"The Blossom of a Wish" Journal

Inspiration: Katie Gray
Artist: Lyrika Van Vliet

Katie's Twist on Cancer: Two months after my husband proposed to me, I received my first cancer diagnosis at the whopping old age of 30. Then three years after that, I received my second. Cancer puts a giant pause on every single aspect of your life. Everyone offers their advice as to how you should proceed and the decisions you should make. I remember thinking, there must be a support group out there with women who truly understand what I am going through. I hit Google and found the Breast Cancer Resource Center, a local support group staffed with breast cancer survivors. It was so incredibly helpful during my cancer journey to have a survivor walk alongside me. I’ve always known that I wanted to be a mom. After my second diagnosis, I knew that my dream of breastfeeding was not going to come true. Since my breast cancer is caused by a gene, I knew that I wanted to not pass this gene on to my future child. While I must have this cancer journey, my child will be spared that. Thus began my fertility journey. As of right now, I have two perfect girl embryos that do not carry the same gene I do. It means the world to me to be able to give them the best possible start in life from the very beginning. I want to continue to be an example for other young women diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer does not and will not ever define you.

Lyrika's Artist Statement: My first Brushes with Cancer experience was wonderful and an incredible opportunity to have. I won't lie when I say that it was definitely stressful at times trying to really get an idea down, there were many revisions made and so many ideas I had for this piece. But in the end I think it turned out perfect. "The Blossom Of A Wish" is a tribute to my wonderful inspiration, Katie Gray! It is based off what inspired me most about her and her story, the compassion that her and her husband share to have a baby. Throughout our time together, this has been the thing that stuck out most to me. I want this to be a reminder that wishes do come true and a reminder for them and their journey with IVF that it will all be worth it in the end!

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