We are excited to introduce you to Natalie, a designer, traveler, therapist, and gyn cancer survivor from the Western North Carolina area hit hard with recent flooding.

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Teal Diva: Just to start tell me a little bit about yourself, where are you from, some hobbies you have, what makes you YOU!  

Natalie: I am from a small town called Bunn, North Carolina. At an early age, I knew I was quite different than those around me. I went to college at Appalachian State and earned my master’s at Chapel Hill. As I went through the mental health training, I realized I was unique. Now we know this “uniqueness” as neurodiversity and ADHD. It was nice to understand these things about myself and begin to repackage them as strengths and superpowers instead of deficits. With the newfound freedom to live life against the grain, I embraced my creativity and began traveling and exploring other cultures around the world. In between jobs, I would go for months at a time, getting lost (and found) in the world. During this time I made friends in Thailand, India, and Nepal. I was inspired by the fluorite and eccentric fabrics I found. I began slowly partnering with others to create. As I built closer relationships with them and their families, I saw their struggles and wanted to help. In 2010 Sabai Sabai was born. It continued as my hobby until I left my career in 2016.

TD: How did you make the transition from being a mental health therapist to a clothing designer? 

N: I am a mental health therapist who went rogue. Combined with my longtime fascination with traveling, connecting with others, and clothing design, I started a company that focuses on slow fashion, and multi-wear use designs. I design my clothing lines each year while traveling around the world to collaborate with small artisans and often feature yearly fundraisers. Sabai is the creative outlet I can pour into while balancing the burnout of an emotionally taxing job as a therapist. Sabai was born out of the need for balance and healing.

TD: What drew you to the creative world and designing?  What inspires you? 

N: When I was young, my grandmother taught me how to sew my own Barbie clothes. I thought it was the coolest thing to create with her. She taught me resourceful creativity. I have always been a creative person. I originally went to college forstudio art. I felt like an art degree was not pragmatic and shifted to social work. Here I am many years later with a balance of both.

TD: Tell us a little bit about your diagnosis.  Where did you find your strength?  What was the hardest?  Did you have a community?  

N: The timing of my diagnosis was tragic. Over the winter of 2020, I was designing my clothing line, excited to return. I felt like I had finally had a good stride with bending events and festivals. I knew which ones were successful, and worth it, and had projected great success for 2020. However, we all know how that went. Actually, at the end of March 2020, I was stuck in Vietnam while the whole world was shutting down. I was able to get the last flight out as the whole world was shutting down. It was a very intense time for me. When I returned home, I continued to experience atypical symptoms. For two years I had had abnormal discharge. Treating me for all types of conditions, none of which put a dent in the issues I was having. It only continued to get worse. I was often dismissed and not taken seriously. I continued to ask questions and was cleared by many health professionals. I continued to persist and demand they send me somewhere else. I ended up in a fertility clinic. And the doctor said they were confused as I told him my story. He asked me if I had a biopsy or transvaginal ultrasound. I had not. He told me those were the first things that he would do. I left that appointment feeling heard, understood, and hopeful. Two days later I had my diagnosis, Stage 2 endocervical cancer. I was diagnosed on June 5  in the middle of a global pandemic. I lived alone during this time, and it was an extremely difficult time in my life. My parents and siblings live far away. Most of my friends were too afraid to be around me for fear of passing something to me. I had a couple of close friends, not able to handle the diagnosis and chose to distance themselves.  My family did show up for me. They drove from far distances quarantined for 14 days prior and took turns staying off and on with me. My first hurdle was a rushed egg harvesting process. I was 38 and was so hopeful to have kids one day.  Egg harvesting was a huge success. We raised enough funds and they collected 44 eggs that are still in storage to this day. The next step was surgery and waiting on the pathology report. Surgery went well and I had a wonderful surgeon. It was interesting staying in the hospital during this time, no visitors were allowed. Only my mother could come during certain hours. Again another lonesome time. After three days, I was released and began my recovery at home. After pathology came through it showed a high LSI, intent for the cancer to travel. This dictated low-dose chemo and 28 sessions of radiation.  Through the fall and into December, I went through my treatments. It ended with a blood transfusion right before Christmas. And 2021 I recovered and regained my strength, spending a lot of time in the garden. My garden was my happy place. I got really into growing Dahlias. The perfection of nature took my mind off of all my losses. Through this time I struggled with HRT and the loss of my fertility. But in 2022 I was ready to rebound. I went back into mental health practice in 2023. I opened my first private practice and began looking for my first retail store.

