Kim's Story: Still Standing Through The Storm
I am still standing through the storm. 💪
Why do you identify with the Beautiful Disaster Brand?
I am a hot mess doing my best. No matter how my disease or medications have affected my looks and my confidence, I am learning to love myself in my "new skin."
Tell us your Beautiful Disaster story:
My son and I took care of my husband, who had Alzheimer's, for 7 years. His disease started when my son was just 6 years old. We cared for him until 2014, when I could no longer physically handle the care on my own. My son Colby was only 13 when his dad passed away in 2015.
Colby always looked up to my dad as his rock, especially since my husband had been fighting Alzheimer's for as long as Colby could remember. Sadly, in January of 2017, my dad was diagnosed with two kinds of blood cancer and bone cancer. He passed away in May of that year—devastating for both Colby and me.
Despite the heartbreak, we pushed through as a little team of two. It was a struggle all the way through high school for Colby, and I swear, the child aged me 15 years during those four years of high school! 😂 But again… we made it!
Two years later, at 20 years old, Colby was thriving at his job, and I was riding high after getting sober and working a great job. Then, on May 22, 2024, everything changed. Out of the clear blue, I was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that had metastasized to my brain. That day, my brain was swelling and bleeding, and I was rushed to the Cancer Center by ambulance, where I stayed for a week. I was in shock and don’t remember much of that time.
Between the confusion and the massive amounts of medication, I was a wreck. My life was turned upside down—I had to stop working at a job I loved, I could no longer exercise after having lost 70 lbs and gotten in great shape, and I gained 50 lbs back due to the meds. It was a living nightmare.
Eight days ago, I reached the one-year mark since my diagnosis. I’ve had radiation on my brain and am on daily oral chemo, but I am still standing!!! They gave me a three-year survival rating, but I don’t accept that. I am not a statistic, and I aim to prove them all wrong! 💪
Today, I’m thrilled to say that my once-struggling boy is now a 22-year-old man getting ready to leave for the military, and I couldn’t be more proud! I’m still sober, and I’ve come to terms with the fact that I have terminal cancer, but I am living my life to the best of my ability with a kick-ass outlook. My future does not end in two years.
Thank you for listening to my story. ❤️
What happened for you to turn it around?
I accepted my diagnosis and did not let it affect my sobriety.
Name 3 things you’ve done to move closer to happiness:
1. Joined a cancer support group.
2. Started doing activities like horseback riding, painting, and other crafts I had put aside for years.
3. Put my self-care first and made sure to check in with myself to stay centered.
What is your favorite Beautiful Disaster collection, past or present, and why?
Honestly, I can't choose because I love everything I see! I would buy it all if I could. Your line is absolutely inspiring and empowering. ❤️