Last year, while pregnant with her son, she was diagnosed with stage 3b inflammatory Breast Cancer, on July 29th, 2009 at the age of 24. In disbelief, she decided to give it all to God and start on the road to fighting for her life and her unborn son's life. She was given only enough chemo while pregnant to stop the cancer from growing, not to kill it so that it would not hurt the baby. Avery, her son, was born October 23rd, 2009 and is now a perfectly healthy beautiful boy. Rachel went in December 9th, 2009 for a double mastectomy and the tumor was found to be cancer free. Miraculously cancer free. Through it all she kept a smile on her face and still thought of others first. I was amazed by her strength and beauty through it all. She is the epitome of natural beauty.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Rachel.
Loving others.
2. What advice would you give a girl/woman struggling with her self confidence and accepting herself?
You are the person Gad made you. You're your own worst critic. First you must love yourself for others to love you. People will see you in the way you see yourself.
3. Regarding not having your breasts, how did you come to terms with it and how did it affect you emotionally? When was your turning point that you accepted yourself missing a part of your body?
Not having my breasts affected me emotionally to the point that I did not feel comfortable with even being sexual with my husband. My marriage was affected, my mothering abilities was affected, the relationship with my clients, it all was going downhill. My husband sat me down and told me he loved me the way I was. He was so happy I was alive and didn't care about the missing parts. After that it still was a few months to where I just woke up one morning and fully realized that being alive WAS more important and I was given a gift to help support others but in order to do so I must first love myself.
4. How do you want people to remember you?
I want people to remember the love of jesus that flows through my veins and I hope they feel the happiness radiating off of me. Also, the strength that I had to overcome some of the hardest things in life and I never stopped smiling. I love without measure, never judge a person by what they look like, and I don't know a stranger. I hope that people remember me for all of this and I never want to change unless it's for the better.
5. How do you want your kids to remember you?
I hope my kids remember that I never hid anything from them even if it was hurtful or even to deep for them. I wanted them to never be in the shadows and be included in every part of my life. I hope they never forget how much I love them and that I always show them and don't take my insecurities out on them. I love you my babies and I hope you never forget Bailey and Avery. Love, Mommy.
I hope my kids remember that I never hid anything from them even if it was hurtful or even to deep for them. I wanted them to never be in the shadows and be included in every part of my life. I hope they never forget how much I love them and that I always show them and don't take my insecurities out on them. I love you my babies and I hope you never forget Bailey and Avery. Love, Mommy.
6. What is true, natural beauty to you?
The world would like to believe that beauty is what you wear, how much makeup you put on in the morning, how you wear your hair, how you look on the outside, or how fat or skinny you are but guess what, they are wrong. God made each of us beautiful in our own ways. We are made in his likeness, created in his image. The inside of you is what makes you beautiful. How you treat others, your attitude, and a lot of other things but the one scripture I live by is "Treat others as you want to be treat." That is how you become beautiful!
Thank you Rachel for taking time out of your busy life to do this interview with me. You are truly beautiful.
Peace and Love.
