Still me.
Still beautiful.
Still blessed.
Still loved.
Still covered.
Still a Queen!
Each day I am amazed by how resilient the female body is; how resilient my body is!
After egg preservation, several types of chemotherapy, hair loss, weight loss, weight gain, a mastectomy with reconstruction, removal of an expander due to a staph infection, and all of the other smaller procedures required during this process, I am thankful for it all — the good, bad, and ugly.
I will not pretend things were always easy; they were not! Some days I did not understand why God would choose me and what was he trying to teach me.
Throughout the process, I remained grounding in knowing God makes no mistakes.
My mastectomy was scheduled during COVID-19. I was initially scheduled for a bilateral. Due to the pandemic, all elected procedures were canceled. I proceeded with the single mastectomy.
After the surgery, things were very different.
My clothes did not fit “correctly” anymore, I felt ashamed, embarrassed and I was unsure how I felt about my body. I would look in the mirror and be ashamed of my battle scars. It was painful to view my new body in the mirror.
Throwing away wired bras was also emotional for me. Shopping for clothes did not excite me like it once did.
Everything was different.
I am now almost six months post-surgery and I am in a very different headspace.
After lots of grounding and affirming, I had to fix my crown and remember who I am and whose I am!
I am more than my body!
I am a mother!
I am a daughter!
I am a sister!
I am a cousin!
I am an auntie!
I am a mentor!
I am a youth advocate!
I am a change agent!
God’s plan for me is much bigger than me!
Reframing allowed me to realize that the most basic blessing was simply being alive for my kids. I didn’t choose this life, but it is the only one I have to live.
Once I regained my power, my thoughts followed. This entire process has been extremely humbling, it made me appreciate all of the little things that are often taken for granted. I am now owning all of the parts of my story, sharing them in hopes of inspiring others.
My cancer has progressed to stage IV, but I am still thriving!
I have embraced my new body, mind, and soul. In efforts to embrace my new body, I covered my mastectomy scar with a beautiful henna design.
My photoshoot was done so I no longer had to live with this disease in the dark. Like many people, I felt I needed to keep my diagnosis under wraps and I did for a very long time.
I am no longer going to be ashamed of what I survived.
I am beautiful inside and out!
I am me and that’s my superpower!
15 Responses
I ABSOTIVELY POSILUTELY LOVE YOU SIS! But you know this already. Always here for you to do what I can, when I can. Happy Healing.
Eat, stay hydrated and know that I CELEBRATE YOU.
Sharon you are awe inspiring! I am so proud to be in your life as a close friend. Sharing your story will inspire hope in others. Continue to live and thrive to the fullest. You have endless potential and possibilities. Love ya
This is so powerful Sharon. I was reading thinking that it’s interesting how people go through stages in things… even stages in support. When someone you love is going through something so seriously life-altering, the tendency for some is to back up. Not because of a lack of love or empathy but out of fear … fear of saying the wrong thing and fear of losing your loved one. . . As if not fully addressing the tragedy makes it less tragic… But in watching you handle this like a BOSS, I’ve learned that our fears are many times selfish. Again not because of a lack of love or empathy but just because life gets in the way and we’re all enduring our own good, bad, and ugly in some way and in the thick of it those struggles can seem insurmountable. I though have never had to endure anything like MBC. So I am determined to be a bit “bossy” and make time to love more, love harder, love explicitly. I’m rambling on but I want to say how very proud I am to have you listed in the friend section of my phone… not everyone makes the cut. Keep being strong. Keep being vulnerable. Keep being unapologetically you. You are beautiful. You are kind. You are a survivor. We love you.
Omg now. This takes a lot of courage but you are still a beautiful woman but now you are a strong beautiful woman. There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed about. Wear your crown with confidence.
May God for ever Bless and keep you in His care!!! you are beautiful and a wonderful example of the healing power of God.
May the blessings of the Lord continue to be upon you, I declare and decree by the power thats invested in me by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Supernatural blessings upon your life above and beyond the average person’s capability of comprehension amen
I shed a tear just from the photo. ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL ??
Then I read, and I’m in tears. I pray that GOD continues to use your light to be the way and inspiration for others. You have inspired me today more than you know. YOU are resilient, YOU are beautiful, YOU are an inspiration. Everything your children will honor. Continue to walk in your glory knowing whose YOU are ??
Sharon you are a light that has touched so many. People and the China man needed sometime to be able to express what I have to say . You are a remarkable strong and inspirational woman you have blessed me in so many ways and no matter what keep your faith and I will always be here for you.
May God Continue to give you peace…And
May each day bring healing and strength day by day…??????
To see you in such a positive space through all of what you’ve been through and still walking through is amazing! No lie you’re something like a SHERO! I pray that god continue to allow you to Glow bright like the diamond You are!
Ps. I’m still waiting on the lunch date??❣️❣️
Beautiful inside and out. May your positive thoughts continue to heal mind, body and soul!! ??❤️
Sharon u are still one of the gorgeous women in this world. Keep ur head and wear ur crown proudly ? ?. Go shopping don’t be ashamed of nothing bout ur body.. God will continue to bless u.
Sharon Thank YOU, for sharing your story, wear your crown proudly, God don’t make no mistakes but he will continue to bless you and your family. You are beautiful inside and out, some days you will be at your lowest but remember there is a God to call on. Love you
You are beautiful. Thank you for being transparent and inspirational. Your life is a powerful motivation. I believe young people are renewed by your life story. Blessings!!!
You were such a wonderful women even before your trials and tribulation when we was in school you was wanderful as a guidence counselor I thank you and may you sleep easy miss kiddo