While Fannin County Paramedic/Firefighter Michelle Sowers passed away in August of last year following an extended battle with cancer, her life’s mission to help others lives on through the lives she touched and the actions of others to this day.
Sowers had the phrase, “Thankful, Grateful, Blessed,” tattooed on the inside of her wrist, an ideal friends and family say she lived out daily.
“It was her life’s slogan,” Samantha Pugh said. “Michelle faced many obstacles in life and overcame each of them with grace and a smile on her face. It didn’t matter how big the battle was she was facing, her eyes were set on helping others in need.”
Sowers found passion in her career and “thrived on bringing sunshine to those struggling.” Friends explain that she was often known to give her last dollar to a a total stranger, because giving to others was a form of fulfillment for her.
“When cancer raised it’s ugly head, Michelle was told by her doctors that having a hysterectomy would be the best decision,” Pugh said. “This procedure gave the cancer less than a 1% chance of returning, but it did. Not once, but twice. She never once questioned it, she simply said, ‘Maybe me fighting this battle keeps a child from having to fight.’ Her focus was always on helping others.”
Pugh explained that Sowers began needing blood transfusions during her third battle with cancer.
“She called after the first transfusion crushed because she had taken blood from someone else who might need more than she did,” Pugh said.
Over the years, Sowers needed nearly 20 units of blood, and she felted indebted to others with every unit.
“When Michelle was ‘promoted’ to live eternally with her Savior on August 20, 2019, we were devastated,” Pugh said. “Our hearts crumbled. Then, this community came together and truly celebrated her life and willingness to serve. We realized that we too were, ‘Thankful, Grateful, Blessed’ to be surrounded by so many lives that she had touched.”
Following much prayer, her family and friends decided her death could not be the end of her story. They then started planning a blood drive in her memory. While the original drive was postponed, the event was finally held Sunday, August 16.
“This was one way we knew she could continue to live on in our community,” Pugh said. “Once again, this community showed up like never before. It was the largest blood drive to date in our area.”
Through people’s donations, Sower’s “blood debt” was repaid three times over. Due to this, at least 171 patients will benefit from donations in her memory.
“Our prayers are with each recipient of these donations,” Pugh said. “May they enjoy the servant’s heart Michelle possessed and may they find comfort and healing in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Sowers’ family and friends look forward to “keeping her spirit alive” through additional blood drives in the future.