update on GLewis923

I'm Grady's 24-year-old son, and just came across this thread. It's so inspiring to know that he was so active and well-liked on these forums. He fought until the very end.

Unfortunately, however, the pain of losing such a truly great person proved too much on my mom, Bonita, and she suffered sever depression and anxiety that eventually led to a seizure, which hospitalized her and then — because of a sophomoric error on the part of a nurse — contracted Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome when a PIK line was irresponsibly left inserted into her lungs upon discharge. She passed away last month.

Losing both parents so young has been incredibly difficult — and melanoma, in my opinion, is what led both of them to die so young (they were both 48 at the time of death). It goes without saying that I've been visiting the dermatologist every 3 months. They've already found four abnormal moles on me that they had to go back in and remove after biopsy. But, I've learned the hard way to be vigilant, and have personally set aside all my charity funds to benefit the Melanoma Research Foundation.

This can't keep happening to other families. Thanks to all of you for being such a support line for my dad during his most difficult times. I had no idea he was posting here, but it makes me feel better that he received encouragement and support from your community.

Shady will be missed, and so will his wife, my mom.

Here's her obituary from Jan. 21: http://bit.ly/PjquvM. They were both beautiful people on the inside and out, and it's unfortunate that melanoma took them so young.

Please pass this message along to everyone in the community here who communicated with my dad. It would mean a lot to me.

Best,

Carl V. Lewis

Shady Grady's son

I'm Grady's 24-year-old son, and just came across this thread. It's so inspiring to know that he was so active and well-liked on these forums. He fought until the very end.

Unfortunately, however, the pain of losing such a truly great person proved too much on my mom, Bonita, and she suffered sever depression and anxiety that eventually led to a seizure, which hospitalized her and then — because of a sophomoric error on the part of a nurse — contracted Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome when a PIK line was irresponsibly left inserted into her lungs upon discharge. She passed away last month.

Losing both parents so young has been incredibly difficult — and melanoma, in my opinion, is what led both of them to die so young (they were both 48 at the time of death). It goes without saying that I've been visiting the dermatologist every 3 months. They've already found four abnormal moles on me that they had to go back in and remove after biopsy. But, I've learned the hard way to be vigilant, and have personally set aside all my charity funds to benefit the Melanoma Research Foundation.

This can't keep happening to other families. Thanks to all of you for being such a support line for my dad during his most difficult times. I had no idea he was posting here, but it makes me feel better that he received encouragement and support from your community.

Shady will be missed, and so will his wife, my mom.

Here's her obituary from Jan. 21: http://bit.ly/PjquvM. They were both beautiful people on the inside and out, and it's unfortunate that melanoma took them so young.

Please pass this message along to everyone in the community here who communicated with my dad. It would mean a lot to me.

Best,

Carl V. Lewis

Shady Grady's son

I'm Grady's 24-year-old son, and just came across this thread. It's so inspiring to know that he was so active and well-liked on these forums. He fought until the very end.

Unfortunately, however, the pain of losing such a truly great person proved too much on my mom, Bonita, and she suffered sever depression and anxiety that eventually led to a seizure, which hospitalized her and then — because of a sophomoric error on the part of a nurse — contracted Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome when a PIK line was irresponsibly left inserted into her lungs upon discharge. She passed away last month.

Losing both parents so young has been incredibly difficult — and melanoma, in my opinion, is what led both of them to die so young (they were both 48 at the time of death). It goes without saying that I've been visiting the dermatologist every 3 months. They've already found four abnormal moles on me that they had to go back in and remove after biopsy. But, I've learned the hard way to be vigilant, and have personally set aside all my charity funds to benefit the Melanoma Research Foundation.

This can't keep happening to other families. Thanks to all of you for being such a support line for my dad during his most difficult times. I had no idea he was posting here, but it makes me feel better that he received encouragement and support from your community.

Shady will be missed, and so will his wife, my mom.

Here's her obituary from Jan. 21: http://bit.ly/PjquvM. They were both beautiful people on the inside and out, and it's unfortunate that melanoma took them so young.

Please pass this message along to everyone in the community here who communicated with my dad. It would mean a lot to me.

Best,

Carl V. Lewis

Shady Grady's son

Valerie–

Thank you so much for the kind words. See the post I just made higher in this thread for a fuller explanation.

Best,

Grady's son, Carl V. Lewis

Valerie–

Thank you so much for the kind words. See the post I just made higher in this thread for a fuller explanation.

Best,

Grady's son, Carl V. Lewis

Valerie–

Thank you so much for the kind words. See the post I just made higher in this thread for a fuller explanation.

