#survivorstatus

[thinkingthroughpink]

Grief… I can only imagine… 🙏🏾

[thinkingthroughpink]

Because why not? Life is hard & every day is a gift 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Bravo!!! #DailyReminder Rumble girl rumble ‼️ #SurvivorStatus 💕💓💞💗💖 #GodTheGreatest https://www.instagram.com/p/CoqOPmHLiAH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[thinkingthroughpink]

This is my brave!! *another ☝🏾 Ten years ago… she/her was smiling through the pain! This pic was an example of that tenacity I had whole fighting for life!! But on Valentine’s Day 2013 - it was finished ❤️ Yes it’s the day of Lovers…but for me it means SO MUCH MORE!! This girl right here…with her hair growing in & burnt skin (it got worse) - but I made it to last daily radiation treatment for stage 2A idc #breastcancer on Valentine’s Day 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ NOW 10 years post active treatments I CELEBRATE her/she/ME 🙌🏾🎊🥳 Body worn out from fighting for 11 MONTHS!! Double mastectomy with muscle expanders placed, 6 cycles of aggressive chemotherapy infusion every 3 weeks for 3 months, breast reconstruction surgery with implants, and finally daily radiation treatments 😲☹️ But God!!!! Bruised, peeling, hurting, discoloration, fatigue, white meat, ointments, bandages & all!! God covered & kept me!! He’s STILL doing ‼️🙌🏾 Another bc milestone met, I’m proud of you Jessica Nicole 💞💗💕💓😘🥰 I know Mommy & Daddy would be too!! 😭 Look at me Mama, I’m making it 🙌🏾 🥹 #HappyValentinesDay #Brave #SurvivorStatus #Survivor #ThinkingThroughPink #TenYears #Thriving #Grateful #Blessed #Healed #Remission #GodDid (at Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoqNonnrMAk/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[thinkingthroughpink]

⭐️ Life Update (kinda long) ⭐️ I’ve been officially flying high in the friendly skies for the BEST airline since October 2021!! God has been faithfully blessing me on my Delta journey since I applied in July 2019 🙌🏾

Not many people know the WHOLE story! All the joy from extreme highs and the depression that came from the extreme lows of 2020! I’m beyond grateful for my life and health and promising career! I went through a longer than normal process to get into my passport plum to be able to ✈️ the world!

⭐️ Abridged version ⭐️ My process started with my application for Delta’s “historic” Class of 2020 in July 2019 with my application, next candidate assessment, then a recorded video interview, live internet interview and finally I received an invite to the final F2F (Face to Face) group interview in December 2019 that resulted in my CJO (conditional job offer) on the spot! 🙌🏾 By Christmas 2019 I received my training class date and starting prepping for my journey to begin the first week of March 2020!

On March 2nd, started with my “I” classmates and we were set to graduate 6 weeks later in April 2020. But then the COVID-19 pandemic happened and the world stopped and masked and quarantined globally! And after 3 weeks of rigorous training we were sent home because the pandemic - suspended for 18 months - without any notice it was over and no restart date in site! It was devastating after all the hard work we put in and the jobs we left to go back home without our wings and it wasn’t anything we could do about it 😢😩 But in true form and following it’s core values Delta brought us back and I started with “C” class 2021 in the beginning of September 2021 and after starting over for 6 MORE long, rigorous, stressful, challenging, but rewarding weeks I EARNED MY WINGS and became a certified flight attendant for Delta airlines. God did it!!!

I never knew what the future would hold when I applied for this dream job…career with Delta. But God!! I was able to met my forever friends/fam in 🔺 and I’m traveling the country and soon the world every week! In a year like NO OTHER! I MADE IT 🙌🏾 I’m still surviving and thriving and racking up air miles, pictures, magnets, hotel points, souvenirs, new experiences and memories while I travel to sometimes anywhere between 1-3 cities a day, multiple states weekly and I’m loving it!! It’s tiring but worth it! I’m losing my pandemic pounds from all the walking and hustling with my luggage through airports! I’m able to stay in some really nice hotels on my layovers and I’m meeting interesting customers and a good amount of fun coworkers. I’m a wiser traveler and still learning my best practices for working an energy draining job where you spend most of the time in the skies! I’m stronger mentally than I was in April 2020 and I’m happier because I’m living the life I dreamed of for the greater part of two years!

⭐️ Summing it up⭐️ Just look at me now! It’s 2022!! I’m just two days shy of 4 months “on the line” and enjoying racking up thousands of sky miles, flew SO many states, 2 countries, touched down in over 22+ airports, in over 22+ cities, and one continent! Sometimes I fly from one time zone to another and have to remind myself where I am…what state did I wake up to and where will I sleep at night. I spend way more time in hotels then in own my bed. But I’m enjoying it! So here’s to flying MANY more cities, states, countries and continents in ‘22 and beyond!!

