My Aunt (my Mother’s sister) never wanted to go to regular doctors appointments even when she had issues with her monthly cycles. Turns out that she had cervical cancer. When she got the diagnosis she was given a 6 month time frame to live. I drove 18 hours out to Indianapolis to spend time with her and my Mother.
We helped her clean, and organize her house and just spend time with her. I made the journey again a few months later with my brother and now SIL for Thanksgiving. She made the most amazing spread and it was a full on sit down dinner with China and everything. Not what I was used to but so very fabulous. Being able to spend that time with her is something I will always cherish. She made one last trip out to the Cape that I got to visit with her. She outlived that 6 month time frame but unfortunately the Cancer spread to her lungs and soon after she lost her fight.
My Grammy K. has beaten breast cancer TWICE!! My second Dad has beaten Prostate cancer. There is probably not a person out there who doesn’t know someone who has been affected by Cancer. I hope that in my lifetime there is a cure for every type of cancer out there. So whenever I get the chance I always try to donate to finding a cure.
So for this week’s Be The Change Random Act of Kindness I URGE, IMPLORE, BEG you to give what you can if you are able every little bit counts!! I have donated to both and hope you can find it in your heart to as well.
“Hi, I’m Melanie, a Leiomyosarcoma cancer survivor.
I began Relaying as a freshman in 2004 before I even really knew what Relay was. After my first event, I knew Relay For Life was something I wanted to continue doing. Cancer, thankfully, had not touched anyone I knew, but I believed in the amazing cause.
Unfortunately, just two years later, I began feeling very fatigued. After what I thought would be a simple visit to Mizzou’s Student Health Center, I was hospitalized for a low blood count. A few transfusions later I was released and a week later, after an upper endoscopy, a tumor was discovered in my stomach.
I traveled home to receive care under some of the best doctors in the country. On February 14, 2006, I underwent surgery in which they removed the tumor, one third of my stomach, and the bottom portion of my esophagus. While in recovery in the hospital, we learned the severity of my cancer as I was told I had Leiomyosarcoma, a very rare and aggressive cancer…..”
For the rest of her story and to help support Melanie click here.
The amount of people that Stephanie fund-raises and relays in memory of, support of, and celebration of is astounding. To help support Stephanie’s Relay for Life team click here.
Are you considering doing your own Act of Kindness? If not, what is stopping you? Grab a button if you would like to spread the word. The change that we seek in others has to first come from within. This year I hope you decide to Be the Change You Seek.
Cancer is terrible – I mean I’m not sure many other words can be used to describe it, but it just sucks!! Looking forward to reading about Melanie’s story!! Sorry to hear about your Aunt – just reinforces why you have to listen to your body and get checked out – no matter how big or little it is…trust your gut!
Yes, it is so important to get check early and often. Your body knows when something isn’t right.
My Stephanie has been involved with Relay for the past 4-5 yrs, even chairing one chapter. Her great grandmom
had cancer of the jaw and many complications from the radiation given years ago. She lived rather long after
her initial diagnosis, God Bless her. She was the reason Steph got involved. It is a nice thing! A bonding of all of those
who suffer or have loved ones who suffer the cancer consequences. Godspeed to all.
Love SMD’s Momma
Thank you for the back story. I didn’t want to pry. Sounds like a really great experience for everyone to come together.
So sorry to hear about your aunt. It’s really important to go for regular checkups so the doctors can catch these things early on.
-Sharon
Yes, early prevention really gives you better odds. So important to get check yearly especially if it runs in your family.
Cancer really is horrible, and I hate that pretty much everyone has lost someone or knows someone that has had Cancer. for every person who has beat it, there are 10 who lost the fight. so horrible and sad. thank you for sharing xo
Isn’t that such a horrible truth. Awareness is everything and hopefully a little action too!
So many people I know have or have gone through this battle.
It’s everywhere and it’s so sad.
I pray for those who battle Cancer.
I donate when I can…
I help those who need it.
Cancer is so close to all of us.. It’s like… the black sheep of our family… It’s there, but we wish it would just disappear
So very true! Couldn’t have said it better! Hopefully one day it will no longer affect so many.
