Max The Butterfly: Hope and Resurrection After Cancer

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Butterflies are believed to be a symbol of resurrection and hope. This is an inspiring story about this phenomenon.

Jane Biehl is a 12-year survivor of a very rare form of blood cancer, known as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Catch up on all of Jane’s blogs here!

Max Middleton was one of those rare people who truly lived for others. She was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at the beginning of her marriage and career. The cancer was especially aggressive, and she went through countless surgeries, treatments, and intense pain. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she constantly thought of other people.

I first met her in the oncology waiting room at Aultman Hospital. I must have had that “newly diagnosed with cancer” scared look, and she walked up to me while I was sitting there with my service dog, a yellow lab named Sita. She shared that, despite her diagnosis, she had just returned from a vacation in Europe. I observed her always soothing and talking to other anxious patients.

I got to know her better when we were asked by the administration to be on the Patient Advisory Committee (PAC). The hospital was building a brand-new, beautiful cancer center that was truly state-of-the-art because the donors were so generous. Both the donors and the administration sought input from the patients, and the committee was formed. Max was the undisputed leader due to her knowledge and caring personality. She was on Facebook support groups, encouraging others, and expressed how hard it was to lose friends through cancer. She taught full-time at a middle school in nearby Alliance in addition to her intensive treatments, and her students loved her.

When she was no longer able to teach physically, she worked in the Information Technology department at her school. She persevered and worked until the end, when after a fifteen-and-a-half-year battle, she passed away prior to the official opening of the new center.

The PAC had served on the committee for years and met socially, so we grieved her, missing her vibrant personality. We placed personal items in a time capsule in the new building in honor of her. But her story did not end there.

When asked to represent the PAC at the cancer center dedication, I felt guilty since Max should have been there to do it. However, I accepted this huge responsibility and mentioned her in my speech. I have always been fascinated by butterflies, and at the time I gave my speech, I was captivated by a fascinating book titled "The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters," by Andy Andrews. This title, published in 2009, talks about a scientist, Edward Lorenz, who presented a hypothesis that when a single butterfly flaps its wings, molecules of air can cause a hurricane on the other side of the world. Scientists ridiculed the entire idea, but 30 years later, research confirmed this was accurate.

I also read a devotional by Quinn Caldwell that compared the butterfly to a resurrection. A caterpillar hangs itself up, and cells called imaginal discs form in the body. The genome of the caterpillar is separate from the butterfly. The invading butterfly genome kills the caterpillar genome. Once this happens, the body becomes soup, but then the imaginal discs emerge as a butterfly.

The dedication of the center was done outside, and the weather was perfect. Together with the mayor, hospital administration, and employees, several members of the PAC were seated collectively. Following my speech, I rejoined my colleagues. Suddenly, a huge, beautiful butterfly appeared out of nowhere. It headed straight for the section where we were sitting. The colorful insect hovered over us as we looked at each other, and all of us said together, “That is Max.” Max was there after all!

We all settled in our seats thinking about this beautiful human who had suffered unimaginable pain, then returned as a gorgeous butterfly to convey to us that she was alive and with us at the dedication. Miracles do happen.

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