Our hearts are heavy

We found out last night that a friend has passed away over the weekend. Andy met Clyde while going through treatments in Vegas. They were both on the same cycle and would sit by each other and talk about everything while the drug was administered. I meet Clyde, his lovely wife, and daughter when I went with Andy in November. They were warm and kind. Andy had a connection with Clyde because of the cancer and the treatments they were both experiencing. We knew that Clyde's time on this earth was limited. Melanoma had ravaged his body. Everything from his brain to his colon. When we tell people that Andy has melanoma, most people respond with, "isn't that just skin cancer?". I wish more understood that melanoma attacks the skin then burrows its ugly head into the inner workings of the body. Yes, it is skin cancer but it consumes so much more. The first defense is protection from the sun because it is a trigger for the cancer. Then once it starts with the skin cells it transfers quickly to typically the brain or liver, however, it can and does attach to anything internal. Pancreas, colon, thyroid, esophagus, brain, liver, bones, stomach, lungs. Clyde's melanoma was never caught soon enough to know the primary position of the cancer. It had pitted everywhere and the specialist could not say where it had originated. That is one reason why melanoma is so deadly. It is a terriorist-ic cluster bomb that sneaks up on you. Andy's first diagnosis was 6 years ago. The primary location was on his right ear. Our surgical oncologist (Dr. Noyes) was stunned that the cancer had not spread past the ear. With the amount of time and size it should have consumed most of his upper head and possibly body. With a miracle it had not. Now years later, we are facing the fact that you can not run from melanoma. You truly battle it. Each individual with any form of cancer is battling a war. Each battle is different and each is inspiring. Clyde was a typical Midwesterner. He was strong, brave, and caring. Andy will remember his cancer buddy always. Our hearts go out to the family, especially his wife, kids, and sweet little grand babies he left behind. I hope you will all remember them in your prayers tonight. They will always be in ours.