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Beautiful YOU 2015 | Laura Gordillo Photography |Phoenix Arizona Photographer

03 Wednesday Jun 2015

Posted by lgordillophotoblog in Uncategorized

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arizona, avondale, breast cancer, Breast Cancer Awareness, cancer, chandler, El Paso, gilbert, glendale, goodyear, litchfield park, palm valley, peoria, phoenix, photographers, photojournalistic, professional, scottsdale, surprise, tempe, texas

Meet Beautiful Janet! What can I say about this wonderful woman! She is a TRUE fighter!  She’s suffered so much, life has dealt her a bad hand. You’d think she’d question her faith and God. But she remains positive through it all! She does this for the immense love she has for her daughter! Being a single mother I can’t even imagine having cancer and trying to care for a child at the same time! BUT she manages! I am sure her daughter is proud to have such a warrior for a mother! She even had the courage to allow me to take pictures of her warrior scars! What a brave woman! Please read more of her amazing story below :

On July 27, 2012 at 1:27pm my world was turned upside down for that was when a nurse told me that I had Breast Cancer. I was a single mother of a beautiful 10 daughter living in Charlotte NC with no family close by. When I was diagnosed I was at Stage II but two weeks later when I saw my Oncologist for the first time my cancer had progressed and I was then at Stage IV. At the time I was diagnosed, I thought my life was so on track. I had just moved to Charlotte in 2010 after being recruited for a dream job in a male dominated field (I was a stock broker), we had moved into our condo, Arianna had finally gotten use to her new surrounding, my divorce was in the works……Arianna and I were really happy.

My diagnosis completely blindsided everyone in my family, Arianna and I had just returned from a family reunion where I had seen my mother and the rest of her extended family. My Cancer wasn’t found by discovering a lump in my Breast for my tumor was only 1cm large and was very deep within my breast tissue, however the cancer had broken through the tumor wall and gotten in my Lymph nodes and was spreading fast. I did monthly exams and got regular mammograms (it just wasn’t time for my 2012 exam). My cancer was discovered because my arm started swelling from my elbow to my wrist. I had seen my doctor at the time (which was a female) in April who dismissed my arm swelling as water weight. I felt that wasn’t right and changed doctors but didn’t push the arm swelling until it continued in July. My new doctor was very persistent about what he felt was wrong and even called me at home to push the mammogram……I owe him my life.

Once diagnosed my concerns turned to Arianna more than myself…..What was going to happen to my daughter? Who was going to care for her, HOW was I going to take care of her? I became a mother late, I was 39 when I had Arianna. It was the BEST blessing I could have received, I was 4 months when I found out I was pregnant after being told I could not have children and I am so proud to be a mother. My daughter is my number one priority, she is the reason I fight EVERYDAY, I will walk through fire for her.

Having cancer and being a single parent period is the hardest journey anyone can endure, it brings about soooo many challenges as well as concerns. I have been very honest with her from day one, as soon as I found out I came straight home and told her. Her first response was “Why us” and I responded “Why not us, God picked us to walk this road for a reason. I don’t know why yet but just know that not everyone can do this but we were picked.” She has never asked me why again. I heard her tell one of her friends one day when they asked her how she handled having a sick mom and she responded with such conviction “I don’t worry because God’s got this”…..talk about a “mommy proud” moment. I know it has been hard on her as far too many times she has been my caregiver instead of a child. And all I want is for her to have a normal life.

After a year of what I thought was COMPLETE HELL, chemo made me so sick I was in the hospital after my first three treatments (which brought about a whole new concern, “who was going to care for my daughter for a week while I was in the hospital?” Sometimes I had no one and I would leave after 2 or 3 days because I had no place for her to go). I would be so sick I was confined to my bed, I could not care for my daughter. The chemo was tearing my body apart so they would switch me to different chemo medication several times until I was placed on maintenance chemo in January 2013 which I currently still take. I had one treatment of the maintenance chemo, took a nap, woke up and I couldn’t feel my hands or my feet…..I had developed severe Neuropathy, I had such nerve damage that the nerves weren’t even firing anymore in my feet. It can be so bad at times that I’m confined to the bed before dusk everyday.

