P.S.

As I was writing about the gala, I realized I didn't update about my scans and treatment!  Silly me! Thankfully, results were good and we can continue forward another 3 months.... :)

We will continue to appeal my radiation treatment through my insurance company.  Next step is a visit to Eugene, OR where I have to plead my case in front of the Membership Rights Panel!  UGH!  Let's cross our fingers and hope that isn't a wasted trip and I can work some "magic"!   I'm also hoping my doctor might have a few "tricks up his sleeve".  And if I know him at all, he does.

Time will tell.  I'll keep you posted.

MRF Gala

What an amazing night.  I know the word "amazing" is overused and almost cliche, but it really was an AMAZING event and evening!

The highlight for me was meeting and talking with other melanoma warriors and survivors!  I met so many incredible, inspiring, and courageous people!  People from all ages, walks of life, and different backgrounds and stories with melanoma.  Some in remission, some in the fight.

I met a guy who has been in remission for almost 9 years from Stage 4!  His name is Erick Davis and he lives in Modesto, CA.  He is a patient of Dr. Minor's as well.  I heard his story a couple of years ago, but had never met him.  He is such an inspiration to me and it was truly wonderful to meet him face-to-face!  I asked him what he thinks he has done right to keep himself in remission for that long and he said, "Stay active"!  Love that!  I couldn't agree more...

Then there was a gentleman, David McMorrow, who lives in my home town of Pleasanton, CA.  He is in his 40's and is facing Stage 3 right now.  He is currently doing treatments at UCSF.  Great guy and definitely one to keep in touch with!

Mary Dynan is another inspirational survivor.  4 years in remission from Stage 4!  Another one of Dr. Minor's patients and such a sweet lady.  I loved talking to her.  It felt like I had known her for years.

There was a young girl, age 20, named Aine Kline.  She is in the middle of her Stage 4 fight about to embark on a clinical trial combining the BRAF and MEK inhibitors.  As frail and weak as she appeared, her spirit truly encompassed strength, bravery, and the "never give up" attitude!

Towards the end of the evening, I met a guy who is 11 years from his Stage 4 diagnosis!  His name is Brian MacMillin.  He has had FIVE recurrences since his initial diagnosis, but is still fighting and is still here.  I loved talking to him because he reminded me that we have to treat melanoma like a "chronic illness" because there is no cure YET.  He had such a positive attitude though--of holding out for something better and staying hopeful for the future!  His wife was equally amazing, those two are a force to be reckoned with!

I met another lady (and I can't remember her name), who lost her daughter, age 22, to melanoma a couple of years ago.  As devasting as it must be to lose your child to this disease, I was so impressed with her vision of moving forward, being an advocate for melanoma, and giving back to the cause.  A truly astounding woman and mother.

Then, of course, there are my own mole mates and friends, Sue Lescure (whom I have shared her story on here before), Emily and Mike McAuliffe (he is Stage 3), and Kari Worth (another Stage 4 survivor) who is 9 years out from her diagnosis and still fighting.  These friends have a special place in my heart for they have been such an incredible source of strength, support, and example to me in my own fight.  They all always encourage and support others in their fight with melanoma.  Sue and Kari were the Courage Award presenters at the gala and did a fantastic job.  I am simply in awe of them.  Sue is about the sweetest person you'll ever meet and will do anything for anyone!  Never do you hear her complain either (for all that she has endured).  She is truly remarkable.  Kari is a newer friend of mine, but I am so grateful for her in my life as well.  Her ability to just get the job done, keep moving forward, and live life fully are all attributes that I look up to.  Emily and Mike are two of the warmest, funniest, and kindest people.  I joke that Emily might as well be a melanoma survivor for all she knows about melanoma (and all WHO she knows with melanoma)!  They are so involved with the MRF gala each year helping on the planning committee.  Love them to pieces.

Ok, ok, so I have rambled on and on about the people I met.  Now, for the actual event!  When we came in (I was accompanied by my parents, sister, and our friends, the Mitchells), we were greeted,  introduced to the event planners, and then had our pictures taken.  The banquet room was absolutely beautiful with tall ceilings (it was held in an old bank in downtown S.F.), large pilars/columns, and marble floors.  There was food and drink lining the perimeter and in the front entrance.  I honestly didn't get a chance to eat much because I was meeting and talking with everyone!

