Darlene Lewis
Age: 54
Favorite color: Sea Foam Aqua
Kids: 2
Tattoos: “Love Life” & “Be Brave” on each side of her back under her shoulder blades
A.K.A pool player extraordinaire, travel junkie, Candy Crush addict, KFC lover, cleaning enthusiast, and cancer survivor
“I wasn’t ready to go. I’m a survivor of many things.”
Darlene described herself by strong and empathetic descriptions of her difficult past and her empathy for others who have been in her shoes. She is incredibly bold and brave. She defined herself by family, struggles, and many victories with a big smile spread across her face. She credits her survival and current frame of mind to her dog, Nika, who is her “favorite person” and “soft place to fall”, a special boy named Brody who, during the trial of her mastectomy, told her that he didn’t care what she looked like, her doctors, surgeons, oncologists, plastic surgeons, and God.
On a Saturday, Darlene was eating fried chicken from KFC when she dropped a piece down her shirt. When she reached down to retrieve it, she felt a hard lump on her breast. Without confirmation by doctors, she knew exactly what it was. She said that getting the true diagnosis was the scariest step in the ordeal. So, on her fourty-sixth birthday, she received the news that she had stage 3 breast cancer. Previously, her son passed away in a house fire when he was very young so, in the beginning, she questioned God. “You took my son, now I have cancer?”
She stated that after her surgery, she felt as though those who visited her at home were vultures waiting for her to die or spectators at a freak show. “I only had a handful of people who held my hand.” She stated. She thought that others had counted her out. Along with an abusive husband, she then had to put up with 4 rounds of chemo. She then quickly changed her tone, however. “I told you it was sad,” she smiled, “but, look at me now!”
What advice would Darlene give to those who have received a diagnosis and are struggling?
“Find and talk to survivors,” she said after mentioning that this gave her hope. “You’re not that different,” she then added, “Love yourself.” And, when plastic surgery is not in sight, “Who needs boobs anyway?”
What advice would Darlene give to the family of survivors and those who have received a diagnosis?
“Ask! Don’t stare!”, “Go see them beyond your curiosities. Take time for them. You [diagnosed patients and survivors] want to know that people are rooting for you.”
How did it affect Darlene to meet other survivors?
“It gave me hope.”
Would Darlene change the fact that she had cancer?
“I learned a lot about people. I see things very clear. I wouldn’t change it.”
Darlene’s successes:
Darlene opened a cleaning business and, despite almost losing it during her battle with cancer, she kept it going. And in May and April, she will be eight years a cancer survivor.
Darlene’s goals:
Retirement, driving a teal and white retro trailer, traveling, spending time with her daughter, and enjoying what God did give her: her life.
Beyond Darlene’s solo portrait shoot, she brought along her family. The moments captured were truly precious and cannot be left out.
