MRF Gala 2013

I attended my second MRF (Melanoma Research Foundation) gala in SF.  It's a wonderful event and raises a lot of money for MRF, which in turn goes to funding research grants and education.  MRF asked me to present the awards to the Courage recipients this year (last year I was one), which was a true honor and priviledge!  All of them were fantastic and truly embody the word, "survivor".

 

Such a beautiful venue.  Love the tall ceilings and pillars.



My dear friend, Tina Rosenthal, who I admire so much.  She was instrumental for me before and during my treatments in the hospital.  She prepared me well with what to expect from treatments, sent me books and literature to read, and even came to visit me in the hospital several times.  I just adore her to pieces.  Her and I think a lot alike!  Wish we lived closer.

Dr. Minor with myself, Tina, and Sue, all Stage 4 melanoma survivors and patients of this brilliant and wonderful doctor.  He is a big reason we are all still alive!



Some other melanoma survivors and warriors, Kristina (far left), and Aine (far right).  This was my first time meeting Kristina (Stage 3) in person and I was so happy to meet her!  She is simply amazing in every way and a true fighter!  Aine is a young girl (Stage 4) who was at the gala last year when I attended.  I was very relieved to see her doing well and responding to treatment!


The day after the gala, I had my routine scans and treatment.  I was grateful for the distraction of the gala the night before to keep me from getting nervous the next day.  Fortunately, I received good results and am able to continue forward with good health and remission.  God is good!!!

Not Worth Dying For

 

This article is worth reading.  Have you ever wondered why more and more young people, especially young women are getting melanoma??  In this article lies your answer.

 

 I know I certainly fit the mold in my younger years.  I was in the sun constantly in the summers, often working in the sun (lifeguarding and teaching swimming), but I also spent a fair amount laying out by the pool to keep my tan and while in my early 20's, sometimes used tanning beds to achieve that glow!  Little did I know back then, that all that damage from UV light catch up to me and land me a melanoma diagnosis.

 

Hindsight vision is always 20/20.

Love hearing good news!

Can I just say that I rejoice for other's successes just as much as my own?!  I love it when I hear that my melanoma friends are having success with treatments!  It is just as much of a celebration for them as it is for me because it means that we are winning the battle against melanoma!

 

 

Take for instance, my friend, Kari, who has been fighting melanoma on and off for 10 years.  She has been doing a clinical trial in L.A. of the Anti-PD1 drug and just found out last month that she is in remission again!  I couldn't be happier for her and her family.  She is my hero and if anyone can beat melanoma, it is Kari.  She has such a winning, never-give-up spirit.

 

 

Then there is my friend, Alisa.  She has had some major bumps in the road the last few months to get accepted into a clinical trial (same one as Kari), but finally did and will be starting treatment in 2 weeks!  Alisa had major success with Yervoy, which is a drug similar to Anti-PD1.  I just know this drug will work for Alisa too.  Alisa is already a walking miracle and I know that she will continue to be!

 

 



Do you know your city's UV Index?

This is a website that everyone should save on their favorites and onto their phones!

 

Do you know what your city's UV index?  The UV index is a measure of how strong the sun's rays are, or how quickly you can burn.

 

 

 

Go here to find your UV index and remember, if the UV index is high on any particular day, avoid long exposure in the sun and always, ALWAYS cover-up!

The Skin Check that could save your life!

This article done by Glamour Magazine recently talks about how you can spot a melanoma or suspicious mole that could save your life!

 

 

Read here for more info.

Melanoma month kicks off

Ok, I'm going to try really HARD to post every few days this month.  After all, it is MELANOMA MONTH!

 

 

First off, did you know that the first Monday of the May is officially called and recognized as "Melanoma Monday"??  Wear black on May 6th to support melanoma awareness!

 

 

And also, when was the last time you got your skin checked by a dermatologist? The Skin Cancer Foundation is promoting a Healthy Skin Tour, in which they will stop at several cities and perform free skin checks! To see if one is being offered in your city, click here.

