I have been worrying about my sister for a couple of months now. She was diagnosed with Melanoma. Apparently she had a mole that she didn't have looked out for quite some time. No insurance kinda makes you put things off. Finally after waiting for the state to approve her for MHIP insurance,she finally was able to go to the Hospital to have it removed. A softball size of her thigh and 2 lymp glands later she has been given a 80% chance of coming through it all.

This was difficult for me as well as my family. I had a cousin die at the age of 35 a few years back from melanoma. Skin cancer is rampant in my family. My daughter is having a pre-cancerous mole removed on the 16th. (something that she would not even bothered with if it hadn't been for my sister's diagnosis)

I am a true believer in everything happens for a reason. My mom and my sister have been estranged for a couple of years and this ordeal has them talking again. I am thankful for that.

I am finally feeling the affects of all the stress I have been under lately and I believe that is why I am finding difficulty keeping my head above water.

It is interesting to me how certain people can just let things roll off their back, but for me I am finding myself as the "peace keeper". I am the one everyone comes too with their problems and issues. I find that is something I have had to do because I was never was able to go to anyone growing up. My mom wasn't good at dealing with problems. We never had a really close relationship and often times I found myself alone in my own private struggles. I swore I would always be there for my kids because I knew what it felt like not to have that.

I am thankful for my blessings. I just wish I was stronger….free of guilt.