40 Comments
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Sarah Li's avatar

Thank you for onboarding me so gracefully to y/our spaceship. The stars really do shine so brightly against this blackness. Your star is often my guiding light ⭐️

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Mel Erwin's avatar

Oh my love. We twinkle together in this corner of our universe. Not what we envisaged for our lives but we make it lovely nonetheless. I am with you. ✨

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Georgie Cook's avatar

Zoe and I spent time star gazing, high up in the Alps last week! We lay down in a thick snow drift and watched the stars, they shone so brightly, the whole of the Milky Way, Jupiter, Mars and beautiful Venus! It brought comfort after a troubling year, there wasn’t a shooting star for us, but so many stars in our galaxy shining so very brightly.

Thank you for your words, filled with sadness and also so much joy.

Bless you ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Mel Erwin's avatar

My dear dear you. And Zoe. So glad you had this moment of awe at the universe. We are here and we are alive. That is enough. Love you ⭐️🪐✨

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Georgie Cook's avatar

Love you too ♥️♥️♥️

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Caroline Chapman's avatar

You truly are a shining star amongst your incredible, cancernaut, floating family. Thank you for your incredible words which generously help us even try to empathise with your journey, your fellowship. You are my inspiration. Love you xx

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Mel Erwin's avatar

Love you too dear person. It feels so important to share my experience and help us all both protect ourselves and help one another other. The written word is certainly a clearer route for me than talking. 🤍🪐⭐️

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Christina Migone-Benfield's avatar

Such moving, heart warming piece, Mel!

Thank you for sharing these words and illuminating planet cancer. All blessings going to you and your fellow cancernauts. Keep shining.

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Mel Erwin's avatar

Thank you so much for reading and reaching out Christina. Yes us cancernauts unite to support one another and to raise awareness and campaign for more research. And we keep on shining. With love to you xx

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Anna C's avatar

Thank goodness for the written word, for your words, that allow all of us that know and love you to walk with you, if only on the page.

I wish it could be always ❤️

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Mel Erwin's avatar

Thank you my lovely you. On the page, it’s quiet and still for the writer and reader I guess. Space to process and understand. 🪐

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Catherine's avatar

I love Cancernaut as a title and plan to adopt it for my stage 4 life. Your writing is beautiful. Xx

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Mel Erwin's avatar

That’s so kind. Cancernaut is better than patient I feel. Sending love ❤️

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Jilly's avatar

You are such a shining light my friend. You have extra inner twinkle! We named a star after my mum all those years ago so your writing was so special to read. Thank you for sharing your wonderful thoughts. Sending lots of love 🥰

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Mel Erwin's avatar

Oh that’s wonderful to hear that your mum is an actual named star. Twinkling at us all. ⭐️✨

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Victoria's avatar

Thank you, Mel. I'm SO glad we're connected now. Your words are especially touching ahead of a dear friend's funeral. Another Cancernaut. Thank you for capturing the slightly surreal nature of the journey.

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Mel Erwin's avatar

Ah thank you for reading Victoria - the connections through Substack sustain me. I hope your dear friend’s funeral celebrates all that they were and all that is felt. ✨🪐🤍

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Victoria's avatar

Thanks, Mel.

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Damian's avatar

Beautiful Mel! I truly admire your strength and intelligence but also your writing skills!

Thanks so much

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Mel Erwin's avatar

Why thank you dear Damian. Your Chinese medicine expertise is so key to my wellbeing…. Giving me the strength and health to write. ⭐️✨🪐

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Damian's avatar

Thank you again then! and lots of love ;)

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Nick's avatar

❤️ thank goodness for the power of words. And friendship. And love.

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Mel Erwin's avatar

It’s all there is in the end: love and connection. Bit Hallmark card but … ⭐️🪐✨

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Natasha Loveridge's avatar

Simply beautiful and poignant. There have been too many shooting stars recently but there is always the flicker of hope. Thank you for sharing your gift of writing. 🤍

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Mel Erwin's avatar

Shine on, glowing you. ⭐️🪐

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Davina Owen's avatar

She shines on brightly -

enlightening and inspiring.

Love you my Mel. ❤️

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Mel Erwin's avatar

Oh my twinkling you. Glowing constantly! 🪐✨⭐️

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Amanda fawcett's avatar

Your writing is just beautiful my friend …I love reading your writing as it instantly makes me think of lovely you 🩷🩷🩷

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Mel Erwin's avatar

Why thank you dear Mandy Sparkle. Your light is bright. I love that about you! ✨🪐⭐️

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Sarah Jones's avatar

Orbital is my current read, and your piece - also beautiful and elegant - instantly connected with that in my mind as I read. Thank you for helping us to connect and empathise with planet cancer and all you brave and intrepid cancernauts.

Hope is our rocket fuel . . . 💕

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Mel Erwin's avatar

Is it not just an exquisite read? Truly savoured each word. Huggle soon? 🪐⭐️✨

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Sarah Jones's avatar

It was a gorgeous read indeed!

I very much hope so very soon! 💕

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Pauline's avatar

Each time I read your writing it helps me understand and empathise a little more with those living cancer. Thank you Mel. Keep writing. You are loved.

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Mel Erwin's avatar

Dear Pauline, how too lovely to see you here in this space of connection. I feel you and the love. 🪐⭐️✨

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Carole  Robb's avatar

Very beautifully written X

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Mel Erwin's avatar

Thank you so much Carole for reading and responding. 🪐⭐️

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