What made you want to participate in the Wildflower project?
"Well, I have been on a completely different journey for the last probably 20 years. I got very sick, and then I had extreme issues with cancer and other stuff, which doesn't define a woman. But also, a woman likes to feel her best, especially when you're athletic, and then you go from being athletic to not. I had my kids, and that was my goal—I didn't care what else, just as long as I made it.
Then I went into remission. I had my gastric bypass, and it was like a whole new me. I wanted to show it off—how far you can go if you put your mind to something. I went through multiple surgeries and radiation treatments. I just got done with a major surgery four weeks ago."
I did it to showcase every woman's beauty, no matter what they look like—shape, size, scars, illnesses—the ones people can see and the ones they can't. A lot of people look at me and say, "I can't believe you're sick," or "I can't believe you're going through this." Women are strong.
We hide it. We take that pain, and we use it. So I wanted to showcase how good I felt about myself, even though I was in so much pain that day. I still wanted to do it. I wanted to feel good. The pictures were amazing.
I looked really good. I showed them to my co-workers, and they loved them. My family liked them too. Even on your down days—we all have them—when the flares hit, a woman with illnesses like mine doesn’t feel beautiful. You don’t feel like anything. But you can look back and go, "Yeah, I am. This is just a day. It doesn’t define me.
That’s part of why I wanted to do it. If you looked at those pictures, you’d never know I had cancer or all my illnesses. Three months ago, I couldn’t walk. Five years ago, I was 450 pounds. I almost gave up, but I said no. A lot of gastric bypass patients fail in the first year, but I didn’t.
We work with our strengths, we work with our weaknesses, and we take what we've endured and make them our stories. I hope people can look at this and my story and go, "Even when I’m doubting myself, I can do this."
How your experience was like during the session itself?
"It was fun! You made me feel comfortable, warm, and welcomed. You helped me pick out my choices and background, and they turned out perfect. The crushed velvet tank top picture was my favorite. I’m not a vain person, but that one made me feel like I looked good.
The outdoor setting was beautiful. The flowers were magnificent, —I loved it."
What would you tell another woman who is thinking about doing a session but hasn’t gotten brave enough yet?
"I’d say, just go and talk. If you feel comfortable with the photographer, just do it. If you don’t like the pictures in the end, they’re for you. Maybe one day, you’ll look back at them differently."
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