Let’s get Real

 Hi! It’s me soulful Sunflower 🌻🌻

I’m here to report all the things.. this one may be like the word vomit. And there will be no real flow, so here it goes... 

First and foremost- I want to be real about my hair. I am 7 weeks in and I still have hair on my head. I don’t have ALL my hair. But I have hair. There is ZERO guarantee about hair.. buttttt they say to focus on what you do have. So here it goes: the pictures show basically how much hair I lose every time I touch my hair that is some that falls out.  With that I wonder how there is still hair on my head, but instead of asking any questions- I look in the mirror and I just say I am a badass. I am fighting for my life and I am a badass. I have HAD a lot of self-talk!!!! Positive vibes only 👏🏻

I want to bring up a few ideas and see if anyone has other ideas to help. But first I want to say- the people who continue to support me I am forever indebted, because we may have been strangers or only spoken a few times, but during a pandemic you have lifted my spirits and offered me more than even my own blood. For that I am incredibly grateful and words can’t even describe the kindness you have shown me and I’m telling you, I didn’t know I could get through something like this, but with you, I have. Strangers, acquaintances, friends and family- I have seen some incredible kindness I am not sure I even knew existed. Thank you!❤️💕 gifts, messages, thoughtful snail mail- texts, calls, I could go on and on and I know you know who you are, thank you!!!! I manifested to have friends and people like this in my life and it is a reality. Thank you thank you!! 

Ok getting back to my ideas- I want to put together a non profit of some sort and do giveaways for people who become diagnosed with cancer. When you hear those words... it is soooo overwhelming. Not everyone has access or the means, or education, or even realizes that skincare needs to be safe during chemo or aluminum in your deodorant has a link to breast cancer- these are all things that I didn’t know and had to research or find out and even ask around. Where what if we could come together and donate chemo safe products that people either haven’t used or is something that if you went through cancer you could donate that it can be reused ? I am putting together 6 baskets now to do a giveaway.

They will have some :

plume chemo safe eyelash/brow growth serum

Face roller

Beautycounter deodorant and samples of skincare some eye makeup remover as nothing I have tried is as gentle

Scrunchy’s-satin

I may add some door dash gift cards- because people have sent me meals, and what a great way to be supportive when I don’t feel like cooking or even leaving my house(which these days I have to wear a hat) 🌻❤️

Yes- as of now me and some friends are buying this out of pocket to send to people, but it’s in hopes that others will donate and help me make some amazing baskets for people everywhere getting told they have cancer- and like me- the first thing was “oh great I’m going to lose my hair.” What if we could help people navigate through this where we provided insight, hope, and some excellent products to help soften the blow of all the unknowns? I know for me if I had known about a site I’d have joined!! 

Paxman and other cold caps are expensive and I will definitely create a link if you ever want to donate to helping someone else save their hair during chemo, and I will be donating my cap back as in hopes I never have to see it again, but also I’d love to give someone the chance who can’t afford the caps to have a chance to save 50% or more of their hair!! 

I am NOT a rep for any of these companies- I do not make money off of this- I truly just want to be something someone else could lean on in time of fear of the unknown. 

Ultimately I want to create a safe place for people who get diagnosed with cancer and have NO idea where to start. If you’re worried about eyelashes you can click and receive a sample. If you’re worried about skincare or deodorants or shampoo and conditioner, all the things, that make us feel normal during this experience I want to make this a place for go to, where I and my friends have put in the time and research and potentially offer some good deals or free goodies to people who need the extra love during this crap time. If you have any brands that you know are chemo safe, I’d love for you to reach out to my blog or personal. If you would like to contribute, I will pay any shipping costs! I really just want to give back, because I realize all of this can be overwhelming and I feel incredibly grateful for the people who love me and support me and to me it seems like the smallest thing to do is to bring some joy to others lives. 

As of now- the products I know for sure are beautycounter, collective labs, plume science, Osea. Love to hear about more brands and I’m also happy to reach out to other brands and ask if they are chemo safe. I wrote grande cosmetics and they told me they haven’t done testing on chemo patients so they don’t feel right about promoting their serum for anyone on chemo. 

I don’t have a brand of pillow cases that I swear by- I just got mine off Amazon.

But bras after surgery- I love the ones I have and these lace bralettes that I swear by/ if you’re interested I will add the link from Amazon!! They are also super affordable!! 

I also have chemo safe scar cream that came off Amazon 

I also needed a body pillow since sleeping was so uncomfortable after surgery. I will also giveaway my seatbelt cushion after I’m healed from my double mastectomy as someone gifted to me, and I LOVE it while driving!!!

I would also recommend: yoga, meditation (someone sent me a subscription for headspace and I listen to the rain every night, it’s not a perfect night sleep, but it improves a little each time😜) acupuncture, massage therapy, facial reflexology, the list goes on and on. And this would be a place where people can share what they’ve done or as a care taker what they’ve done to help guide others. Even during a pandemic- cancer doesn’t discriminate or stop. Let’s keep helping people to keep up their mental spirits. Mine hasn’t been perfect, but I’m trying to take each moment and learn and do as much that helps me grow and help support others !! 

If you have anything that hasn’t been used, and you think someone with cancer would benefit, reach out! Whether an unused gift card, or some sort of product- every little bit helps! 

I love each and everyone of you SO much. And I appreciate you!! Thank you.

Forever grateful,

Soulful Sunflower🌻