Choroidal Nevi

You would think that a freckle on your retina would have a more impressive medical name than nevus. Maybe the reason for the unimpressive name is because without an eye exam you may never know you have one.  It is certainly not like the ones I had all over my face when I was a kid.

The amazing thing about a nevus is that they have little to no effect on your vision.  However, that does not mean you can just ignore one.  They have the very small possibility to turn ugly; real ugly. This ugliness presents itself as melanoma.

What is the possibility to have a nevus turn to melanoma?  The statistics I have been given by my oncologist  is that while five percent of the population may have a nevus, only six out of a million will develop melanoma.  The chance of being hit by lightning in your life time: 1 in 12,000.  This is where I have found myself, the winner of a lottery I was unaware I had entered. 

My thoughts have gone in many directions. Should I be worried?  Of course. Should I be afraid? Maybe, I do not know.  Should I be mad at God? Never, for He is the One that has given me life.

A number of years ago we had the privilege to be the host family for three young boys in the African Children’s Choir.  These young boys were truly a delight to have in our home.  We had been told that because they stayed in so many homes to not expect them to learn our names but that they would call us Aunt and Uncle.

Mealtime was always fun with them laughing, telling jokes on each other and talking about their plans for the day.  One morning the youngest, whose name was Gift, called me “Aunt.”  Needless to say the other two older boys showed Gift no mercy regarding his mistake.

After we had all had a good laugh I told Gift he could always tell Aunts from Uncles because Uncles had beards like mine.  Moses, the oldest of the boys, was quick to say, “Some Aunts have beards!”  Which gave us all another good laugh.

I then asked if they knew way Uncles grow beards and Aunts do not.  Wide eyed that asked “Why?” 

“Aunts are so beautiful they do not need to cover their face, but Uncles are ugly and we need to cover our face”, I replied.

I could tell Moses was thinking deeply about what I had said when he boldly pronounced, “’I am fearfully and wonderfully made!’ Psalm 139:14!”

All I could say was, “Yes Moses, you truly are.”  But my thought was I had just been beat down by a young 12 year old boy who had been speaking English for less than four months.  Not only did he have scripture memorized but he put it to use.

As I return to my thoughts regarding a nevus and melanoma I return to Psalm 139 which Moses was so quick to share with me.

13 For you formed my inward parts;

You wove me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Wonderful are your works,

And I know it very well.