Fighting cancer isn’t only just a physical battle, but also emotional and psychological too
Unfortunately, sometimes treatment designed to help takes its toll in multiple ways. As part of our Turning Heads Series, we hope you appreciate the beauty and empowerment exhibited by Heike Kuenzer (age 37).
There is an art class that I take on Saturdays that’s special to me. Some of us in the class have become very close. We have the same interests in art so we go out to galleries together. They are the kind of friends who are there for you when you need things; the kind you keep all your life. So when the doctor asked me what day I wanted to have treatment, I chose Monday because I knew by the time Saturday rolled around, I’d feel well enough to go to class. That was my goal, to keep going to my class and be with my friends and my art. I wanted something beyond work and beyond being sick and I met the goal. I didn’t miss a single class.
Does cancer make you nicer? I’ve met only nice women during this whole thing. I mean everybody I’ve met was unusually nice. I started wondering why all the nice women get cancer and all those bitches in department stores don’t. It’s true. You’ve never thought of that?
We really enjoyed and highly recommend Jackson Hunsicker’s Turning Heads: Portraits of Grace, Inspiration, and Possibilities, a book designed to help reset our attitude and perceptions about cancer and demonstrate the beauty that remains despite cancer’s assault. This book makes a perfect gift for females undergoing cancer treatment.
Our gratitude, thoughts and admiration go to Heike Kuenzer for her courage, words of wisdom and empowered portrait. A special thanks to Patricia Ruben for her efforts shooting this inspiring portrait.