, and brother-in-law Patrick Oswald, nephews Brandon, Troy, and Zachary Oswald, father Jay Tackett and half brother John Tackett.


"When tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we're far apart,
For everytime you think of me,
I'm right here in your heart."

When Melissa found out she had cervical cancer, she wanted to inform everyone as to how important it was to have regular checkups. She wanted to try to help prevent anyone from going through the same thing she was. She had put off getting checkups because something always came up. If she had gotten her yearly checkup, it's possible she could have beaten this. So please, if you haven't had a checkup in a while, please get one.

Melissa will be dearly missed by family and friends!!

We love you Melissa!!