Donna

When I was diagnosed with Stage III Breast Cancer, I was determined to go into warrior mode and kick this thing in the a**!

Shortly thereafter, I got trapped in a conversation with a telephone solicitor. I finally played the cancer card, just to get him off the phone, when he turned sympathetic and offered the most wonderful analogy.

He asked me to remember as a child, how difficult it was to learn to swim. Remembering that the harder you try and the more you struggle, the more difficult it is. But once you learn to relax and let yourself float, swimming becomes easy and natural. This brought such peace and calm. It has changed my outlook completely. I no longer think of my cancer in negative terms such as a “fight” or “battle”, and I find I don’t need to be in “warrior mode.” Instead, I float.

I decide every day to embrace my situation, to relax and float through the choppy waters; and to let my friends and family be my “water wings” on the tougher days. And above all, to keep my heart open to all the gifts and lessons my journey will bring.

My Turning Heads experience was certainly one of those gifts. To spend the afternoon with Stacy, Debbie and Olga and be around all that positive energy was absolutely wonderful. And, in keeping with my swimming analogy, it felt like I finally had a moment to “touch bottom” and stand up… ….not have to swim, or tread water, or even float for the day. Although being a “super model” was so outside my comfort zone, being with my sisters and those special women made me so at ease and I had a great time! Thank you, Turning Heads, for such a precious gift. You rock!

Fashions by Will Stiles, Palm Springs

Photography by Stacy Jacob Photography, Makeup by Olga Morales, Styling by Debbie Green