Thanks so much for sharing my Relay info. It is the most important event I do all year. I find it really cathartic, having lost people to cancer. It fills me with hope that someday soon people won’t have to endure the pain and suffering any more.
Thanks for sharing your aunt’s story. I’m glad you had some good memories of her and made an effort to really be present with her. big hugs to you!
Very glad to share and hope it bring more funds to research and care for those who are battling cancer. Every little bit helps.
I couldn’t have been anywhere else. When my Mom called I knew I needed to be there. Those memories will never leave me.
I have donated to Steph’s Relay. Every little bit really does count!
It really does, every dollar is one dollar closer to a cure!
Cancer is the worst fucking thing ever. Well, tied with Alzheimer’s. I’ve been affected by both and I donate when I can. I definitely need to get involved more than I am.
Both are just so horrible and hopefully a cure is coming soon. No one should have to go through it, EVER!!
Thank you for this post Kerry! My mom is a breast cancer survivor and my Grandmother was one as well. As this is an issue I could very well face in my future I think it is so important to raise awareness for it.
Thanks for bringing light to these stories.
Awareness is so important! I hope that a cure is coming. Radiation and chemo are a blessing but not very gentle.
Love both of these amazing women and YOU! 🙂 Goosebumps! 🙂
They are both pretty amazing! Thank you.
sorry for what your family is going through- prayers and good vibes to yall! <3
Thank you. She lost her fight but there are so many others out their fighting that need all the strength and encouragement.
Kerry, that is sadly so true… cancer surrounds us and someone we love. I cannot believe how much it has spread through the years of first hearing about it as a little girl. Both sides of my family have a history of you name it kind of cancer. I am so sorry to hear about your sweet aunt. Thank you for writing this amazing post!
Thank you! It is getting way too common. The more the message gets out their the more chances we have to fight it!
It seems like in recent years, cancer has become so much more common. I mean, I know it’s something that has always existed, but you just hear about it so much more these days. It’s awful that someone can seem fine one day and then within months – sometimes even weeks – they’re just gone.
I have raised a fair bit of money for cancer charities in the past and will continue to do so. I just hope there’s a cure out there that we’re going to get our hands on soon.
Thank you for helping to raising money! It is becoming a little too common these days. Hopefully a cure is coming!
I just hate the word cancer. Anytime it comes up, I get chills and instant terror. My first though is oh no…who has it hit now!!! I have watched too many people leave this world way too soon because of it. I always try to help in any way I can. I too hope there is a cure sometime in our lives!
It is so scary and hopefully the word will no longer hold the power. The more we fight for a cure the less power it will have over us! At least I hope so.
cancer seriously sucks. it’s affected some members of my family as well, so it’s always inspiring to hear about people who are survivors and working hard on raising money and awareness.
They are just so awesome and involved in the cause I just had to share!
Im sorry for your loss. Cancer is a bitch! I worked for 5 years in event production, and all of our events were dedicated to raising funds for cancer care and research. I was able to travel the world and help produce the events, and experience the emotion of everyone involved. Although the stories were heart-wrenching, it was also so rewarding to know these events save lives and provide treatment breakthroughs.
Thank you! That sounds like such a rewarding job, though I am sure emotionally draining at times. Being able to witness money being raised to go to help would make it worth it though!
You are truly amazing! I am so sorry you had to watch your aunt battle this awful disease. And I’m sorry her battle took her life. I cried reading that. Cancer makes me incredibly angry. But with every story I read, such as yours with your Aunt, that anger fuels my fire to raise money, awareness, and fight back! Thank you for sharing my story and asking people to join in the fight by donating. And thank YOU for donating. You seriously are one amazing woman !!!!!!!!!
Thank you!! It was such a painful time but I am so glad I got to spend time with her before it was too late. I am so glad that you do what you do, I know it can not be easy but it is so very worth it. I was honored to be able to share you story, and I couldn’t be happier that it had a happier ending. I think YOU are amazing! Big Hugs!
i’ve never mentioned it public, minus an instagram photo i deleted, but my mom is currently battling cancer for the second time. she’s had all the surgery she can, and so far it’s stil there, but not growing
I am so sorry she is having to go through it a second time. I will keep her in my thoughts and hope it doesn’t grow.