Series and Essays
As a colon cancer survivor, my journey continues to make me aware of cancer almost everyday. During my journey I kept myself from reading the statistics of cancer and it's outcome. My husband was the one that did all the reading and research. I think he only let me know the important things. But as I ended my treatments and began reading what I had just been through, images came to my mind as I read certain stats, stages, and outcomes. The stats are not really in anybody's favor and will continue to rise in the coming years. Shedding light on this global epidemic is my goal. My hope is that through my photography in a series will bring awareness to cancer, specifically, colon cancer. My main point in this series is to make an impact with a title, while illustrating it through a photograph technique or process. May the viewer take to heart and know the significance of the title more so than the image they're viewing.
"Something To Talk About"
This is my scar. 6 inches from the bellybutton down. They say a scar always has a story behind it. Mine certainly does and it's definately something to talk about. Many people may go to great lengths to have their scars concealed or worked on by a cosmetic surgeon. I just happened to have a very skilled surgeon and it's not as drastic as it appears. I received this scar by having to get a colon resection. The smaller one on the left is from where I had an ostomy. You know, the "dreadful bag" attached to your side while the other part of the colon heals. I was lucky my stage II colorectal cancer did not leave me with permanent ostomy.
So, when do you most often hear about colon cancer? I usually hear about it on the news when an actress dies of it, or of a person who worked in the White House as a press secretary dies it, or someone who wrote a well known song years ago, has died of this disease. Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the US. There is such a stigma attached to colon cancer, where as, we freely talk about breasts and prostates. Why is that? I hope that sharing my story of colon cancer at a young age will break that stigma and will bring awareness to the age group that it affects mostly; the people who are older than me.
So, when do you most often hear about colon cancer? I usually hear about it on the news when an actress dies of it, or of a person who worked in the White House as a press secretary dies it, or someone who wrote a well known song years ago, has died of this disease. Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the US. There is such a stigma attached to colon cancer, where as, we freely talk about breasts and prostates. Why is that? I hope that sharing my story of colon cancer at a young age will break that stigma and will bring awareness to the age group that it affects mostly; the people who are older than me.
"A Survivor's Prayer"
A self-portrait during a time in my life where it seemed I had no control. But little did I know this journey would take me to place where God wanted me to trust him and let him have complete control of the situation.
Who keeps their hospital bands? Many chuck them in the trash and carry on . Each time I came home from a procedure and it was time to take my band off, I'd place it on my desk . I soon had a pile of hospital bands that represented my physical journey with colon cancer. But what many did not see is what happened in between those procedures. I spent many days and nights in a prayerful position. Praying for a skillful surgeon, for a complete healing, for it just to hurry up and be finished and to make it so I could see my boys graduate in the future. But what I prayed for most was strength because I knew my strength would not get me far on this journey. I want to believe that every cancer survivor finds themself in this position, but many do not. Some lose that hope. But our hope is in God. During my journey, there was a time where "questionable noduels" were on my liver. Had it spread? They could have just been age spots. But that day shook me like no other. I was looking at death in the face. As I retreated to my 'prayer closet' I felt at peace. I knew if it got any worse and I would leave this life on earth I would be in a better place. A place where there is no cancer. It was all about trusting God's time table for my life. Today, cancer free, I still find myself in this prayful position. Not only am I praying, but thanking God a second chance at life, unseen miracles, and a chance to share with others what God can do in your life.
Who keeps their hospital bands? Many chuck them in the trash and carry on . Each time I came home from a procedure and it was time to take my band off, I'd place it on my desk . I soon had a pile of hospital bands that represented my physical journey with colon cancer. But what many did not see is what happened in between those procedures. I spent many days and nights in a prayerful position. Praying for a skillful surgeon, for a complete healing, for it just to hurry up and be finished and to make it so I could see my boys graduate in the future. But what I prayed for most was strength because I knew my strength would not get me far on this journey. I want to believe that every cancer survivor finds themself in this position, but many do not. Some lose that hope. But our hope is in God. During my journey, there was a time where "questionable noduels" were on my liver. Had it spread? They could have just been age spots. But that day shook me like no other. I was looking at death in the face. As I retreated to my 'prayer closet' I felt at peace. I knew if it got any worse and I would leave this life on earth I would be in a better place. A place where there is no cancer. It was all about trusting God's time table for my life. Today, cancer free, I still find myself in this prayful position. Not only am I praying, but thanking God a second chance at life, unseen miracles, and a chance to share with others what God can do in your life.