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Shonda's
Story
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Photo by Rich Pilling, MLB
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In the summer of 1999 someone
in my family noticed a spot on my back, a mole that just "didn't
look right". I passed it off for a time but at the urging
of our family physician, I made an appointment with a dermatologist
to have it checked.The first go around, I saw the doctor cancel
my appointment for some reason, and an entire year went by
before I thought once again about having it checked. The main
reason for the procrastination was the simple fact that being
in the sun was a very important part of my life, and a good
tan was always a high priority. Well, a year later turned
out to be deja vu all over again. Another appointment, another
cancellation on the doctors’ behalf. My mother was with
me this time, and said had she not been there she would have
never believed me. |
| In January of 2001 our family packed up and
moved to Phoenix, Arizona. Even though my roots are back east,
Arizona offered me one thing I could never get enough of, pure,
almost unfiltered sunrays. Not long after we arrived I was at
a family doctors office for a normal checkup, when the doctor
almost immediately let it be known that he did not like the
spot on my back. I quickly told him the recent history, at which
point he basically said "I don't care, you’re in
Arizona now and these things are not to be taken lightly here".
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Shonda's Parents - The Brewers |
| After making this appointment I finally
got in to see a dermatologist a month later in February. It
took him very little time to tell me that the 'thing' that
"didn't look quite right" needed to be biopsied.
A word I'd never had personal contact with prior to that moment;
it was a bit staggering to say the least. He removed the mole,
sutured the little hole and told me "Don't worry, I'm
95% sure it's nothing" and handed me a number to call
in 10 days and I would have my results. Worry? Na, 95% to
a doctor was 100% sure to me.Well, 10 days turned into 36
hours, at which time I received a call, a call that would
change my life forever. Thirty-six hours later I was told
I was a person with cancer, Stage 2 malignant melanoma to
be exact. Four more words that had invaded my quaint and quiet
life like a train wreck. From the initial diagnoses came words,
I, like every other person on earth, was scared to death of
blood tests, chest x-rays, lymph node exam. All of these were
needed to determine where and if the cancer had spread? What?
I thought skin cancer was akin to a bad rash or something?
Something you just went in and had cut off? How did we go
from 95% sure of nothing to 95% survival rate? |
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| Having said this, you should know
I was not in the least bit surprised to have skin cancer. In
the months prior to the diagnosis the spot would burn if it
was in the sun or the area got hot, and it itch incessantly.From
my sun chair to an operating table is basically what happened,
and a 6-inch chunk of my back was removed. The days that followed
are still foggy to me. It's funny, in a macabre sort of way,
how something like this sheds new light on your world. I'm a
cancer patient, HEY! I'm a cancer patient! My god, how can the
world continue to go on around me as if nothing had happened?
My husband was 2 hours away in Tucson, for spring training,
but at that time, I had three children at home that needed a
mother, and I had to continue to function as normal as possible.
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Based on Curt and my prior involvement with
ALS and it's patients, families and friends I knew one thing,
education is the first step to healing inside and out.As I
began to educate myself on this dreaded disease life rolled
on, the season began and through Curt's achievements on the
field, many people got to know how and why we were going through
what we were going through in our homes. It allowed us to
spread the word of melanoma, of prevention, of awareness to
many people around the world. If just one family, one person,
were spared this series of events because they heard me speak
then it would all be worth it, every scar, every tear and
every hour of not knowing. |
I had told myself very early on that people
DO DIE from this, but grasping that was much harder since
this was a personal struggle. I received letter upon letter
from people around the world that had fought this horribly.Since
my original diagnosis I have had 2 stage two melanomas, and
four melanoma incitu's (pronounced in-sight-too) removed from
my back, chest, legs and arms in 5 different surgeries.I also
became aware that Arizona has the highest melanoma rate in
this U.S. The problem with this, in addition to the disease,
is that there is not one organization in this state that centers
its attention solely on Melanoma, something I wanted to change.
Since day one, the goals of the SHADE
Foundation have been very simple, and very straightforward.The
first and most important goal is education
and awareness to our children.
We teach our children the dangers of drinking and smoking,
this should be no different; it's just as lethal, if not more
so. Our second goal is to provide information on products
and clothing that can protect from harmful UV rays, yet not
make you look like some sort of fashion illiterate. I am hopeful
that support groups and free counseling and educational seminars
will also be a byproduct of this web site, to assist people
that cannot afford these potentially life saving things. |
| For children, SHADE partnered
with the Environmental Protection Agency to promote the SunWise
curriculum in schools. I am so relieved that the state of
Arizona has passed a law requiring teachers teach the SunWise
program in the classroom. Now it is time to work on the 49
other states to catch up with Arizona. Much of the money SHADE
raises is to put sun protective screens over playgrounds.
Our most precious commodity deserves our most concerted efforts,
our children need awareness and protection.
In the end though, I hope sharing my story
will force you to get that checkup you've been putting off,
or maybe never even considered. If something 'doesn't look
right’ there's a chance it probably isn't. Check
your children, your spouse, anyone you care about, take a
look, you could save a life.
God Bless and Stay Shaded
Shonda Schilling
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