About an hour into the event, they started the program with a few special speakers including Boris Bastian, who is a world renown melanoma and genetics scientist and physician.  Then there was another guy, Frederik something-rather, who gave a compelling and hopeful speech about the exciting research in melanoma that is currently happening and progress that is being made to eventually finding a cure.   Dr. Swetter, a dermatologist who heads up the Stanford Melanoma program spoke, as she was being honored for the Humantarian award.  Then the Courage awards were handed out, with me being last.  I gave the closing speech on behalf of all the Courage Award recipients.  I thought I would be nervous, but I wasn't at all actually!  I spoke from my heart and really tried to convey to the audience what it's like to live with this disease.  The fear, the anxiety, the doubts, the worries, but also the hopefulness and the determination to be never give up and to live life fully.  It was indeed emotional (how could it not be!), but I was grateful that I wasn't a blubbering idiot up there either!  I held it together pretty good, I thought! ;)

I will post a video of my speech when I get a copy.  My dear husband really wanted to see it, since he couldn't be with me.  For now though, enjoy a few pictures!

I can't wait for the event next year, I definitely want to be involved more!  All in all, it was a wonderful event!  I left feeling hopeful, blessed to be alive and healthy right now, and so grateful for the new friends that I made.  I am also super grateful to my parents and family who have continually supported me and been there through everything.  I wouldn't be here without them!

Hold Strong and Breathe!

I head back to SF tomorrow.  Yep.  It's that time...good ole' scans and treatment again.  Boy those 3 months creep up fast!  This time though I have the priviledge of attending the MRF 'Wings of Hope' Gala on Thurs night with my parents and my sister.  That should be a great event.  I'm most excited to see some of my other 'molemates' or melanoma friends and to meet and hear others stories.  Always inspiring and hopeful!

Last week, the event planners asked me to speak for a few minutes on behalf of the Courage Award recipients at the gala.  I agreed, thinking that I could just use one of my other speeches that I have delivered in the past.  Then after finding out what they wanted, I quickly realized that I would probably need to write a WHOLE NEW speech!  Yay.  ;)

I am grateful that my scans are the day after the Gala though.  That keeps my mind distracted with the gala and not focused on the whole scan-anxiety.  I do have to say that I am quite nervous for these scans.  I'm not really sure why.  You would think that the longer you get into remission, the more comfortable you would get.  Nope.  Not with melanoma.  I know how evil and sneaky this disease can be and how quickly life can change again...

My insurance is still being lame.  They denied the appeal for radiation treatment twice now, so the next step is for me to stand in front of the Membership Rights Panel and plead my case.  Fun times.  That would mean that I would have to go there, which is in OREGON.  I definitely don't want to give up on this, but I really just need to talk to my doc to determine the next best steps.

So...wish me luck and let's cross our fingers that I don't stumble on my words giving my speech Thurs night and have good results Friday!

Until then...I'm going to concentrate on being STRONG and taking lots of deep BREATHS!

Being a Mom

Being a mom is the most difficult job in the world. It is a job that requires your attention 24/7 with no pay and often no praise. But it is also the most rewarding job in the world and the most important one.

Being a mom means you wear many 'hats' or roles--chef, nurse, teacher, tutorer, maid, chaffeur, referee, cheerleader, discipliner, coach, nurturer, psychologist, and even friend. When you're a mom, you become a master multi-tasker...you learn to sleep with one eye and one ear open, you put sunscreen on your kids first, you give your kids extra helpings at dinner before serving a plate for yourself, and you give them all the extra blankets when you're camping to make sure they don't get cold. As a mom, you sacrifice everything just so your kids will be happy, and you do everything to create harmony, balance, and love in your home.

There is no greater responsibility than to be a mother. I am so honored and blessed to be the mom of these 2 muchkins. They keep me busy, they give me my continued determination to fight, they keep me "fun", and they help me to want to do better. There are days that I want to literally pull my hair out and throw in the towel, but then there are moments that remind me that this tough work is worth it. Like when Carson climbs into my bed first thing in the morning to snuggle or when Austin says his prayers and continues to pray for me and my healing, that I think, "yes, this is worth it."

They bring me more joy than I ever thought was possible and I know that without them, I wouldn't fight as hard to be here.

Happy Mothers Day to all you moms out there! Take the time to relish in those "small moments" that put a smile on your face, a tear in your eye, and remind you that you are doing the most important job in the world.

Community Ed and BK High School classes

Our second community education class was Thurs May 3rd and was a great success!  There were a few people that registered and didn't end up showing up, but all in all, good turn-out.  Dr. Mings, our dermatologist spoke a little longer this time, touching on all skin types of skin cancer, not just melanoma.  He showed lots of pictures of melanomas and other skin cancers that really got everyone's attention.  Our nutritionist, Anne Woodhouse, also did a fabulous job presenting information on incorporating cancer-fighting foods into the diet, supplements, whole foods lifestyles, etc.  We had great questions and interaction from the participants!