From the moment they told me I had Breast Cancer, I knew I wanted BOTH of my Breast removed even though my cancer was only on the right side. On April 14th, 2013 I received a double Mesectomy, on April 13th, 2014 I received my breast implants. In addition to my mesectomy, I have had tumors in my brain twice (the first being June 2013 and then again in December 2014) for which I received radiation for, I had to have surgery on my MCL as well as a partial knee replacement. I had to have emergency back surgery to have several disc fused and a mass removed that was pressing on a nerve in my back rendering my leg unusable.

I know that I will be on chemo for the rest of my life, if I stop chemo my tumors come back. The damage to the nerves in my hands and feet is suppose to repair itself a year or two after I stop chemo. Since that will NEVER happen, I will never regain that feeling, never wear REAL shoes, never walk normal or like a lady should. But regardless of how poor I feel my quality of life is one thing for sure…..I’M STILL HERE!!!!! STILL HERE to watch my daughter grow up, laugh with my mom and do my best to leave my mark on this world.

Hair:TheBoyz DoHair Make Up:Chik A’ la mode Make Up: Redafied Beauty

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Beautiful YOU 2015 | Laura Gordillo Photography | Phoenix Arizona Photographer

02 Tuesday Jun 2015

Posted by lgordillophotoblog in Uncategorized

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arizona, avondale, breast cancer, Breast Cancer Awareness, cancer, chandler, El Paso, gilbert, glendale, goodyear, litchfield park, palm valley, peoria, phoenix, photographers, photojournalistic, professional, scottsdale, surprise, tempe, texas

Meet BEAUTIFUL Connie! It was a pleasure taking this amazing lady’s pictures! She was a bit insecure at first. She kept telling me how she didn’t like to take pictures because she didn’t think she looked nice in them. I told her she was CRAZY! I showed her a few back of the camera pics and she was so impressed! Just look at the images below! Isn’t she stunning! I kept telling her she had that model in her and worked the camera beautifully! I LOVED capturing her laugh and smile! It was contagious! I couldn’t help but laugh with her! We chatted about her son and all the obstacles she’s had to endure, since being diagnosed with cancer. She has a wonderful spirit and am I thrilled to know her treatment ends in July! PLEASE keep Connie and her son in your prayers!! Read more about her story below:

Hair:TheBoyz DoHair  Make Up:Chik A’ la mode  Make Up: Redafied Beauty

Last November, my life changed in ways I couldn’t even begin to imagine. I had been really tired and not thinking clearly for a few months and it was determined that I was severely iron deficient. After being on 1000 mg of iron per day, my levels increased but then severely dropped. I was let go from my job at the end of October because I wasn’t performing up to par. I called my doctor and said let’s figure this out before I get a new job. She recommended a colonoscopy as I had just turned 50 that February. On November 13, 2014, I had a colonoscopy and the dr didn’t even have to wait for the biopsy – he knew that the tumor he had seen was cancerous. My world collapsed and all I could think about was my 12 year old son. How would I tell him? What would happen to him if I died? So many thoughts swirled through my head! My out-patient surgery that day turned into a day long ordeal with me sobbing most of the day. I had to have lots of blood work, a CT scan and other tests. It was all so surreal. The next few weeks consisted of dr appts and testing. Time to process all of this was non-existent and I was putting on the happy positive face for my son while I inwardly suffered with the knowledge that I had cancer and nothing more at that time. I never had time to think before I was in surgery 4 short weeks after the colonoscopy and diagnosed with Stage IIIC colon cancer. Four short weeks after that I was starting chemo. 

>>
>> Life had been turned upside down with no job and having to go through treatment but not fighting was never an option. Figuring out life, treatment and finances became a priority. Singleton Moms has helped alleviate a lot of that. They provided support, friendship and basics that I didn’t even know I needed. The other moms have given me perspective on my situation and I feel truly blessed to know them and to know I am not alone. Having cancer has made me cherish each day with my son, I no longer sweat the small stuff, I say I love you more to more people, and I thank God that my cancer is curable and that it is possible that I will see my son grow up to be an amazing man. My treatment will be done in July. Six months ago I thought that was a lifetime. Now I look at it as the beginning of a new life – one in which I will take nothing for granted because tomorrow is not guaranteed.

