Melanie Ham dead at 36: Crafting YouTuber who bravely shared cancer battle dies days before anniversary, husband reveals
YOUTUBER Melanie Ham died at age 36 after bravely sharing her battle with cancer, her family has revealed. Ham’s husband shared a tribute to the crafting YouTuber’s social media platforms, saying she “fought until the end.” The 36-year-old’s death on January 12 came just nine days before the couple’s 16-year anniversary, her husband Robert said. […]
YOUTUBER Melanie Ham died at age 36 after bravely sharing her battle with cancer, her family has revealed.
Ham’s husband shared a tribute to the crafting YouTuber’s social media platforms, saying she “fought until the end.”
The 36-year-old’s death on January 12 came just nine days before the couple’s 16-year anniversary, her husband Robert said.
“It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness I share the news of the passing of my sweet, amazing, beautiful wife Melanie,” he wrote on Instagram to her 46,000 fans.
“We are short 9 days of our 16 year anniversary. My family, our doctors, our nurses and especially Melanie fought until the end and did all we could do to avoid today, but that is not our path.”
Ham called his wife a “warrior queen” and his best friend.
“Despite the deep grief my family and I feel today we want to celebrate an amazing woman and a life well-lived,” he wrote.
CANCER BATTLE
Melanie was diagnosed with a type of sarcoma called epithelioid angiomyolipoma, which appears in tissues like muscles, fat, and inside bones, the New York Post reported.
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She started her YouTube channel in 2011 and openly discussed her diagnosis with her 810,000 followers while continuing to share her love of knitting, sewing, and crocheting.
An update posted to her website in October of 2021 indicated that her health was steadily declining.
A scan five weeks after surgery revealed the cancer had spread.
“I’m so thankful to my health team on all the work they’ve done for me, from the surgeons, to the nurses, to the oncologists,” Melanie wrote at the time.
“Robert has been here every step of the way and am so thankful for his love and support.”
In his touching tribute about her death, Robert Ham shared a “very vulnerable” photo of him and his wife.
“She was an extraordinary woman and God has another beautiful angel,” he wrote.
“She can now walk, and sing, and dance in a way her body did not allow over the last few months. She relied on her faith in Jesus all the way to the end and she will always be with me.”
SUPPORT POURS IN
Melanie’s videos reached millions of people on YouTube.
The most popular video, a beginner’s guide to crocheting a baby blanket, was viewed more than 5.9million times.
Many followers took to comment sections on her social media to share their condolences for her husband and kids.
One person wrote: “This is certainly one person I’ve never met but will really miss. She was and always will be amazing.”
Others echoed the sentiment, saying anyone who watched her channel would miss her so much.
“She will live on forever in the people she inspired. Your entire family will forever be in my thoughts and prayers,” another comment said.
Her husband’s post about her death encouraged her followers to “put up a toast of Bourbon” in memory of Melanie.
A memorial service is planned for Saturday, January 29, at Crossroads Community Church in Valencia, California.
Her family asked attendees to wear colorful attire to honor her.
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