Pale Girl SpeaksMaxine's Story
About 8 years ago on a pretty regular basis, I slithered into my leotard and tights and headed to an exercise class 3 mornings a week. Somewhere between the beat of the pounding music and the racing of my heart I was tapped on the shoulder by a young woman who rather shyly said, "I hope you don't mind, but are you aware that you have a dark spot on your back?" I responded by thanking her and telling her that though I was not aware of it, I did freckle and perhaps that's what it was. She suggested I check it out. I did. I made an appointment with my dermatologist that week. She biopsied the spot and told me to come back in 10 days. I really didn't give it another thought. Ten days later I returned to her office and when she entered the examination room, the first thing she said to me was, "Well, you're one lucky lady". "Why, I asked".....It was a melonoma, first stage, was her response. She then proceeded to show me a chart following the path of a melonoma from stage one to stage four as it goes deeper and deeper into the bloodstream. I was so fortunate. I need not tell you how thankful I am to a stranger who saved my life. I immediately went out and bought her a gift, but clearly nothing I could give her would ever express the gratitude I feel. I've lost track of her as I no longer go to that class, I'm really sorry about that as I want to do more to say thank you.
I only hope my story can be of help to someone else.