By Gina Gomez
Nov.10, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Former news anchor Melodie Wilson Oldenburg has died after a prolonged struggle with breast cancer on Monday evening at her River Hills home. The veteran broadcaster [who was 59] was surrounded by her family at the time of her death.

Melodie, who was for the first time diagnosed with the deadly disease in the year 1992, finally succumbed to cancer after she bravely fought against the disease all these years. Although, she was an acclaimed television reporter and anchor, after suffering from cancer she became an active participant to create awareness regarding the disease. With the aim of reaching out to other people suffering from cancer, Wilson also established the After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD), which caters to the needs of cancer patients. The organization also plays a pivotal role as a mentoring program designed to help cancer patients. Melodie started the organization in the year 1998, in collaboration with five friends- all of whom had encountered cancer in some way or the other.

Her husband Wayne Oldenburg later added that in the last few months of her life, apart from spending time with her family Melodie had dedicated most of her time to this organization with the motto of welfare of cancer patients. Melodie had created a name for herself as a reputed television journalist. She started her career in 1974, when she joined WTMJ-TV. Later, in 1992 she took up a job as an anchor with WITI-TV. However, after her encounter with cancer she came to be known as a cancer survivor who gave her unending support to people fighting the disease.