Anyone who has lost a parent knows the grief Actress Selma Blair is going through. On the eve of Memorial Day, Blair announced to her followers that her mother, Molly Cooke, has passed away. To honor her memory, Blair penned a touching tribute to her mother and thanked her for all she did for her. The outpouring of support and empathy from followers has been extraordinary.
On Instagram, Blair, 47, described Cooke as “formidable, funny, quick , striking and generous,” and discussed how charitable she was throughout her life. Blair also described how Cooke was beloved by friends and family members due to her kind and loving nature.
Read MoreSelma Blair’s Experience With Chemotherapy
Blair was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease of the nervous system, in October 2018. Blair announced that she was going through chemotherapy for treatment. Even though chemo is typically considered a treatment option for cancer, it can actually be quite effective at killing cells that break down the nervous system for MS. As a result, chemotherapy can slow down or stop the disease.
Related: Selma Blair's Beautiful Note The Importance of Kindness During Chemotherapy
One of the side effects to chemotherapy is hair loss, which can have a huge impact on female patients. However, after losing her hair, Blair tried to stay positive by sporting festive and colorful scarves to cover her head and dying her bald scalp. She’s also used her experience with chemotherapy to spread breast cancer awareness. Since starting chemotherapy, Blair has been documenting her experience growing her hair back, and sharing how important it is to give and receive kindness while battling diseases.
Mother And Daughters Cancer Stories
While battling cancer, it’s important that family members support their loved ones throughout their journey. In numerous interviews with SurvivorNet, survivors and their family members have shared their experiences with cancer treatment, and for many of them, the journey actually brought them closer.
Melissa Berry was 42 years old when she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, and her daughter, Erica Stolper, was seven years old at the time. For many families, a cancer diagnosis can be an extremely difficult process. However, for Melissa and Erica, the experience actually brought them closer. While going through chemotherapy, Melissa decided to shave her head and asked Erica, who wanted to become a hairdresser, if she wanted to buzz her scalp.
Related: "Therapy Saved My Life": After Losing A Loved One, Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help
“It was a big bonding moment that I think we had, because it was the first, I think, first step that she really took into her whole journey,” Erica tells SurvivorNet. “It was cool to be a part of with her.”
While Melissa and Erica bonded during cancer treatment, Sue Manber and her daughter Sarina bonded before the diagnosis. Sue beat an extremely rare form of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma thanks to Sarina, who was 13 at the time, spotting a mark on Sue’s skin which caused them to visit the doctor. A few weeks later she got the Merkel cell carcinoma diagnosis, an extremely rare and an extremely aggressive skin cancer, Sue underwent seven surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation.
After treatment, Sue decided to use her experience to organize an awareness campaign The Big See. The goal of the campaign is to educate people about skin cancer, the most common cancer in the country, and how to monitor their skin for any changes that may indicate cancer. The Big See's website features helpful tips for doing self-exams on the skin, and advice for when a mark or mole may warrant a visit to the dermatologist.
“Even before the cancer, she was the strongest person I’ve ever known,” Sarina said about her mother. “I was just being a daughter.”
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