My first offer for a “guest writer” to write for my blog.
A beautiful story: by Kelley Gaines Friedman
There are some things in life that you either luck out on or you don’t. And that’s that. And there is nothing you can do about it. For example, the family you are born into this world with. God gets a lot of gratitude from me about my family. There are definitely some things in life that I didn’t score on, but this one, I did!
I thought growing up the oldest with two younger brothers was the best it could be, but the best was yet to come….
This girl came into my brother’s life and into our family and we were all in love with her immediately. My sister in law, Margaret.
I thought about writing this blog after the 8th annual MelaNoMo, because at MelaNoMo this year, I had a moment of clarity. As I stood on the bank of the river on that beautiful day, I took some breaths of gratitude, some breaths of being fully present and awake to my surroundings. I was looking at Margaret and thought how this is just as much about her as it is my brother Neil, and the disease that he has fought. I want her to know that I truly feel that way! If you don’t know Margaret, you may not know that this girl can get some shit done!
So, being the “mole finder” that she is…once she found that spot on my brother’s back 8 years ago, she has not stopped. She knew all the questions for the doctors, pushed for earlier treatments and surgeries, researched, researched, researched and she found THE treatment. That one, that magical one. She was the advocate, the nurse, our family’s guide through all this mess. We leaned on her…Neil leaned on her. Her strength throughout this continues to amaze me. She is just as much a fighter as Neil and together they kicked melanoma’s ass.
She continues to do so each year as she organizes the event, which takes a lot of work. She does it with that Margaret-ness endurance she has. I could go on and on about Margaret and her amazing ways. I love her like a sister. The sister I never had, but now I do and always will. LYLAS!
Beautifully stated, my sweet Kelley girl! She is a gem! Love to you all!
She’s got heart!
Well written , Kelley 👏🏻. What a wonderful tribute to Margaret . I love your mama and your family and I am so happy Neil is doing so well. God is so good 🙏🏻.
Thanks Julie…aka Bon Bon! What a perfect name for the EXTREME high maintenance! LOVE YOU TOO!
Kelley-This is amazing!! So true and I couldn’t agree more. I thank God for bringing her into my life everyday too. She is such an awesome sister! I’m so lucky to have the Gaines as a bonus family too!
And your sweet little baby girl will think she has TWO sister from day 1! Lucky little girls. I can’t wait!
LOVE!!! Who knew my bestie was a writer!?! So very impressed with you Kel, as I so often am!
Well who knew…And she got some of that sweetness from her thoughtful bestie! Love you!
Love this❤️
These girls in our lives are something else!
As the mother of that sweet girl, Margaret, thank you for saying exactly what I have been blessed to know for 32 years. She is amazing but, so too, are all of my Gaines family! Love you all! Lisa
They are growing strong….and we are a growing family! I can’t wait to add on to the “sisterhood” with your newest little girl coming soon! Share the love!
Nice written Kelley! Special family…love you all❤️
Love to your family as well, and can’t wait for your family to be close by! Play dates instead of lunch dates/ 😉
A lot of beauty in the picture of those two. And so much of it you can’t see with a glance.
Thanks Robin…they are are kind people…but every now and then I get a glare not a glance:)