The day we got back from marrying off two of my three younger brothers, I was surprised with a beautiful session in my studio. Initially, Holly from Holly Rose Skincare was coming in to help me build a new portfolio of business headshots for a project I have coming up, but she messaged me on the road and threw an incredible opportunity my way for Breast Cancer Awareness Month that I just couldn’t say no to. I feel incredibly honored and blessed to have been such a small part of this program initiative happening right here in Springfield, IL.
Meet Megan. Holly brought her long-time friend into the studio and asked if they could get a few photos together for a one-of- a-kind collaboration coming soon to the Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU Medicine. Megan was diagnosed with Triple Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in Stage 2 shortly after having her third baby. She found a lump in her breast and followed her gut instincts. She was breastfeeding at the time and truly thought it may have just been a clogged duct, but she still made the call. It just wasn’t going away and thank God she did!
The oncology nurse who called to give her the message you’re never prepared to hear was her sister. Her mom is a breast cancer survivor, so this family knows how to fight and protect. I’m still in awe of the strength she had sharing this difficult part of her journey with me! Earlier this month, Megan was able to finish out her 16 rounds of chemo, lovingly referred to as ‘the red devil’. She still has radiation and then immunotherapy to battle through, but she is one tough cookie, and I have no doubt in my mind that she will persevere with beautiful resolve.
She has incredible support from her family who has already been through it all, her husband and three children, and the many friends she has made along the way teaching yoga for Ahh Yoga. Megan is the Director of Admission for SHG, and we bonded over all the beautiful ways that private schools in this town support their staff on a daily basis. Thank God for places you can call home when you need love, compassion, and support the most. And of course, she couldn’t say enough about the staff at Springfield Clinic Oncology. Megan’s best piece of advice to anyone preparing for this journey- “Listen to your instincts and advocate for yourself- it could save your life.”
I learned so much from this storytelling photo session, and compassion flowed so deeply for the over 300,000 cases of breast cancer that will be diagnosed in the United States this year alone. I am grateful for businesses in our community who are stepping up to stand shoulder to shoulder in partnership with the hospitals to create safe spaces for patients to feel cared for. Enter Holly Rose Skincare and Face the Fight!
Holly recently underwent oncology skincare certification, because she too has friends affected by breast cancer and knew that she had a gift to give back to her community in a meaningful way with her business. Holly is partnering with the Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU to create on-site workshops for those affected where she will teach about skincare, brows, lashes, scalp, etc… In addition, she will be providing scholarship opportunities for those affected. How amazing is that?!?
How can you show support this month? Wear pink on Fridays, and on Wednesday, October 29th, Holly has created an event called ‘Fall For The Cure’ at the Railyard in Springfield, IL to raise awareness and funds for additional programming. (Check out the event on social for more details!) So, mark your calendars and come on out to the Railyard to support Breast Cancer Awareness initiatives here in our hometown. How lucky am I to know and work with some of the best people this area has to offer! Cheers to having each other’s back, because no one fights alone!