 TD: How did you get back to designing after your diagnosis? 

N: After my recovery, I initially went back to work as a mental health therapist. At the time, after the covid pandemic, therapy services were in high demand. I was in a new environment, nursing homes. I was still processing my own grief and felt like I had more in common with this population. I feel like my recent battle served them well. However, my creative and exploration thirst was waiting to be quenched. 2021/2022 focused on becoming stronger so that I could travel again.

TD: When did you open your retail store and where is it located?

N: I opened my retail store in December 2023. Location is 32 A Biltmore Ave., Asheville, NC 28801. Downtown.

TD: What was that experience like? 

N: It took me almost a year to find the right location. It was a true hunt and labor of love. By the time I found the place, I was so ready. It only took me two weeks to get it prepared and opened. I was so excited! Over the next nine months, we continue to build progress. After surviving our initial winter months, which are noticeably less busy, we begin to thrive in this location! We received so much positive feedback and genuine connections in the store. People loved to hear the stories of the artisans and how the designs were brought to life! We were so successful I was contemplating shifting to a bigger store. I was super proud of our growth in such a short time! The future seemed bright!

TD: Tell us you’re experience between opening your retail store and now.

N: Things seemed bright and that life was turning around for me after years of sadness and hardships. I was working hard in both of my careers and sacrificing a lot to get ahead. I was very proud of my progress and tenacity. Now? Honestly? After the massive flooding and devastation to our area in September 2024, I feel quite defeated. I think if I had more time to regain my footing, I would be able to bounce back a little bit better but I’m struggling. Today I received another grant denial. I’m eligible but there’s not enough money to go around. It seems like a lot of the grants are going to a lottery.

TD: What can people do to help you now? 

N: People can help by shopping online with me, spreading my message, and engaging with my social media posts. Donations are always very helpful. I have a GoFundMe that would help me pay rent and staff during this difficult time. Tourism has not returned to the Ashville area and we are enduring 3 extremely slow months. Another way to help is to refer us to other clothing businesses that match our vibe and might be interested in carrying our clothing!

TD: What are your dreams for the future, for you, for your store, for your designs? 

N: I’m struggling to identify the new dream. I want to go back to what I created, but that’s not looking possible. I’d love to see Sabai thrive online and in other stores across America! I want to see my business not only survive but thrive! 

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A huge thank you to Natalie for sharing her story and passions with our Teal Diva family. If you are interested in helping her and her shop Sabai Sabai, please reach out to her via social media or through her website.

Gwen’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary.  A resilient woman from Houston, TX,  she has faced immense physical, emotional, and financial challenges, yet she continues to shine brightly as a beacon of hope.

Diagnosed with stage IVb Cervical Cancer. Gwen has battled through 3 strokes, and 2 mild heart attacks, all while leading the Roy L Jackson Community Outreach Center in memory of her late father who passed from lung cancer. The Roy L Jackson Community Outreach Center provides crucial resources and case management for cancer warriors and survivors. 

Despite facing eviction, the repossession of her car, and a period without health insurance, Gwen never lost sight of her purpose, she had to step down from a job she loved as a case manager at Harmony House Inc. but remained Unwavering in her commitment to supporting others through her non-profit. Gwen’s ability to persevere has been a source of inspiration, and her dedication has earned her 2024 Erica Frazier Stum Living Life with Cancer Award from Cervivor, a recognition she cherishes deeply.  For Gwen, this honor signifies the importance of legacy “Individuals never die  if their name is still spoken.”

Through her work with Cervivor, Gwen has also built meaningful connections with the Founder of GET in Good with Your Health, Lindsay Gullatte-Lee.  Together, they travel, host health fairs/popup shops, and advocate for cervical cancer awareness and HPV vaccines. The founder of Serenity, Courage & Wisdom, Inc. Keesha Carter, a courageous woman, who joins Lindsay and Gwen sometimes on the road. They form a powerful team, known as “We Dem Girlz ” working tirelessly to eliminate Cervical Cancer one state at a time.  Gwen’s strength, faith, and unwavering commitment continue to inspire all she encounters on her journey.

More information about Roy L Jackson Community Outreach Center can be found below

By Christy Chambers

Shannon Routh, the founder of Teal Diva, often talks about the fact that survivors/thrivers fight so hard for life. Teal Diva helps those same people LIVE life after a diagnosis.