Thank you God for this opportunity!! And Jesus please continue to cover and keep me as I travel, work, play and experience new things all over the world ✈️❤️💜

[thinkingthroughpink]

“...It don’t take a whole day to recognize sunshine...There are times when you’ll need someone/I will be by your side/There is a light that shines/Special for you and me” -Common, “The Light”

🌟I’m using the above lyrics in a platonic way because it describes our sisterhood & how you’re always there for me (in front or behind the scenes) in thick & thin🌟

Better late than never...even though we’ve chatted a few times before & after July 10th ☺️ We’ve been 👯‍♀️ from the Shorter & Anderson residences on CHL in the late ‘80s, to junior church at Lighthouse in the ‘90s & now a pandemic while adulting in the ‘20s & beyond!! 👏🏾🙌🏾 All that from kids crayons to my cancer chronicles & now coloring in adult coloring books!! 😉

Your weekly ‘Rona checks have helped pick me up when I was low over these past 4 months & like Mrs. Obama said “when they go low, we go high” I thank God for you 🙌🏾 Thank you for your wisdom & friendship!! Thank you for listening to my ugly cries & manifesting with me for blessings to come 😭🙏🏾

I’m proud to know you and witness your light & Grace!! You’re awesome my friend & the only other July 10th beauty I’m happy to share my special day with! I admire your strength, wit, & compassion 💖 You’re a diva who can shut it all downnnnn with style & grace plus tenacity to keep on until the work is ✅

You’re a phenomenal Proverbs 31 woman, wife, daughter, sis, auntie & friend! You are a 🎁 to your village! Thank you for being my friend, big sista, supporter, fashionista & laugh/fuss/cut up buddy!! My birthday twin E is better than yours 😉🎊🥳

Happy Birthday Mrs. Erica Lewis 💓 May “The Lord bless you and keep you; make His face shine upon you, be gracious to you; lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” ~Numbers 6:24-26 (NKJV) *My Mommy Lorraine Shorter fav scripture* 😘

Here’s to higher & higher and blessings on blessings 🥂 ‼️

Love,

𝓙𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲 💋

[thinkingthroughpink]

My Chemotherapy Essentials 2020

*Making this post because over the years I’ve been asked my opinions about what to do/have/give to/for someone going through chemo. My hope is this is helpful and can be used as a checklist. It is a “living” list that can be modified to your liking.

*FYI I had chemotherapy treatments once every 3 weeks for 6 cycles, from July 12, 2012 - October 25, 2012 (which was almost 8 years ago 🙌🏾). I will also say I believe I still have “brain fog” aka “chemo brain” sometimes I forget things. But I hope this list is thorough enough and provides good tips!

**These are my views/recommendations and yours could vary. I also added commentary with my tips 😉**

*My Recommendation: all items should be fragrance free and all body products should be free of chemicals; the key is simple ingredients and “7 free” items - avoid harsh chemicals!

*FOR BATH/BODY & CLOTHES (Accessories):

**Wear what makes you comfortable**

•Lip gloss or balm (fragrance free) - i.e. Burts Bees original or Chapstick brand original (I preferred cherry just because I that was always my go it)

•Vaseline

•Aquaphor ointment

•Bio Oil

•Soap (fragrance free) - I preferred Dove brand

•Sunscreen - SPF 50 or above

•Body Pillow (mine was ESSENTIAL, amazing and a huge comfort)

•Slippers “house shoes” (with grips, comfortable and open or closed toe)

•Wig(s) - (if preferred, but hot flashes or scalp irritation could occur) - I had 2 wigs I barely wore because of those things but I wanted the option.

•Hats (Baseball caps “Dad hats”, floppy hats, your choice)

•Scarves or head wraps (for if/when you become bald) - soft materials/washable

•Zip Hoodie and or open front jacket (Long story short - despite my hot flashes I had on with me for ALL my Doctors appointments and treatments at the hospital. I always carried one because those places are notoriously cold and my Mother would always recommend it (she never left home even when it was over 80 degrees, lol!)

•Lounge wear - especially pants, leggings, joggers (Comfortable/cozy/soft/loose)

•Tank Tops - (I hoarded Old Navy ones 😬) - because of hot flashes I wanted to wear as less clothes as possible and they were affordable and carry a variety of patterns!

