Carcinoid Cancer Awareness (Zelda the Zebra Travel Tag)

To spreak awareness for carcinoid cancer while honoring my late grandmother.

The trackable itself is a toy zebra and a piece of zebra jasper attached to a zebra shaped travel tag.

When people hear hoofbeats, normally they think of horses not zebras. Sometimes though, it isn't a horse. The idea of zebras in the medical field began in the late 1940's when Dr. Theodore Woodward of the University of Maryland's School of Medicine coined the phrase "When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses not zebras" when instructing his students. By the 1960's, this was commonplace and at some point zebra became shorthand for a rare diagnosis being made when a more common explanation was likely. It basically cautions against jumping to a rare disease based on that it sticks in the mind and to weigh medical evidence properly. However, the zebras must always be kept in mind unless ruled out by the evidence.

Carcinoid cancer is one of these zebras miskaken for a horse. It is a rare disease with less than 20,000 cases per year in the US. The symptoms of which are vague and appear in the later stages.

I lost my grandmother to the very zebra mentioned above. She had it for years and fought long and hard until her very last days. The light in my grandmother's eyes never faded through it all though. Most people didn't even know until she could no longer work. She didn't want to be treated any differently and to live life to the fullest each day as she always had. And live she did. Gar (I couldn't pronounce grandma as a child, but will always call her this) was a real card who never acted her age. Her jokes were innapropriate, mind youthful, and adventures plenty. I can't think of anyone more perfect. She's the strongest and most fun person who has ever been a part of my life and I will always remember her. Always live life to the fullest and hold your loved ones close.

"The lights that burn shortest are the lights that burn brightest"

-Watsky

-Disclaimer-

This TB will only be shared at events in which I have the choice to share only to those who ask and/or provide tracking numbers on a list. If I can put a list on a discover table, the info will be there and I will also show the actual bug to anyone who would also like to see it (I understand just seeing a sheet of paper is no fun). If a list cannot be provided, I am still willing to show it to people who ask. I have had too many close calls where my discover only TBs were almost taken which causes me to not want them to leave my sight anymore. My discovery only ones normally have some sort of sentimental value and do have a twin in the wild meant to share and travel so I hope you can understand my concerns. This one in particular is special because it is in honor of my grandmother amd to spread awareness of the illness that she had. This one does have a twin in the wild meant to travel as well.