Melanoma #5
Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation Blog
by polkadotmama
3y ago
8 years. Five diagnosis. It has certainly changed my life and guided my career path. On Feb 9, 2021 I received my fifth melanoma diagnosis. This time I was the one who found the changing spot that turned out to be an early-stage invasive melanoma (Stage 1a). While I know my prognosis is good it was a gut punch none the less. It is hard not to blame yourself and ask why? What am I doing wrong? Why does this keep happening? I am lucky. I always remember that. My melanomas continue to be caught early. I have an amazing team of caring physicians who keep a close watch on me and a loving and suppo ..read more
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Remembering Grace Wenzel
Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation Blog
by polkadotmama
3y ago
Our beloved friend and guest blogger, Grace Wenzel, died on Friday May 8 at the age of 23. Grace was initially diagnosed with Stage 1 melanoma at the age of 18, and by 22 her melanoma had metastasized to her distant organs and later to her brain. Grace is one of the reasons WHY we continue to advocate for early detection and prevention of melanoma. Grace is one of the reasons WHY we support the advancement of melanoma research. Grace is at peace, her body no longer in pain. Her story and beautiful life will forever be written in the stars. While cancer may have taken Grace’s time on this earth ..read more
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Counting my blessings
Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation Blog
by polkadotmama
3y ago
I’m writing this blog post at 2:26am, flush with a 102.5 degree fever, wide awake after getting back from the bathroom where I just puked my guts out. I’m sorry for that not-so-pleasant image to kick off this post, but this, unfortunately, is sometimes what stage four cancer looks like. For every time that I hear someone say to me, “You look so great!” or “You look so healthy!”, what people don’t see is these in-between moments where I feel anything but great and certainly not healthy- the unexplained fevers and vomiting, the constant dull ache in my shoulder from the sizable tumors in my lung ..read more
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Introduction
Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation Blog
by polkadotmama
3y ago
Hi everyone! Before I jump in, I figured it would be appropriate to introduce myself. My name is Grace Wenzel, and I am a 23-year-old labor and delivery nurse living and working in Washington, DC. I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and found my way to the east coast for undergrad at Georgetown University where I studied nursing. After graduating in May of 2018, I landed a job on a busy labor and delivery unit at a hospital here in DC. Four months into my first ‘big girl’ job, I found my world turned upside down when I was diagnosed with stage IV melanoma. I’d had a very early stage melanoma sur ..read more
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Dave’s Story
Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation Blog
by lriley
3y ago
Dave, his wife, and Dr Adams at our 2019 gala   In May of 2017, Dave saw a flyer advertising that our foundation was offering a free skin cancer screening at his new place of employment and he decided to sign up for a time slot since it was so convenient. At that screening appointment, he saw one of our screening dermatologists who told him that he had a spot of concern on his arm that needed to be biopsied as soon as possible. He quickly followed through with the biopsy and received a call soon after that he had melanoma. His wife was seven months pregnant. A few days later on Memorial ..read more
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Thankful Thursday
Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation Blog
by lriley
3y ago
On Sunday, April 28, 2019 The Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation gathered at The Pavilion at Carriage Farm for our annual Taste for a Cure Gala.  This year, the event featured 13 acclaimed chefs, led by the wonderful Serge Falcoz-Vigne of Saint Jacques.  Each appetizer was paired with a cocktail, and dinner was served family style. We raised over $165,000, which will directly fund melanoma screenings and research. PDMMF would like to thank the following culinary experts for contributing their time, talent, and food to our event.  Because of you, the future of the Polka Dot Mama ..read more
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“So, are you done with this cancer thing yet”?
Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation Blog
by lriley
3y ago
This past Sunday, we were honored to have the U.S. Surgeon General, Jerome Adams speak at our annual event, The 2019 Taste for a Cure Gala. It was amazing to hear about our nation’s biggest health concerns, but it was even more meaningful to find out why Melanoma is so personal to him.  In the very early months of his appointment, his wife of 17 years, Lacey, was diagnosed with stage 3C metastatic Melanoma.  This has made his first year as the “Nation’s Top Doctor” interesting to say the least.   Lacey’s original Melanoma diagnosis was almost 9 years ago and was a simple mo ..read more
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¡Nosotros hablamos español!
Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation Blog
by lriley
3y ago
  We will have Spanish speaking medical practitioners at our event May 18 ¡Inscríbase hoy para su prueba gratuita de cáncer de piel! Las citas no son obligatorias, pero se recomiendan para ayudarnos a garantizar que rompamos el récord del Libro Guinness de los Récords Mundiales. ¿Cuándo? Mayo 18, 2019 |9am – 4pm ¿Dónde? Duke Health Center en Southpoint 6301 Herndon Rd, Durham, NC ¡Tendremos camiones de comida, música, protector solar gratis y otras actividades divertidas! ¡No solo conseguirá un examen de piel gratis para detectar la forma más común de cáncer, sino que también nos ayudar ..read more
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TOP CHEFS. 3 COURSES. ONE NIGHT TO REMEMBER.
Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation Blog
by lriley
3y ago
Polka Dot Mama is gearing up for the foodie extravaganza event of the year: Taste for a Cure Chef’s Gala!  When asked about her favorite part of the night, Polka Dot Mama Founder Tracy Callahan says “Without a doubt, my favorite part is witnessing our community rally together. From the Chefs to the farmers, to the guests, patients, and donors. Witnessing the magic of everyone coming together for one common cause, one common goal energizes me to work harder!” This event started in 2015 with the vision to raise a little money and have fun, but it has grown into raising over $100,000- each y ..read more
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Patient #44
Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation Blog
by lriley
3y ago
Earlier this year, we did a skin screening in eastern North Carolina. That day, we were busy, and we could tell we might not be able to get to everyone. We cut it off at patient #44, telling anyone else that we’d have to see them another day. Patient #44 had many moles, but nothing that stood out to her.  Yet something brought her to that free screening that day. For her, the screening involved waiting and perhaps she wondered, “Do I really need to be seen? Is this worth the time?” One of her spots turned out to be cancerous. Her decision to show up that day made the difference between ea ..read more
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