Misty’s Gift     by Leslie Pfau, Marketing & Promotions, KPDQ/KFIS Radio   (This is a copy of the article that appeared in the December issue of Faith Talk)             The holiday season seems to be emotionally overwhelming as we hear so many stories of need and sorrow. We here at the radio station were blessed to meet a fearless, young family full of hope and faith, who inspired us all to take a long hard look at our lives and truly appreciate all the things we take for granted.             The last thing Misty wants is to have people feel sorry for her. She wants no sympathy, she want only that everyone knows that she is completely at peace with all that has been dealt to her over the last twelve years. She feels a purpose to her suffering and is confident that when she is gone, those touched by her life will be better for it.  I can tell you that she has done just that for me. It happened August 6, 2004, a night that was supposed to be special for Misty and her beloved sisters, but definitely became a night that was felt deeply by all in her presence including Michael W. Smith himself.  Before I tell you about the night of the Michael W. Smith concert that Misty and her sisters went to, I will share some background that her twin sister Rochelle provided for me for this story:

Misty, Angela, and I (Rochelle, her twin) have always felt like we were "chosen" by God. Our parents didn't really go to church, we just happened to be raised across the street from one. Every Sunday us girls would listen for the church bell and walk across the school field to go to Sunday School. Our parents didn't go with us, or our brother, but thankfully they let us go. We found out as adults that there were a lot of women in that church praying for us girls! We just felt so loved and had a hunger to learn about the Lord. Without the Lord, who knows what we could have gotten into? We pretty much learned our values from the Bible and our church family. We went to every youth function and camp we could. Our youth leaders ( Charlie and Anita) made sure we got to go.

Misty and I had a double wedding with our high school sweethearts in 1991. We both had our boys 18 months later, just 3 weeks apart. During her pregnancy, Misty was experiencing some symptoms that the doctors hoped were from a common pregnancy illness called Bell’s Palsy. When they didn’t go away after Jordan’s birth, they sent her to a specialist who found a large mass behind her eye. She had a meningeoma, a type of brain tumor normally found in middle-aged people, Misty was just 21. I was almost 9 months pregnant with Mack when she had her first surgery. Jason (my husband) and I put a bassinet by our bed and cared for Jordan, night time feedings and all! Luckily I was on maternity leave during her hospital stay and for 3 months after, so I could take care of her and Jordan. We moved Misty and her husband in with us while she recovered. She endured many subsequent surgeries the longest being 27 hours. She always pulled through knowing God was in control.

She was well for about a year and a half, then when I happened to be going on Maternity leave with my little girl Maddy, the tumor returned. Again God provided a way for me to be home with her for 3 months and to care for Jordan who was almost 2. We built houses side by side shortly after. We put one large fence in the backyard so the kids could play together. Misty went back to work. She and I shared baby-sitting duties so the kids weren't in daycare. She went on to have 3 or 4 more surgeries. Her husband couldn't handle the stress of it all and left when Jordan was 6. We moved to Forest Grove into houses side by side again about a year before he left, so we were able to help her with Jordan. We all moved to Banks to be closer to our older sister Angela, about 3 years ago. Misty bought a small starter house and worked full time to make ends meet. Unfortunately her ex-husband didn't pay child support very often, so she had to sell her house and move she and Jordan into an apartment. Luckily there is one right in Banks so she was close. My kids walked to her house with Jordan after school, she is a very devoted Auntie.

She had been pretty healthy the last couple of years, the tumor wasn't growing, we thought she was going to beat it. In March of this year I took her to her 6 month MRI appointment and it showed the tumor was back and very large. It surrounded her brainstem and caused a stroke a week before a brain surgery was scheduled. We were told she had about a week to live without surgery, and a slim chance of even surviving the surgery. She wanted to try, so we consented. Our church held a 24 hour fasting and prayer vigil the day before surgery. Our pastor came to the ICU and we had communion the night before surgery. She couldn't move her right side at all, and couldn't talk very well, but I remember her telling me, "God in charge Sis". I left that room feeling very much at peace. I truly felt God's presence it that room. I cried tears of relief knowing she was right, and even if she died on the operating table, she was going to live. She came through the surgery better than her doctors could have hoped. She was talking and moving by the next day. Only God could have made that happen. Her doctor can't do any more surgeries or treatments.

