One of the most enabling things about social media is that humans are connected on a never before witnessed scale.
We can update our friends and family about the daily ongoings of our lives, as well as post questions, recommendations, warnings and opinions. Sure, having your newsfeed flooded by the business of others isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s more than one case of it having proven to be a literal life-saver.
It certainly could turn out to be in the case of 53-year-old Jean Williams Taylor, who uploaded a photo of her nails to Facebook to show everyone how curved they were. Jean thought this was a result of bad genes, but it soon transpired that it was her body’s way of warning her. It wasn’t until she received a message from somebody else on Facebook that the frightening truth began to dawn …
https://www.facebook.com/wigan.today/posts/2068448056501271
Jean Williams Taylor didn’t think much of having nails that curved somewhat unnaturally. Her mother – who had died of lung cancer – had them as well, and so Jean believed they’d been passed down through the gene pool.
When she received a message on Facebook from a medical professional – one advising her to seek a proper examination – she believed it to be over the top. Nevertheless, she went anyway, and there medical professionals instantly recognized what’s commonly known as ‘finger clubbing’. Also termed ‘digital clubbing’ or ‘Hippocratic nails’, they can sometimes signify issues of the lungs or heart.
After a series of tests, it was discovered that Jean had two tumors the size of golf balls in her lungs.
In the wake of her diagnosis – brought about by a chance intervention – Jean published a warning to Facebook for others to heed. She wants others to inspect their nails regularly, in a bid to ensure they better understand potential warning signs.
“That feels great,” Jean said. “I have actually got a lot of individuals sending me shares of their nails, however I’m no specialist I have actually just been detected less than 2 days.”
Inspecting your nails
The bottom line is that we all need to be better at putting our health first and being aware of the messages our bodies are trying to deliver.
Your nails can be indicators of more underlying problems than you might believe, so it should always be encouraged that you seek medical advice if you notice anything out of the ordinary. For Jean, it would have been so easy to ignore the message of warning and continue with her life. As it was, she decided not to throw caution to the wind, and I’m sure she thanks her lucky stars that she didn’t.
If you notice anything out of the ordinary with your body, always get it checked out by a medical professional.
Help us share Jean’s warning by spreading this article on Facebook with friends and family. You never know, you could save someone’s life!