Beautiful YOU 2015 | Cancer Survivors | Warriors 2015-06-02_0002 2015-06-02_0003 2015-06-02_0004 2015-06-02_0005 2015-06-02_0006 2015-06-02_0007

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Beautiful YOU 2014 | Laura Gordillo Photography| Phoenix Arizona Photographer

01 Sunday Jun 2014

Posted by lgordillophotoblog in Uncategorized

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arizona, avondale, breast cancer, Breast Cancer Awareness, cancer, chandler, El Paso, gilbert, glendale, goodyear, litchfield park, palm valley, peoria, phoenix, photographers, photojournalistic, professional, scottsdale, surprise, tempe, texas

Meet BEAUTIFUL Amelia! This lady is truly amazing! Our fabulous hairstylists had suggest to her to take some pics without her wig. To embrace the length she had her hair at the moment. She was VERY hesitant. She did not feel comfortable at all doing that. She absolutely LOVES her wig! But somehow we all persuaded her to just try it out for a few shots. She was a great sport and did it for us. I am soooo happy she did! She looked fabulous! Both wig and without definitely suited her so well! This lady has been through so much in her short 27 years of life! She brought along her two wonderful boys! I was so happy to meet them! You could tell they absolutely LOVE their mommy!  I commend this amazing woman for being such a strong fighter! Please read her story below!

AZ, Beautiful YOU!, Breast Cancer Awareness, Buckeye, Buckeye, cancer, El Beautiful YOU 2014, phoenix, AZ, photographer, cancer survivor

AZ, Beautiful YOU!, Breast Cancer Awareness, Buckeye, Buckeye, cancer, El Beautiful YOU 2014, phoenix, AZ, photographer, cancer survivor

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When you go through so much in life you become “numb” to certain things, my diagnosis was definitely one of those times where I didn’t know what, let alone how to feel, or accept what was going on. I had just gotten back from Tennessee, where my now, 11 year old son was treated at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for a brain tumor. I had been back at work only 3 months, still working on getting back to “normal”. Now I was being told I too had that disease that threatened to take my son only 6 months prior. Within a week of my wellness checkup, I had already had an ultrasound, a mammogram, a biopsy, was diagnosed and a mastectomy in that order. After my surgery is when it all hit me, I was not ME anymore! No breast, a huge scar, I would have 4 more surgeries besides the mastectomy, I would need a port for the chemo, I would be starting chemo, I would be losing my hair, so many changes and I was only 26!

The worst thing in my life was not my diagnosis; it was having to see my son go through 2 brain surgeries and radiation. Having to be apart from my other son, those were the worst 6 months of my life. Being a single mother isn’t easy, I’ve never been one to complain about that, but add work, treatment and worrying for your kid’s health and it becomes sometimes unbearable. From Juan’s diagnosis, to being in Tennessee away from Javier, I thought I couldn’t handle anything else. Little did I know I had a long, frustrating fight of my own coming my way. Not only did I have cancer; I was fired from my job that I had been at for almost 6 years. They no longer needed someone that was taking as much time off as I was, due to my sons and my treatment. Harsh being that I worked with all doctors, you would think they would understand a little more than any other employer. Even with that I managed to get by, yes I cried, I was mad, I was sad, frustrated, but I was also happy that I was getting to enjoy moments with my boys that became much much more precious and priceless then before. My boys are my motivation, my strength, what get me through my darkest days.

Funny how throughout all of this, I never feared death, but what did terrify me was the thought of my kids having to grow up without me. That’s when I decided I would FIGHT! This was not going to take me away from them. Yeah I had my moments of weakness, of being on the verge of giving up, but looking back now I’m proud of myself for getting through it all. I am now 8 months post chemo, a week post radiation, on my 8th month of Herceptin (5 more months to go), on my 2nd month at my new job, and looking forward to my future. I’m not your average 27 year old, I never have been, but I can now say I accept and am happy with the new me… scars and all!
–
Amelia
http://www.tg.stjude.org/juan

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