Today, another one of the Sol Survivors, Ruby deBoer and I spoke in the health classes at a local high school, Bishop Kelly.  It was an exhausting day because we repeated our presentation 5 times!  It was such a powerful experience to talk to these 9th graders about their skin, melanoma, and how to protect and prevent melanoma.  I was amazed at the interaction and questions we got from some of the class members, especially the young women.  They were, for the most part, very engaged and seemed to get it!

Our agenda for the HS classes went something like this:  First we opened it up with questions like, "What do you know about melanoma?", "Who has ever had a sunburn?", "Who has ever used a tanning bed?", and "Who knows someone with melanoma?"  It was a great way tofind out what these young kids knew about melanoma and skin cancer.  Most of them knew very little, of course.  After the questions and discussion, Ruby shared her story (she is Stage 3) and related it to what she was doing at their age that she thinks led to her diagnosis (grew up outside on a farm, little to no sunscreen and then as a teenager, went to tanning beds occassionally).  After Ruby's story, we went through our power point which covered facts and statistics (that we thought related to them, plus Idaho statistics), then we went into common myths and misconceptions like, "I need a base tan before I go on vacation" or "Tanning beds are safer than the sun." 

Detection was next, where we covered risk factors for melanoma, the ABCDE's, in which we showed pictures of typical and non-typical melanomas and had the class try to figure out what ABCDE's were presenting in these moles/melanomas.  After covering detection, we went through some prevention tips, spending a fair amount of time covering sunscreen--how much and how often to reapply, what sunscreens are best, what hours in the day to avoid, protective clothing, etc.  We then gave them a hand-out to take home, shared the Dear 16 Year Old Me video on melanoma awareness (they seemed to really enjoy that), and then closed up the class with my story (which I shared a picture of my dark, tanned skin back in my lifeguarding days) and then any last questions.

Our hopes for next year are to get into a lot more schools in the community.  I know that we will do that too.  We have a good network here and lots of resources, and so I think that is a very strong possibility and outcome.  We just need more man-power though!  And really, I think having a melanoma survivor share their story and present the info is KEY.  It makes our stories and faces more relatable and seems to hit home more.

Watch out world, we are on a mission and the Sol Survivors Melanoma Foundation is going to help prevent melanoma from taking another life!!!

YIKES!

This is just ONE reason why we don't use tanning beds!  I had to laugh on this one though because I think Will Farrell is hilarious! ;)

May is Melanoma Awareness Month

May is melanoma awareness month!  I think it is the perfect month for that too---right before summer when people are getting outside more and having fun in the sun.

Here are some simple things you can do to learn more about melanoma, prevent melanoma, and become an advocate:

1.  Get to know your skin.  Learn how to perform self-skin checks ONCE a month.  A good way to remember to do this on the 1st of the month!  To do this, follow the simple steps here.

2.  Even better, go visit a dermatologist if you haven't been in over a year.  Be proactive!  Prevention starts here.  Be educated on melanoma awareness, and take your health in your own hands!  A visit to a dermatologist could literally save your life!

3.  Invest in a top rated sunscreen found here and stock up for the summer.  If you like more "natural" based sunscreens, this one is top-rated by EWG.  Remember, you should apply the amount equal to a shot glass every 2 hours while in the sun.  If you are in the water, you should reapply every 90 minutes!  Take extra caution near the snow, sun, and sand as the UV rays are more damaging!

4.  Make sure you and your family are equipped with hats, sunglasses, and UV protective clothing.  I like these shirts found here.

5.  Do your best to avoid long sun exposure between the hours of 10am-4pm.  Seek shade whenever possible!

6.  Say No to Tanning.  If you haven't heard already, indoor tanning devices are about the worst thing you could do for your skin.  You triple your risk for getting melanoma if you have used tanning beds in your life.  If you feel the need to have a "tan", go get a spray tan or invest in a good self-tanning lotion found here (my personal faves are Neutrogena and St. Tropez).

7.  Make sure your children and loved ones are protected as well!  By spreading awareness for this disease by educating others, you are being an advocate!

8.  Educate yourself on the ABCDE's of melanoma found here.

9.  Remember that a tan is also a risk factor of melanoma.  Sun burns AND tans are a sign of skin damage.  When your skin cells are damaged, they can mutate or change, thus increasing your risk for skin cancer!

10.  Lastly, share this message and video (my all-time favorite melanoma video) with the people you love!!  Prevention starts with education!!

Life Moving Forward

Do you ever feel that life is moving too fast?

I feel that way all the time.  For one, having kids certainly makes life busier and fuller, thus the years seem to go by so quickly...

