"I remember when you couldn’t even say breast, let alone breast cancer. Women did not say those words. That has changed quite a bit."
~Fran Visco
Not only are women saying those words but they are also advocates for other women battling the disease. I met Angela back in November. She told me that she was a local photographer but could never get here daughter Addy Rose to let her photographer her. She brought her over and after a while Addy finally warmed up to me and I was able to capture her being a typical 2 year old. Sometimes they are defiant but they are always able to bring a smile to your face.
Somehow that day something was said about health. Angela told me that she recently had found a lump in her breast. Immediately when she told me that all I could think was, oh no! This mother, wife, daughter healthy looking woman was about to have her life turned upside down. Not only does she have Addy Rose but there are also 3 other children. As a photographer myself I know that if I don't work there is no income for my family on my part. I would only be able to depend on my husband. Angela is having to depend on her husband and now he is the sole provider for their family.
I have followed Angela's page on caringbridge and talked to her through Facebook. Her treatment has been started and she has lost all of her hair. Today she was telling me the story of being in the car and running her fingers through her hair and it was coming out in clumps. Not only was her hair falling out but she said tears were pouring from her eyes. I can't imagine how I would feel if that happened to me.
Breast Cancer seems to be occurring more often. Angela told me that there was lady at the cancer center that appeared to be the same age as her battling this terrible disease. We all remember when we started getting boobies for the first time and running to our mother either crying about what was popping out of our chest or we went smiling and excited about what was happening. I will admit sometimes these things get in the way but I can't imagine looking down and not having any.
Angela is stronger than any person I have ever met at this age who is battling breast cancer. She is determined to beat this disease and make women more knowledgeable about this disease. She recently had something on her Facebook about making women more comfortable about what was happening to them from this disease and for them to take pride in the way they look. I honestly have never seen a woman with an ugly bald head. I often think God has this big book in heaven with each of planned out even before we enter this world. He knew that Angela was going to be faced with this disease and he created her with a beautiful head. When I looked at Angela today honestly when she came in and took of her hat I did not find myself looking at her head, I looked at her face like we normally do when we are talking to someone. I had told Angela when she came over with Addy Rose that we were going to do some pictures of her.
Pashminas have become very popular and I think every woman has a few. When my aunt was battling breast cancer a few years ago I got a pink one. Recently through looking on Facebook at another photographers work I saw a picture that she had taken of a pregnant lady who had a pashmina wrapped around her chest and nothing else except for her jeans. I brought my pink pashmina downstairs today not knowing if it would be something that she was willing to do or not. I told her if she was not comfortable we did not have to do it. She immediately said that it was not a big deal and before I knew it we had it tied around her and captured some amazing images. When you see these you will see how beautiful she is with her bald head. It was so cute when she told me that her husband Bryan told her he liked her bald head. Bryan did not know that we were going to do these today but I hope other women out there will see that there is nothing ugly about a bald head and just to be you.
Thank you Angela for allowing me this opportunity. I will be there to do whatever I can for you as you conquer this disease!
Angela and Bryan are not only facing this ugly disease there are a lot of financial issues that they were not expecting as well. If you feel moved to help out her family let me know and I will get you in touch with her. They will appreciate anything you can do for them.