It's been really hard for Jordan to watch his mom be so sick, so we all agreed when Jordan's dad offered to have him go live with him, that it would be best for Jordan. He lives 5 hours away, so Jason and I meet Jordan's dad half way every other weekend. Misty lives for those visits!  The tumor is growing into her brainstem now. Her neurosurgeon told us even with debulking the tumor she had about 3 months to live. He said 6 months would be a miracle and not to expect her to live through the summer. It's now been 5 and a half months. She is starting to show signs of tumor growth and is now on Hospice. I want you to know that her attitude has not changed. She still lives each day knowing God's in control. No matter what happens, she wins. It is the hardest thing watching my sister die. She was so beautiful on the outside, but the tumor has left her with so many scars and disfiguring dents. She has only one eye and barely a voice, but to me she's still the pretty little girl I shared a room with, shared all my secrets with, and someone who is the other half of me.  I wish everyone could see her through my eyes, she is the most beautiful person I've every seen. I'm going to miss her, but will hold on to the knowledge we will be together again in heaven, with no more pain or tears.   ~Rochelle

To understand fully the miracle of this story, you must know that at the time or Rochelle’s’ request we didn’t have a clue about Misty’s incredible journey. The radio station held a contest to win tickets to the Michael W. Smith—Mercy Me concert in Portland on August 6th . she didn’t go into detail but only said she would love to take her twin sister and her older sister for a special night out. After reading her entry, we were all touched by how close these sisters seemed to be. We all decided that the request warranted further exploration. We sent Rochelle an email asking her to tell us more about Misty and asked her to forgive us if we were being too personal. She replied only too happy to share the incredible journey. Once we learned more, we all became very determined to make sure she was going to the concert!

I shared the story with the concert promoter at Double Tee who said that he would do whatever we needed to make their night special. When we told Rochelle the good news, she told us that their birthday was coming up that next week and it would be a great gift for Misty. The funny thing is that we had already planned to interview Michael W. Smith that next week so during the interview we asked him to say Happy Birthday to Misty and Rochelle. He did. He also told her he was praying for her. Rochelle emailed us right after the interview and said that Misty was overjoyed to hear Michael W. Smith, her inspiration, talk to her over the radio!  Well the next mission we took on was to do everything in our power to make sure Misty had a chance to meet Michael W. Smith in person. We knew he would be as blessed to know her as we were and we hadn’t even met her yet! So the challenge was on. After about a week or back and forth negotiations, Misty was going to get to meet Michael W. Smith in person and not only that, she was going to sit in the front row for the concert with her two sisters!!  The arrangements were made and the night of the show was here. We prayed that Misty would be strong enough to make it to the concert. The morning of the concert, we were very busy with all the arrangements and set-up that goes into putting on a concert of this size at a venue as big as the Rose Garden. All day long, I could only think of the special night we were going to give Misty. The true surprise is what she gave us.      Outside the Rose Garden, we were doing giveaways and games with listeners that came to see us, and that is where Angela, Rochelle and Misty found us. We all embraced like long time friends and were so happy to be able to meet these wonderful women.  The Meet and Greet was before the show and Misty not being able to walk very fast was moving at a pretty good clip. We got inside where the meet and greet was to happen. The anticipation was exhausting, for us, we couldn’t imagine what Misty was feeling.  Michael arrived to cheers and moved around to the many fans in the group. When he got to Misty, his demeanor slowed and he became very purposeful in his interaction with Misty, like he was determined to know her and feel her spirit.  Misty’s ability to speak has been damaged but her sisters were quick to make sure she was understood.

Misty shared with Michael how much his music has helped her handle her burden and how she is proud to have his version of Friends be her choice for music at her last services. She truly wanted to lift him up with her story of courage; she wanted to make sure he knew that his calling is to keep encouraging those who feel defeated. After a few photos Michael went on to meet others in the group.  We made our way to their seats in the front row and visited for a while. Talking to Misty and her sisters is so warm and loving, you never feel like strangers, and after all the email correspondence, we felt more like one of the family.  Misty shared some of her challenges in a lighthearted way, always turning the negative into a positive. She told jokes, and was truly a happy spirit. As the concert started with Mercy Me joining Michael W. Smith in Here With Me, the emotional floodgates opened. As the night went on, we all sang, worshiped and praised as one body.  Later in the concert (after a surprise appearance by actor Jim Caviezel) during a collaboration of I Can Only Imagine, I couldn’t help but notice Michael looking directly at Misty and singing right to her as if he was trying to appreciate her circumstance. When he left the stage he made sure to give a special wave goodbye to Misty. What a night of blessings. Determined to make a special night for Misty, we ended up getting the special night.

We were all so deeply moved to see firsthand the impact one woman and her devoted sisters made on us all. I will forever treasure the experiences of that night and feel like we truly were given a gift by Angela, Rochelle and Misty who as of today, still wakes up each day praising God and knowing that He is in control.   This article is reprinted courtesy of KPDQ/KFIS Radio. Special thanks to Leslie Pfau, Jeanne Kenney, Roger Manning, and Summer Hamilton for their help in putting this event together.     Note:  Misty Ray Wright went to be with the Lord on December 18, 2004.  One night earlier she celebrated her last earthly Christmas with her family, including her two sisters; her parents, Joe & Meg Bateman; her brother, Joby; and her son Jordan.  She now celebrates everyday with her Lord.      lTo download a copy of this article, complete with pictures, click here lTo download a copy of the article without pictures (faster), click here

Email the Webmaster in regards to any errors or questions regarding this page