I’m a Stage 4b metastatic cervical cancer survivor, who is currently in remission. I was composing a blog entry and wrote the phrase ‘I was given a second chance at living’. I paused and was going to correct it to “a second chance at life”. But then I thought which do I mean? Are they different?

I think they are. We have all been granted a life. It is generally determined by the length of time from life – death; your existence. But that doesn’t really give a full explanation of our time here on earth, does it? Number of years doesn’t say much about who you are/were as a person.

You see it’s all about the ‘ – ‘. What looks like a seemingly insignificant line between life and death is your legacy. I think when we are faced with the fact that we might not be here on Earth as long as we’d hoped, we begin to wonder how will we be remembered. What did I accomplish that will leave a lasting impression? Who was I? And then that leads to the big question: Who am I now?

The good news is the future isn’t written yet; you can still change your legacy.

So now that you have a little time to really live, ask yourself: Are you thriving or surviving? When we struggle in life it may seem like just coping is a victory. Survival mode is a natural default: there is a certain comfort in staying in that state because it’s familiar. But it’s not living, it’s merely existing. Thriving is facing your fears and moving past them; it’s choosing to be uncomfortable and growing from the experience. Thriving is not about the circumstances (oftentimes you can’t change those) but how you respond. A thrive mindset doesn’t happen overnight but it’s attainable.

The first step is to commit to it. It’s a choice! From there you can: get to know yourself; find things that give you joy: purge things (and sometimes people!) that don’t serve your higher purpose; etc.

Why does any of that matter?
Because if the legacy I want to leave is one of love, kindness, generosity, and joy then I must first find and cultivate those qualities in myself! Only then can I bestow them on others.

Kerri Grote, who passed from brain cancer, wrote that a shaman asked
her, “Are you running towards life or running away from death?”

It’s a big question and one we don’t normally ponder, I’d like to think that cancer shifted my perspective. Instead of being preoccupied with death, I hope I am running full tilt towards life. A life I am creating as I go, fearlessly embracing every moment and gleaning every lesson I can.
Who am I? A cervivor, thriver, and an optimist “who sees the world through the eyes of possibility.” That’s the legacy I want to leave.

Come with me – let’s live our dash!

By Lindsay Gullatte-Lee 
Get In Good With Your Health

At the age of 44, I was diagnosed with Stage IIIC Cervical Cancer, a moment that changed the trajectory of my life. The diagnosis came as a shock, not only because of the severity but because, like many others, I wasn’t fully aware of the risks associated with cervical cancer or the fact that it could be prevented. I quickly realized I wasn’t alone in my lack of knowledge. Many people, especially within underserved communities, were unaware of HPV (Human Papillomavirus) or the ways it could lead to cervical cancer. It became my mission to change that, and that’s how I transformed from a patient to a passionate patient advocate.

I never wanted anyone else to go through the isolation and fear I experienced. I wanted to ensure that people, especially in communities of color, were informed about the HPV vaccine and cervical cancer prevention, and most importantly, had access to resources that could change their health outcomes. This led to the creation of my nonprofit, Get In Good With Your Health. Through health fairs, pop-up shops, and other community outreach programs, we aim to bring awareness to cervical cancer prevention and the importance of the HPV vaccination, while also highlighting local businesses that contribute to healthier communities and minds.

One of the most transformative moments in my journey was when I met Gwen a Stage IV Cancer Thriver at a Cervivor event, specifically at the Communities of Color Retreat. Gwen, a powerhouse in the world of nonprofit work, had already established the Roy L. Jackson Community Outreach Center in memory of her father. She resonated with my vision and decided to come on board to partner with me in the fight for cervical cancer awareness. Together, we have been traveling from state to state, providing crucial resources, holding workshops, and educating communities on the importance of prevention, early detection, and treatment.

But our work doesn’t stop there. In addition to our advocacy and outreach efforts, my organization also collects items for comfort packages that we donate to patients currently undergoing treatment. It’s a small gesture, but it’s one that brings hope and comfort to those in the midst of their battle. The strength and resilience of cancer patients inspire me every day, and I am determined to ensure that no one has to face their journey alone.

I am committed to taking this message nationwide—hoping to reach all 50 states and make a tangible difference in people’s lives. I want everyone to know that cervical cancer is preventable, and resources are available to help.

