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Anchor, Mom Turns Daughter's Tragic Death Into Mission

BALTIMORE (WJZ)--A passionate plea from a popular Baltimore TV anchor many of you will remember. Marianne Banister lost her 17-year-old daughter to cancer one year ago.

Now as Denise Koch reports, she's on a mission to make sure it doesn't happen to someone you love.

For nearly two decades, Marianne Banister reported the news in Baltimore. Now, she's back in front of the camera. She's making a very personal plea that could save the life of someone you love, by talking about the death of her daughter.

"She had her sister with her, we were with her and as bad as it was, it was as good as it could be if that makes any sense," said Marianne. "She was in her room with all of her things around her and the people who love her the most and it was a gentle passing."

Almost exactly one year ago, Claire -- a beautiful, athletic, ambitious 17-year-old--loses her three-year battle with cancer.

Denise: "I thought of you many times over the last year, and thought I don't even know how you go on."

Marianne: "It's like you don't know until you're in it and all we're doing is what we know how to do. And from the beginning, it's really important to understand that Claire embraced her life for what it was."

At 14, Claire is diagnosed with malignant melanoma--the deadliest form of skin cancer. The devastating test results come after a mole is removed from Claire's ankle.

Denise:  "When your daughters were little, did you know you were supposed to look at a mole?"

Marianne: "I've always had them screened by a dermatologist since the age of two."

Denise: "Really?"

Marianne:  "But there's no history in the family. It's just that I'm fair and I just felt you know, it's a routine part of screening."

Even though a mole Claire's had since birth begins to change, doctors see no reason to panic.

Marianne: "The problem was, we found the change quite quickly, but we couldn't get into a plastic surgeon to have it taken off for three months."

But what no one knows, is that Claire already has cancer and because she's going through puberty, it spreads like wildfire.

Denise: "I'm sure you've asked yourself this, if you would have gotten in that day."

Marianne: "I believe we would have had a different scenario."

Denise: "Really?"

Marianne: "Not that it wouldn't have been malignant, but it would have been a lower grade."

Denise: "If you could get onto a mountaintop and shout something to all the other parents out there, what would you shout?"

Marianne: "Get your kids screened. It's not only about the sun, it is about hormonal changes in the body. Guess what, here's the catch line, your kids can get melanoma going through puberty."

Now, Marianne and her husband rocky are on a mission to keep Claire's memory alive while saving lives.

Denise:  "You really consciously or unconsciously are on two missions here, one is Claire's mission and the other is teaching people how to deal with enormous, enormous loss."

Marianne: "We want to honor her spirit as much as we want to raise awareness."

To learn more about Marianne's mission and how you can help CLICK HERE.

WEB EXTRA: Rocky Wagonhurst, Claire's father speaks to Denise Koch.

 

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