Reflecting on the last few years, I am in awe of the challenges that we have faced.  Life has changed drastically for our family, and for more than one reason.  Even though some of those reasons we could've never predicted nor wished for at the time, I wouldn't change anything about the way our life has transpired.

Life is about growing.  Learning.  Figuring out who we are and what our purpose is here.  Finding happiness within ourselves, our families, and with our lives.  Being content with what we have, and not always wishing we had something else or were someone else.  To me, life is exactly that...having gratitude for all things in our life, both good and bad.

I am grateful that life has helped me become more grateful, more content with what I have, and to appreciate the "small things".  I'm grateful for the lessons learned and for the blessings that God has bestowed upon me.  I am more grateful for my family, my friends and loved ones, and for the "new" people that have come into my life.  I have always believed that people come into your life for a reason.  I am lucky to have LOTS of those people in my life.

I now have a stronger belief in miracles, as I have witnessed many in my life, especially within the last several years.  I have more faith, I trust God more fully (but not perfectly), and I have more patience, perserverance, and empathy (but again, still have a ways to go).  I feel going through my challenges has truly brought me closer to God and has helped me see all that God gives me.

All I really want to do in life is be a good person.  A good mom.  A good wife.  A good daughter.  And a good friend.  When it is my turn to move forward after life, I want to know that I helped people, that I cared for people, and that I was the best example I could be.  That I made an impact on SOMEONE.

Having cancer has helped me empathisize with others better.  It has shown me how much I have to give to others.  You see, cancer helped me realize how important it is to SERVE OTHERS in life. How serving others, or giving charity is what truly makes us happy.  Serving others makes our burdens seem "light" when we are focused on others.  It puts our own trials into perspective because there is ALWAYS someone that has it worse.  I think that we have such a deeper sense of self full-fillment when we are constantly seeking to help those in need....

Do you ever have a feeling that God has bigger plans for you?  Like there is something more ahead, that is waiting for you?  I feel that ALL the time.  I know that I am blessed with certain talents and abilities and most importantly, life experiences that will help me to help others.  I always pray to God that I can do His will and be a tool in His hand.

Lately, I feel overwhelmed with all the good things going on in my life.   I have SO many things I want to accomplish or do, with raising my children and having a happy family being #1.  Right now, I feel that I am at this cross road of sorts. Trying to figure out what "good things" in my life I should do because that is the right thing to do, or what things to take off "my list" because either it's not the right thing or not the right time.  There's a season for everything and I'm trying to remember that.

I know that ultimately, God will direct my path to the things that I should be doing.  I just don't want to lose focus on my family and my health because if there's one regret that I could live without someday, it is not being "present" for my family or taking care of myself.  I think I do an OK job at those things now, but I want to do better...

So, what do you do when you have an opportunity in front of you that you know you could be good at or make a difference in people's lives, but yet you are hesitant because you worry it will take over your life (or your priorities)?  What if that opportunity feels right, but yet you aren't exactly sure how you are going to squeeze that into your life right then?  Do you seize it or let it pass you by hoping that maybe it's just something you do later?

Life continues to move forward at warp speed, and I am trying my best to keep up.  It's hard though.  Sometimes I just want to press "pause" or even "rewind" for a bit!  But that's not possible, so I guess I just move forward and have faith that I'm doing the right things!

Wings of Hope MRF Gala

Coming up in a couple of weeks is a special fundraising event hosted by the Melanoma Research Foundation called the Wings of Hope Gala.  This event is held in S.F. every May at the Bentley Reserve.  This year I will have the priviledge to be attending.  I wish that my hubbie could go with me, but it is just too expensive for both of us to go.  Luckily, my parents and sisters will attend with me!

It is a fun, inspiring night where you get to mingle with other melanoma survivors, doctors, and those that work hard to raise money and awareness for melanoma research and funding.  There is a silent auction, dinner, and awards given out.  Each year, MRF recognizes a doctor who has dedicated a lot of time to melanoma research and his/her patients.  MRF also gives out "Courage Awards" to a few melanoma survivors who have showed strength and courage in their fight with melanoma.  I was chosen to be one of the recipients of that award this year.

If you live in the Bay area and would like to attend this event, click on the link below to buy a ticket(s) and get more details on the event.  OR, if you would like to donate to this cause, even if only a small amount, that is also appreciated.  MRF raises money to primarily fund melanoma treatments and research, which as we know, is very important to eventually finding a cure.  If you can donate, click on the link below.

Hope to see you there!  And thank you for your support!!

http://www.melanoma.org/get-involved/wings-hope-melanoma-gala-san-francisco#.T4cUu60Bf9g.facebook

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