MELISSA (MISSY) MILLER, 14, is one of 10 siblings. When she was 5 years old, her big sister, Laurie, died from a brainstem tumor. Laurie was one of the first Doernbecher Freestyle designers. The Miller family faced a new and unexpected health crisis the summer of 2013 when Missy experienced strong heart palpitations while away at camp. The palpitations went away, but kept coming back, so her parents took her to the doctor in September. A blood test revealed that she had Type 1 diabetes. The doctor also sent her for an echocardiogram at the hospital in Salem, Oregon, but the results were unclear. The OHSU Doernbecher team did another echocardiogram and then an MRI to confirm she had an atrial septum defect, or a hole in the heart. Suddenly, she was dealing with much more than a typical eighth-grader. Not only was she juggling school, sports, friends and family, she was also adjusting to a strict new diet, and having to find time to squeeze in open-heart surgery, which she scheduled during Christmas break so as not to interfere with her other activities.
Missy’s life is full. Always on the move, she plays volleyball and basketball, and loves to dance. With uncanny poise and grace, she does what has to be done. Her family and friends sustain her. Diabetes and a hole in her heart (since mended) won’t slow her down.
Her favorite colors are pink, turquoise, purple, grey, green and all that sparkles. These colors and a silver Swoosh form the basis of her design of the Women’s Free 5.0. The pinnacle of the design is the New York City skyline, where she dreams of seeing her name in lights. The skyline is on the heel and on the sockliner to remind her that the Big Apple is at her feet. Missy’s collection also includes the Windrunner jacket and the Leg-A-See tight, which both bear her signature and the NYC skyline pattern.