By Emily Williams
The friends and family of Molly Remmert Rossell – Homewood resident, former Hall Kent Elementary teacher and mother of three daughters – are hanging green ribbons on their mailboxes to remind the community to pray and support Rossell as she battles Stage 4 melanoma.
The battle came on suddenly for the 32-year-old.
During a routine visit to the dermatologist four years ago, Rossell had a mole removed from her scalp. The mole was found to be a cancerous melanoma, but the doctor was confident that there was no danger and Rossell was perfectly healthy.
Rossell, who spent six years teaching pre-schoolers with special needs at Hall Kent Elementary School before she married Rich Rossell and set out to create her own family, went on to have her three daughters. Her oldest, Rayne, is three years old; Brooks is one; and the youngest, Bess, is nine weeks old.
“After the birth of Bess, (Rossell) was not feeling well,” Rossell’s close friend Besty Goldstein said. “She was experiencing pain in her abdomen.”
Just before July 4th – six weeks after the birth of her third daughter and days before Rayne’s third birthday – Rossell’s doctors discovered a melanoma on her liver. Now, she is battling a Stage 4 cancer.
According to Goldstein, Rossell has met with doctors at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and is responding positively to treatment with inhibitors to diminish the size of the tumors in her liver.
“Her doctors are trying to find the best treatment plan for her long-term recovery,” Goldstein said.
Though she is responding to inhibitors, doctors have found that cancer cells can find a way to resist this form of treatment in about 10 months, so much of their work is focused on the next form of therapy.
Goldstein said Rossell’s friends and family chose to display green bows in support of Rossell, signifying liver cancer, because the official color for melanoma is black.
“I could tell you a million stories of Molly’s kindness, grace and generosity,” Goldstein said. “Everyone who knows her just loves her. Everyone who knows her is praying for a miracle. I’m just so proud to be her friend.”Goldstein said that the bows are just a small way to show love, support and hope.
Green bows can be picked up at Smith’s Variety in Mountain Brook and Homewood Antiques.
For more information and updates, visit the Facebook page Praying for Molly Remmert Rossell.