 

 

 

Now, go get your skin checked!  It could save your life!

All caught up

Ok, ok, you're probably wondering where I have been the last month or so.  Or maybe you're not because you gave up on me?! ;)  Well, I'm alive and finally caught up on the blog.  (Read below for my newest posts.)  It's been a whirlwind of a month between a couple of short trips (spring break and a weekend getaway with girlfriends), and then of course, my family, our non-profit stuff, and everything else that consumes my life.

 

 

I still feel good though.  Maybe I'm not getting enough sleep on a regular basis (only because I'm so busy!), but healthy nonetheless.  I am happy to just be living a normal life!  The mundane things in life--the shuttling kids to school and practices, the grocery shopping, the cleaning, the church activities--are all things that I enjoy doing because there was a time in my life not very long ago that I wasn't able to do all of those things!  I even remember saying to myself how I wished I could just do normal "mom" things again, just be like everyone else, and have the same worries that anyone in my stage of life would have.  And I love that I can have that again.

 

 

Not that I don't worry about the big "C" word still, because I do.  It is always there in the back of my mind.  But notice how I wrote "back of my mind"?  That's because the cancer worries, the fear, the anxiety of the melanoma returning are in the back of my mind, not the front of my mind.  Cancer used to consume my thoughts everyday, and now it is a fleeing thought, a reminder for certain, but not something I dwell on daily.  Why?  Because I actively choose not to.  I chose to just live my life.

 

 

I have learned to be be exceptionally good at living in the moment, not sweating the small stuff so much, and enjoying life to the fullest, even despite all of its challenges.  These are things that I wasn't good at before I had gone through cancer.  Now, I am better at not worrying so much about the future (because it's unknown and I can't change it), and have learned to embrace living in the now.  It is a beautiful gift and one that I am infinitely grateful for.

 

 

Please read on for more happenings and thoughts!

2nd Annual Run for Dunn

The 2nd annual Run for Dunn is coming up Saturday June 1st!  This event was started in honor of Amy Dunn, a Boise, Idaho local who lost her battle with melanoma about a year ago.  She is one of the reasons we started and dedicated our foundation.  This year, the event is raising money for the Amy Rae Dunn Get-It-Dunn Foundation, held by the Idaho Community Fund.  Funds will then be dispersed between us, Sol Survivors Melanoma Foundation and the Make-a-Wish Foundation (to help young melanoma patients).

 

 

This event will help bring melanoma awareness to the community.  We will also offer free skin exams before and after the run, as well as host a BBQ for the participants to honor Amy and celebrate her life.  It should be fun and inpsiring!

 

 

To register, donate, or find out more information, click here.

The Sun Will Rise

One of my all-time favorite stories (and broadway productions and movies) is Les Miserables.  This quote says everything to me.

 

Have a good week everyone!

B Strong

 

We live in an increasingly scary, unsafe world.  First people were bombing buildings like the Twin Towers in NYC.  And then came bombs at schools and movie theatres.  But now marathon races?  Seriously?!?! What is this world coming to?

 

I was appalled and shocked to hear about the tragedy at the Boston Marathon yesterday.  I was also freaking out because I had friends running it and on the sidelines.  I was relieved to hear that all of them were safe, however, my heart broke when I heard about the people who lost their lives (like the 8 yr old boy cheering on his dad), or people who lost their limbs or were severly injured.

 

So, so frightening and devasting.  Yet, through it all, miracles and glimmer of hope sprung forth.  People came together and supported the victims' families, donated blood, held vigils and fundraisers, and rallied around the city.  There is hope in this world and seeing all of the acts of service, love and support is a reminder that there is still more "good" in this world.

 

 

I love this photo of these soldiers who ran the entire marathon in their fatigues and wore 60 lb. packs!  It is truly inpsiring.



And I just think this photo is so funny, yet true!!