A few weeks ago, I posted a link on my Facebook profile to the SCAR Project. I’ve been following David Jay’s project for months, and I’m in awe of his work and especially of this project. I didn’t expect a comment on the post from Kathy, saying that she’d like photos like that done while I was doing her journey photos.
I’m completely in awe of Kathy’s strength.

I was going to write her story, but when I edited the images this morning, I knew that my words would not do them justice at all… so I asked to write something for today’s blog post.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I took it quite calmly until my thoughts ran away with me, then I got scared. I had to mentally pull myself together and work it through slowly.
I decided I had two options. One, let the cancer rule me and destroy me mentally or two, confront it and decide to fight. I took option two I decided to fight, and I am still fighting.
So I accepted that I have breast cancer and made a decision to take it one day at a time that was the only way this would work for me. I phoned my children and told them.  The only one I am really worried about is my youngest child as he is in Canada and he has no family support there.
I decided to have a full mastectomy. Surgery went well and I was ready to accept whatever was behind those bandages, and I was amazed how neat the scar is. It has not bothered me one bit to have the breast removed.
Chemo was another story not the most pleasant thing to go through, but I did it and I’m proud of myself. I still have lots of treatments to go through, and I am taking it one day at a time. Yes, I did have very bad days during the chemo where I really thought is it worth all this and then I remember that I am a fighter!!
And still now with the treatment, but I am living for today and for that I am so grateful. I asked Jeanette to do the scar shoot as I am proud of my scar and I am a survivor… why not show it.

About the photos: My only thoughts while travelling down to Cape Town, were that I needed to find a location that would make the story work. I knew that the vineyards used for her other photoshoot would be too pretty. I didn’t want any background that detracted from her.
And we found the perfect spot. I used their empty pool in the end. It’s perfect that the mottled surface looks scarred, and that Kathy’s body looks perfect against the scarred surface, apart from the scar line and the radiation marks.

I salute her, and really hope that I’ve done her story justice!

And we both hope that these photos somehow heal and help women in South Africa and across the world as they also fight breast cancer.