Members of Edmonton’s metal music community are coming together in memory of a woman who battled, and succumbed to, kidney disease.
Michelle Robinson was 15 years old when she was diagnosed with kidney disease. She was on dialysis several times a week – every week – for more than 10 years and underwent two kidney transplants. Robinson passed away in June at the age of 35.
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On Friday, three bands – Display of Decay, Quietus and Kryosphere – will gather for a fundraiser in Robinson’s name at Rendezvous Pub.
Stephanie Bell was a member of Kryosphere before it broke up last summer; it will reunite for Friday’s event. She met Robinson four years ago.
WATCH: Heavy metal concert pays tribute to Michelle Robinson
“I met her well into her battle. I met her four months before she went through a second kidney transplant. It was a crazy time,” she said.
Bell said Robinson was connected to many bands in the metal community.
“She was always there to support and wanted to be able to be a part of [the community]. This is our opportunity to prove to her that she was and we all miss her immeasurably,” she said.
The goal of Friday’s fundraiser is to raise $1,600 to publish Robinson’s memoir.
Jennifer Patten-Robinson, Robinson’s sister-in-law, said the memoir covers an array of topics.
“Michelle’s memoir is about the fight and the struggles of going through kidney failure, the ups-and-downs and how not only physically, but emotionally, mentally, it can break you. But to always have a goal in mind, even a dream, that everything will get better,” she said.
Patten-Robinson said the goal is to raise awareness of kidney disease.
“Kidney failure is a disease that, if you don’t have them, you don’t live. Dialysis makes you sit at home or in the hospital. Her second home was the hospital,” she said.
“You need to donate. You need to sign your donor card. You need to give to the Kidney Foundation. You need to help these people live fulfilling lives so they can get out and not sit in a hospital room.”
She also hopes a printing of the memoir will help those currently battling the disease.
“[Robinson] wants to say, ‘You can fight through this. You can survive. You can conquer. You can fight and you can make it.’ That’s what this book is going to do.”
Organ donors who present their signed organ donation card will receive 50 per cent off their cover. Doors open at 9 p.m. and the show starts at 10 p.m.
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