Mindy Elwell's battle with Anaplastic Astrocytoma (brain cancer) ended peacefully on November 16, 2016, at her home in Buckeye, Arizona, surrounded by her loving family. Balcony 7 is deeply saddened by her loss. Her wish to leave a legacy of hope for others facing this terrible disease lives on--through her memoir "Defy & Conquer." Mindy is survived by her husband Rich, and her three children, Rich, Angela and Domenic. Mindy obtained a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts and was a former counselor to troubled teens and their families, who faced drug addiction and abuse, as well as those disadvantaged. Her terminal diagnosis of brain cancer set off a courageous battle of survival, leading to a brave surgery to remove the once-inoperable tumor and adopt the Ketogenic Diet, a breakthrough adjuvant therapy that helps stem the growth of cancer cells. She was a fierce fighter who bravely sought every possible avenue of survival. Her last words in "Defy & Conquer" reveal this bravery: "In the end, as cancer devours the physical body that is its host, the soul will continue to live, rising up into an even more beautiful world of eternity, beyond cancer's reach. When I get to that world, by my maker's side, I will look down upon my family, and know that while I wait for them to join me, through God's grace, I did indeed defy and conquer this beast." Rest In Peace, Mindy.
