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Melissa Kultgen

@melissa_rises

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followers

649

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Melanoma Champion and Cancer Advocate
Vice SLA for @acscanwi 🌻
Self Care and Mental Health Advocate
Trauma-Informed SEL and Yoga Teacher 💚

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As a #CancerVotes Ambassador, it matters to me where @crowleyforwi and @tomtiffanywi stand on cancer issues. Check out their responses to the @acscan candidate questionnaire in October 11th's issue of @journalsentinel and www.cancervotes.org/wisconsin

#yourvotecansavelives
#cancersurvivor #canceradvocate
@acscanwi by @melissa_rises

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4

8 days ago

Did you know . . . Cancer is an election issue?

It IS!!!!!!!

And as a #CancerVoter, you could help us educate candidates and the public about important cancer issues.

Cancer knows NO party

It affects EVERYONE

And

That is what you can help make sure all candidates understand.

❤️🤍💙

NOW IS THE TIME to get equipped!

JOIN @acscan #CancerVotes here:
https://share.articulate.com/3rVjl6_IT1-axPtVGgecD

Tell me . . .

What state are you going to be a #CancerVoter for? by @melissa_rises

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3

7 months ago

Sending you love and light 💛✨️ by @melissa_rises

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2

3 hours ago

Turning pain towards progress . . .

The pain has been intense & the nightmares have begun

Still waiting on a confirmed date for my surgery

Absolutely unwell

💔

But I had an epiphany . . .

If I have to lose my uterus . . .

I want to donate it to research

So it can at least do some good towards improving women's health

🙏

I'll be messaging my doctor with my wishes

So everything can get aligned

🙏

And I kindly ask you to ponder . . .

Would you donate to research?

🤔

You might never know the results,

But wouldn't it feel good to at least know you contributed something towards progress?

🙏

Since many of you are here because of our Melanoma connection,

I invite you to learn about the Melanoma Biorepository through the Melanoma Research Alliance, @melanoma

https://www.curemelanoma.org/patient-eng/melanoma-biorepository

They collect samples of all Melanoma subtypes in order to advance the treatment and management of Melanoma

The process is super easy and MRA handles it all once you give consent

If you know you have a procedure coming up, you can even get everything aligned beforehand

🖤

This last year, I submitted my Melanoma tissues to the Melanoma Biorepository

And I am grateful to the MRA for opening my eyes to this way of supporting research

🙏🖤

(My upcoming surgery has nothing to do with Melanoma . . . I'm still NED as far as cancer) by @melissa_rises

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0

a day ago

"I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth." Genesis 9:13

Yesterday was a struggle as I tried to teach through the pain

And the constant rain felt like the tears I wanted to cry

But then, after school

As I started to pull out of my parking spot,

I caught the rainbow

🌈🙏

A little while later,

It poured again

And the winds were picking up

It was so unsettling

But then,

As Little Love and I drove home,

We saw another rainbow

🌈🙏

I'm honestly terrified about the months to come

My pain has gotten significantly worse

My heart is breaking about what I have to do

And so much is not figured out

💔

But as He always does,

God puts His reminder in the sky

And I'm so grateful

This is temporary

He's held me through hard things before

He's got this

🌈🙏

To anyone else feeling lost in the storm,

Know that the rainbow is there, even if you can't see it

He will not forsake you

You're going to be ok

🌈🙏 by @melissa_rises

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8

2 days ago

I signed the consent form . . .

But I didn't consent to this

💔

Today, I met with a new doctor

And now we're just waiting for the date for surgery

Which will be at least 30 days away . . .

Because I "need 30 days just in case I reconsider"

And I told her . . .

"I wish I could reconsider"

💔

My cancer grew while I was pregnant, so I'm absolutely terrified to get pregnant again

And now,

I live with so much pain that I'm desperate

But signing the consent to remove my uterus and "sterilize" . . .

That hit hard

💔

However,

I do feel better after meeting Dr. K

She was very thorough and compassionate

She even did another biopsy to make sure we're not missing anything

With my history with doctors,

I'm so grateful to finally have someone listen and want to improve my quality of life

🙏

Never stop advocating for yourself, Ladies

Your "normal" isn't always "normal"

And as Dr. K told me . . .

There IS a better way to live

🙏

🩷✨️

I just hate that it takes this by @melissa_rises

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4 days ago

Save as a reminder for when you forget 💛✨️ by @melissa_rises

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4 days ago

💛✨️

Pass it on by @melissa_rises

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2

6 days ago

Every year, for Día de Los Muertos, I create an ofrenda with my students in memory of those impacted by cancer 💛✨️

This year, there will be a special tribute to @alondrasierrat

And I would love to honor the memories of your loved ones as well

Each $10 donation will dedicate a Light of Hope and will help @acscan continue to fight to change the way we know cancer

You can dedicate a LOH here:
https://acscan.donordrive.com/participant/4245
By Friday, October 16

And tell me anything specific you would like on the LOH in the notes section

💛✨️

Thank you in advance for being part of this special tribute

💛✨️ by @melissa_rises

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0

7 days ago

On #internationaldayofthegirlchild, I'm beyond grateful for this one being mine! 💛🥰

Little Love is working on a very special badge for Girl Scouts,

So we spent the afternoon planning

And then we went for a hike

Because girls' health . . . physical and mental

MATTERS

💚

I'm so proud of this girl for what she's planning!

Stay tuned!!!

💚 by @melissa_rises

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4

8 days ago

LOOK WHAT FINALLY CAME!!!!!!!!😍🎉🌻💛✨️

Getting to hold my physical diploma brings so many emotions

I CANNOT BELIEVE I DID THIS!😭🙏

SO GRATEFUL to those who supported me along the way

SO GRATEFUL for @breathe4change for changing my life

SO GRATEFUL for HIS GREAT PLANS!!!

😭🌻💛✨️🙏

To anyone going through a dark valley . . .

I pray I can be a sign of Hope

That GOOD THINGS ARE COMING

Keep holding on!

Keep trusting!

I'm cheering you on!

🌻💛✨️ by @melissa_rises

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9 days ago

It's such a blessing to be able to support my students' mental health 💚

Each month, our school focuses on a virtue and I use that virtue to inspire our experience

Yesterday, we began to explore "Reverence" for our bodies as creations of God

A lot of coming back to our hearts

Repeating "I am a child of God. I am loved."

Because

As middle schoolers . . . As adults . . .

We often forget how truly special we are

💚

Then following our flow,

We crafted breathing squares to give us have something physical to remind us to breathe

Inhale . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .

Exhale . 1 . 2 . 3. 4 .

Inhale . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .

Exhale . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .

Something so simple yet so powerful to show reverence to our bodies

💚

This #worldmentalhealthday ,

If you feel called to support the well-being of young lives,

I would be so grateful if you would take a look at our Amazon wishlist and co-create our Wellness space with me

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1WW696EQOLHCJ?ref_=wl_share

These items will help us explore restorative movement

💚 by @melissa_rises

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9 days ago