Just....Thank-you

I’ve always been a private person, believe it or not. I have never liked being the center of attention, I was horrified if I had to speak in front of a group of people. I would stutter, stumble, and forget the words. There were few friends, and probably only my mother, who knew what was really going on within the depths of my soul when things were opposing in my life.

When Jillian was diagnosed with Stage IV melanoma, I began a care page for her. It was easier for me to update her progress  through this avenue rather than email and phone calls. I tried to keep the care page focused on her treatments without talking about what it was like for me and our family as we traveled this road with her. I was careful  with the care page, because I knew she read every word. Jillian was very similar in her need for privacy.

There are many reasons why I began this blog, but the main reason was because I wanted to let others know what it was like to be a caregiver to a person dealing with cancer, and to spread awareness to this devastating disease. Being open and honest about this journey hasn’t always been easy. Even today, when I start to write, I brace myself and push through the fear of being exposed. Just one of the ways that Melanoma Cancer has changed me as a person.

Tuesday, I got an email notifying me that I was one of the 10 top Skin Cancer bloggers. I was shocked.

"Officially known as "Social HealthMakers," these bloggers are among the most influential people in health and wellness on the Web, according to a ranking system based on more than 100 individual metrics". 

Here is the official press release from Market Watch:

 http://www.marketwatch.com/story/sharecare-names-top-10-skin-cancer-bloggers-2013-07-09

I share this honor with several of the melanoma friends I’ve met along the way, including Chelsea Price and Katie Wilkes.

http://www.sharecare.com/static/top-ten-social-healthmakers

Never in a million years would I have expected that so many people are reading Jillian’s story. There are days when I have a hard time getting out there, sharing my heart and experiences with this disease and beyond. When I see that people are listening and that perhaps I’ve touched or helped someone along the way, it puts my own struggles to be open and honest about our rollercoaster smack dab in the back seat. Right where they belong. God’s got it covered. He always has. Always will.

Thank you to all of you who read my blog. Thank you for helping to share awareness to melanoma cancer.

Just... thank-you.

~Peace