•Button up/front shirts or jackets (easy on/off)

•Uggs (“Baby Clouds are what I called them) - easy to wear and comfortable outdoor shoes

•Sneakers (tennis shoes) - slip-ons are great, comfort is key!

•Socks and or Slipper Socks (soft, comfortable)

*Pajamas: (separates or one pieces, gowns) cotton, satin, or silky materials - button front, shorts or long pants

*FOOD & DRINKS:

**Be mindful that taste buds can/will change and your mouth may be sensitive, sores could form**

•Large stainless steel water bottle (i.e. Bubba or similar brand, I carried around a purple 64-72oz Bubba water bottle jug)

**You have to stay hydrated! Drink LOTS of water!**

•Reusable Straw - metal/glass

•Apple Sauce

•Saltine Crackers

•Peanut Butter Crackers

•Jello/gelatin

•Shaved Ice/Italian Ice

•Pudding

•Comfort Foods (whatever makes you feel good & full) I loved carbs! My favs were mashed potatoes, pasta, soup and also turkey sandwiches 😋

•Nothing raw (fruit & veggies NEED to be thoroughly cleaned)

•Avoid porous foods (fruits and veggies - i.e. strawberries) that aren’t easy to be cleaned

•Ginger ale

•Apple Juice (100% juice)

*Orange Juice (100% juice)

•Mints (soft or hard)

•Candy (something to combat dry mouth) - nothing spicy or sour!

•Protein shakes (fruit and or plant based)

•Ensure (or similar)

*FOR YOUR COMFORT:

•Soft blanket (fleece or Sherpa)

•Portable/Table Fan (and a mini one for your bag i.e. battery operated or hand held, accordion - “Asian/Chinese” fans were my go to)

•FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT:

•iPad/tablet (for games, reading or watching movies)

•Books (Bible, Inspirational, Self Help, Humor)

•Magazines

•Laptop

•Movies: DVDs, streaming services (Netflix, HULU, etc.)

•Music (your favorite variety): music player, stereo, Alexa or similar device

•Headphones - wireless are great, ear pods (AirPods or similar)

•Journal/Notebook with ink pen (put your thoughts, prayers, hopes & dreams on paper)

•Adult coloring books (colored pencils, markers)

•Encouraging words: greeting cards or letters from family or friends, scriptures, posters, etc.

*Keep a positive attitude, prayers, sense of humor and FAITH!! All those things got me through; as well as my strong support system. Know that you GOT THIS!! I’m rooting for you!! 🙏🏾❤️ 

~Jess

5.12.2020

(*Sidenote: Happy Birthday to my big bro!! One of the awesome members of my support system and my first best friend EVER! Love you SMS jr.!!)

[thinkingthroughpink]

View this post on Instagram

On July 28, 2012 I debuted my bald head (because of chemo for Breast Cancer) for the first time! Today is March 28, 2020 and I’m debuting my bald head for the SECOND (prayerfully) last time. NO I DON’T have cancer again 😉 Bald. Again! Well time it’s a mixture of grief (over losing Mommy) which lead to severe stress, and life changes/challenges. So basically my immune system is attacking my hair follicles, which is what occurs when you have Alopecia Areata. Yes, I have a wonder AA woman dermatologist 👌🏾 Yes, I know I shouldn’t be stressed. I know my Mom has been gone since August 2018 and I still deal with that grief x now not having a Mom and Dad (he passed in August 2003). Yes, I know God is my healer, comforter, provider, and Savior! And yes, I know this too shall pass! This time it was a little harder to stomach. Call it PTSD, or sadness, or being in my mid 30’s and dealing with another “illness”. But this is me being brave again... and YES I know I have a great God given bald head and I’m NOT ashamed to rock it!! Please I still have hot flashes and being bald is SO COOL!! 😂 And yes it’s #coronaTime and I have a compromised immune system again...so there’s that... 😷 But I TRUST God and I’m gonna be alright. Keep praying for me as I am doing the same for you, your family, our community, our country and the 🌎 🙏🏾😘💕 #mybaldisbeautiful #AlopeciaAreata #SurvivorStatus #BaldAgain (at Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-S_-vAhPHi/?igshid=162w65ux9vm9o

[thinkingthroughpink]

Christmas time 2012 @ Aunt Deborah's @pjwatty Holiday party 🎄This was only 6 years ago with my bff Eb & Mommy 😍❤ #MissYouMommy 😢💔 #MyHeartbeat #MyAngel 💕 #SurvivorStatus #BumpCancer #TeamJessica #ChristmasParty #AMerryChristmas #Memories #Thankful #Love (at Largo, Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/BruysUQhhAV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=18ntffgzcbkab