Pass this on. It's important.

Saw this on a friend's Facebook page yesterday...

 

I'm so glad I stopped and took a minute. You see, malignant melanoma has touched my family.

In 2006, my younger brother - only 26 at the time - went through surgery to remove a funky looking mole and several layers of skin around it on his back as well as some lymph nodes.

One funky mole turned into this :

We jokingly say that's where his "angel wing" was removed.

If it were only that simple.

It was on his back.

How often do you look at your back?

Thankfully, his wife (oh the persistent, hounders we all are!) kept on him about getting it checked out. She saved his life and I can speak for my entire family when I say we owe her HUGE!!!

So here I am today on a soapbox of sorts - a place I have no right to be.

In my early days I was a SUN WORSHIPPER! I took it as my own personal challenge to go to the beach white - and come back as Brazilian as possible. I tanned in a tanning bed for proms, homecomings, even my wedding.

I knew it was bad for me - but I did it anyway. You are young and invincible.... and STUPID.

Never again.

Now I'm pastey white, and let's face it - 2 kids later - a little flabby, but I really couldn't give a hoot. I have a lot of "freckles" on my chest and elsewhere from bad sunburns that will look like huge ugly liver spots in 10-20 years - all because I baked and baked and baked like a friggin' russet every summer. And I got off easy.

My brother, on the other hand, never went to a tanning bed. He's the "ginger" boy in our family and always had on the 95 SPF... so go figure.

What I'm trying to say is... it's May. It's getting nice outside. So many of you are moms who read this blog. Slather your kids in sunscreen... put them in a burka for goodness sake if you have to. But protect them from the sun... protect yourself... and by all means educate them and someone you know about this.

And Clark - yes - I'm talkin' to you dear... If I see one more bright red neck on you come through that door after you "forget" to put sunscreen on (more than just once a day!!!) while you are out in the yard, or fishing, or golfing... I'm gonna lose it! (My turn to be the hounding wife!)

So - party people - do me a favor and pass this on to someone you know and love. Ya never know - they could decide to check out their bod in the mirror tonight - see a funky mole - and you'll have saved their life too.

Have a great, safe, and healthy weekend!

xoxo

 

 

Comments

[Brooke]

It's not just for the fair skinned either. I am darker and in the summer just naturally turn olive no matter HOW much sunscreen I put on (and believe me I've ALWAYS lathered it on several times a day) but I still wound up with a huge punch mark scar on my leg where they caught a mole (and skin around it) that was on it's way to cancerous! My biggest soap box is the tanning bed... why do people still do this?! Go get a spray tan or use the self tanners or just EMBRACE the way your skin was made to look! Is "looking good" really worth your life?! NO because you won't be around to look good anymore!

[Kelly Lindsay]

"Remember to Reapply" is our motto around here in sunny Florida, and don't forget your ears!!

xoxo

[heidi]

so sad, but such a good message. i've passed it, thanks for sharing. ; )

[Ashleetuckerpalmer]

Hi Katie :) I work with your husband. Email me when you have a moment... ashlee@ashesunleashed.com