Best,

Grady's son, Carl V. Lewis

Amy–

He truly was. I can testify to that firsthand. Such a fighter and such a genuinely good person that my mom lived only two years longer after his death.

Best,

Grady's son, Carl

Amy–

He truly was. I can testify to that firsthand. Such a fighter and such a genuinely good person that my mom lived only two years longer after his death.

Best,

Grady's son, Carl

Amy–

He truly was. I can testify to that firsthand. Such a fighter and such a genuinely good person that my mom lived only two years longer after his death.

Best,

Grady's son, Carl

Thanks, King. See the message I posted higher in the thread. I appreciate your support of my dad.

-Grady's son

Thanks, King. See the message I posted higher in the thread. I appreciate your support of my dad.

-Grady's son

Thanks, King. See the message I posted higher in the thread. I appreciate your support of my dad.

-Grady's son

Hope–

I'd love to say we've found peace, but it's affected us all. So much so that my mom passed away recently, too. She was 48 as well.

Hope–

I'd love to say we've found peace, but it's affected us all. So much so that my mom passed away recently, too. She was 48 as well.

Hope–

I'd love to say we've found peace, but it's affected us all. So much so that my mom passed away recently, too. She was 48 as well.

Thanks, Eerye. I just simultaneously cried and also felt inspired when I found all my dad's posts on this forum. He was such a genuine, self-advocating, caring and – at least on these forums – openly expressive person. He shielded me from most of his anguish during the last few months before his death, as I was out of state in grad school, and he didn't want me to see him in such bad health. While I regret not being there during the worst of it, he told me he was embarrassed for me to see him like that, and didn't want the more painful memories weighing on my mind. I honestly believe that's what led my mom to get ill, too. Although it was clearly malpractice that caused her death, it was her broken heart that put her in the hospital in the first place.

Thanks for the hug. Trust me, I check my skin about every three days. With the genetic disposition and already having numerous dysplastic nevi, I'd be stupid not to.

My younger brother, Gavin, is about to start medical school, and he's thinking of dermatology. If he's half as intelligent and business savvy as my dad, hopefully he can be one of the folks who finally finds an answer to kicking melanoma to the curb for good.

Please, let anyone else on these forums know who communicated and supported my dad how thankful I am for their outreach. It clearly meant a lot to him from seeing his posts and profile here. 

Thanks, Eerye. I just simultaneously cried and also felt inspired when I found all my dad's posts on this forum. He was such a genuine, self-advocating, caring and – at least on these forums – openly expressive person. He shielded me from most of his anguish during the last few months before his death, as I was out of state in grad school, and he didn't want me to see him in such bad health. While I regret not being there during the worst of it, he told me he was embarrassed for me to see him like that, and didn't want the more painful memories weighing on my mind. I honestly believe that's what led my mom to get ill, too. Although it was clearly malpractice that caused her death, it was her broken heart that put her in the hospital in the first place.

Thanks for the hug. Trust me, I check my skin about every three days. With the genetic disposition and already having numerous dysplastic nevi, I'd be stupid not to.

My younger brother, Gavin, is about to start medical school, and he's thinking of dermatology. If he's half as intelligent and business savvy as my dad, hopefully he can be one of the folks who finally finds an answer to kicking melanoma to the curb for good.

Please, let anyone else on these forums know who communicated and supported my dad how thankful I am for their outreach. It clearly meant a lot to him from seeing his posts and profile here. 

Thanks, Eerye. I just simultaneously cried and also felt inspired when I found all my dad's posts on this forum. He was such a genuine, self-advocating, caring and – at least on these forums – openly expressive person. He shielded me from most of his anguish during the last few months before his death, as I was out of state in grad school, and he didn't want me to see him in such bad health. While I regret not being there during the worst of it, he told me he was embarrassed for me to see him like that, and didn't want the more painful memories weighing on my mind. I honestly believe that's what led my mom to get ill, too. Although it was clearly malpractice that caused her death, it was her broken heart that put her in the hospital in the first place.

Thanks for the hug. Trust me, I check my skin about every three days. With the genetic disposition and already having numerous dysplastic nevi, I'd be stupid not to.

My younger brother, Gavin, is about to start medical school, and he's thinking of dermatology. If he's half as intelligent and business savvy as my dad, hopefully he can be one of the folks who finally finds an answer to kicking melanoma to the curb for good.

Please, let anyone else on these forums know who communicated and supported my dad how thankful I am for their outreach. It clearly meant a lot to him from seeing his posts and profile here.