Charisma

I’m truly honoured to be part of this very important article and to have had the opportunity to share a piece of my own story.

In 2021, breast cancer changed my life.

I went through not one, but two lumpectomies — and both times I received the heartbreaking news that the margins were positive. Cancer cells were still there.

After going through that uncertainty twice, I made one of the hardest decisions of my life: to have a radical bilateral mastectomy. I needed to know that I had done everything I could to move forward without constantly wondering if something had been left behind.

That is why being part of this article means so much to me.

The medical technology featured in this story has the potential to help surgeons identify cancerous tissue during surgery, when something can still be done about it — potentially sparing other women from hearing the words “positive margins” after they thought their surgery was over.

I can’t go back and change what happened to me in 2021. But knowing that my experience can help bring attention to something that may change the journey for another woman makes sharing this deeply personal part of my life worthwhile.

If this technology can spare even one woman from another surgery, another wait, another moment of fear and uncertainty, then sharing my story is worth it.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you to Katherine Laidlaw for giving my story a voice, to Chloë Ellingson for capturing such meaningful and beautiful photographs, and to Jalani and the entire Be Giant team for creating the space for this story to be told with such care, compassion and purpose.

I’m deeply grateful to have been part of something that looks beyond what breast cancer has taken from us and toward what we may be able to change for the women who come after us. ✨💕

Please take a moment to read and share

For breast cancer patients, the agonizing wait for a post-surgery ‘all clear’ could soon be over A Toronto company is helping surgeons analyze their work before the patient even wakes up

52. 💗

Yesterday, I turned 52.

When I was younger, I thought getting older meant losing something. Now I know that, year after year, I become more myself.

One day, I hope to be an old woman with long silver hair, magical tattoos, eyes full of light and life, and lots of laugh lines.

I hope my grandchildren will lie beside me under the stars as I tell them stories of adventures, dreams I dared to chase, fears I overcame, and a life lived with gratitude.

At 52, I may not have silver hair yet, but I have stories. I have scars that became strength, laughter that came after tears, and a heart that still believes in magic.

Here’s to choosing to live fully and love deeply.

Thank you to all of my people who took the time to send me love and light yesterday. Your messages, calls, and kind wishes filled my heart more than you know. I am deeply grateful. 💕✨ #52

Mytilene in every shade of blue… and every color of paradise. 💙🌊🌸✨ TravelGreece

There’s something about reading Rising Strong a second time that hits differently. I don’t just understand it, I recognize myself in it.

MANIFESTO OF THE BRAVE AND BROKENHEARTED

There is no greater threat to the critics and cynics and fearmongers than those of us who are willing to fall because we have learned how to rise.

With skinned knees and bruised hearts; We choose owning our stories of struggle, over hiding, over hustling, over pretending.

When we deny our stories, they define us.

When we run from struggle, we are never free. So we turn toward truth and look it in the eye.

We will not be characters in our stories. Not villains, not victims, not even heroes.

We are the authors of our lives. We write our own daring endings.

We craft love from heartbreak, Compassion from shame, Grace from disappointment, Courage from failure.

Showing up is our power.
Story is our way home. Truth is our song. We are the brave and brokenhearted.

We are rising strong.
~Brene Brown