Michelle’s Place was created as a dying wish of Michelle Watson. Michelle was a 26-year-old victim of breast cancer. As a Temecula resident, Michelle was frustrated with the lack of local resources available to her while facing the challenges of cancer treatment.
During her battle, Michelle felt she would have liked a place she could receive some emotional comfort, a listening ear, and an opportunity to talk with someone who was surviving breast cancer and learning to cope with the disease. This place would also provide the latest information regarding treatment options, coping strategies, up-to-date research and clinical developments so the person and their family can help in planning and be informed when making treatment decisions.
Sadly, Michelle succumbed to her disease on July 23, 2000. In the wake of Michelle’s passing came a mission of service to make it easier for others touched by this unrelenting disease. Family, friends, and the community have come together and created a mission to serve the local community. Her parents wish her treatment would have started sooner, but bitter disappointment was replaced with positive action. Since Michelle needed a resource center where she could go for help in coping with her challenges, her parents, family and friends started one in her memory so others will have an opportunity to get the help they need —it is called Michelle’s Place.