January 9, 2002
Walters family finds beauty amid ugly battle with cancer
NMC student competes in Miss Teen Michigan pageant next week in Detroit
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Shortly before her birth, Michelle Walter's father, Louie, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Treatment prompted a remission and the Walter family settled down to raising their daughter, making a living and being a normal family.
But the cancer wasn't done with Louie Walter yet. Fast forward 11 years and the disease reared its head again. Treatments with chemotherapy that year, a stem cell transplant three years later, more chemo and a bone marrow transplant in 2000 followed. This latter treatment is the family's hope to subdue the cancer again.
Now, with Michelle a student at Northwestern Michigan College, her father makes sure to nurture her dreams. Michelle is studying to be a paralegal and, already halfway to her associate's degree, is considering pursuing her bachelor's degree.
Besides her career goals, the stars in her eyes shine when she thinks about beauty pageants. Michelle always watched them growing up and, after some modeling this summer, she decided to compete in one herself. After an application and an interview, plus checking to make sure it was legitimate, Michelle was accepted to compete in the Miss Teen All American Pageant on January 19-20 in Detroit. This pageant will select the Miss Teen Michigan representative, who will go on to national competition.
This pageant includes an evening gown competition, swimsuit competition and interviews.
While the Miss Teen pageant offers a $1,000 prize, for Michelle that pales when compared with the chance to do something she's always wanted to do. However, reaching for a dream can be a mixed blessing at times.
"I am very nervous," she said. "But I can't believe how supportive my parents have been. They will be there in the audience for me."
Her dad also has helped her find sponsors to defray the costs of participating in pageant. He also has coached her with thoughts on what the judges will look for during the interview portion of the pageant.
"My dad has been so helpful," she said, noting she will wear her prom dress for the evening gown competition.
Always a close family, the Walters live near Fife Lake. Despite her father's treatments, which included a three-month stay in Ann Arbor during her junior year, Michelle graduated with honors last spring from Forest Area Schools. She participated in band, the National Honors Society and compiled a perfect attendance record for five years. In addition, she was dual-enrolled at NMC during high school.
"She's always here for me," Walter said. "At 16, she'd drive every Friday night to Ann Arbor to see me while I had treatments. She came all by herself, leaving after school and coming back on Sunday."
"That's just the kind of kid she is, she does whatever it takes."
A proud father, Louie Walter knows his daughter does not need a crown to be a winner in his eyes. Calling his daughter a high achiever, the two have a closeness that facing hard times together brings.
"Michelle and I have dealt with life's ups and downs as a team," Louie Walter said. "I sometimes look at Michelle and wonder how much of a burden I have been on her as all I have given her is constant fear of how much longer will she have her dad, with all the treatments that keep failing."
"She just says, 'Just keep fighting and you will win, Dad.'"