We can’t do it alone, though. If you’re interested in supporting the mission to raise awareness and help those impacted by cervical cancer, please consider donating to either of our organizations. Your donation will help fund educational resources, health fairs, and comfort packages for patients in need.

To donate or learn more, please reach out via email at:

– *Get In Good With Your Health*: getingoodwithyourhealth01@gmail.com

– *Roy L. Jackson Community Outreach Center*: rljcommunityoc@gmail.com

Together, we can create a world where no one has to face cervical cancer without support and knowledge. Thank you for joining us on this life-saving journey.

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Teal Diva by the Numbers

Cultivating strength through meaningful connections that extend into the communities we serve.

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There’s still time and there’s still a need

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We are EXCITED for our Charlotte 5K May 3, 2025!  All we need is you!  We are looking for walkers, runners, sponsors, vendors, and volunteers. 

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Upcoming Teal Diva Volunteer Opportunities

Would you like to give back to Teal Diva with your time and talents? We have some upcoming community events where we need a few volunteers to stand at a Teal Diva table and pass out information and tell people all the fantastic things that Teal Diva is doing in the GYN cancer survivor community! Grab a friend, volunteer for a few hours! There are many ways to support a non-profit, and volunteering is one anyone can do! Interested?

Email our volunteer coordinator at volunteer@tealdiva.org

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Shannon Routh

In December 2009, I was receiving chemotherapy and it was just before Christmas. I remember someone walking around handing out gifts and how sweet the gesture was.  It was all through a friend I had met, Sharon Grammer, and her organization, Fighting Cancer Inc. During the twelve days of Christmas, she created an initiative called Project Elf.  Various people/groups would volunteer for different days and pass out snacks and small gifts to anyone receiving any type of treatment during the twelve days of Christmas. In 2010, I asked how we could help and we have tried to help every year since then.  Mostly it has been me and my husband, but then friends would also want to come along and this year, the Teal Diva board even got in on the fun!

I volunteer with Project Elf every year because I know how it feels to be on the receiving end.  The holidays are tough. And a cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy radiation…it is all hard enough…now throw in the holidays too. It is an emotional roller coaster. We wish to bring a little joy and even offer hope to those who, like me, are at the hospital during the holidays.  And if you know JJ and I, you know we love to bring in a bit of fun with whatever we do, and this is no exception. There have been years when he even dressed as Elf on the Shelf!

This is an amazing project to be a part of year after year.  Thank you to everyone who makes this moment happen for so many, we are truly honored to be a part of it.

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/project-elf-spreads-cheer-those-spending-christmas-week-hospital/BA4WS5RP65BWLFNRTXXHSUICI4

Today on the Teal Diva blog we are highlighting a little behind the scenes! Teal Diva has a dedicated Board of Directors who volunteer their time to work on many different commitments that support Teal Diva and our survivor community. We sat down with Jasmine, one of our new board members to learn a little more about her and what led her to serve Teal Diva.  

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Teal Diva: What is your connection to Teal Diva? 

Jasmine: I was first introduced to Teal Diva many years ago, through my mom, who is an ovarian cancer survivor. 

TD: Why did you decide you wanted to be a member of the Teal Diva board? 

J: I wanted to find a way to give back to my community. When Shannon made a social media post that she needed board members, it seemed like a perfect opportunity for me to serve and give back to an organization that’s personal to me. 

TD: How long have you served on the Teal Diva board? 

J: About 4 months now.

TD: What position/committees are you serving Teal Diva through? 

J: I serve as a member of the fundraising committee and whatever else is needed.

TD: What is one thing you’re looking forward to in 2025 for Teal Diva? 

J: I am most looking forward to the growth of the organization! More awareness, ongoing fundraising, and participating in a ‘Yes Girl!’ project.

TD: What is one goal you have for Teal Diva? 

J: A personal goal would be to do my part to get more minority women involved with the organization. Teal Diva is so inclusive and I would love for that to be shown outwardly in our presence. 

TD: What would you say to anyone who wants to donate to Teal Diva?

J: Just do it. We are boots on the ground, helping the women in our community. It could be your neighbor, your barista, your child’s teacher, etc. We are there to help the women who need it the most.

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Thank you so much Jasmine, we are thrilled to have you and your talents behind Teal Diva. If you are interested in more behind the scenes, or if you feel the call to volunteer for any of our programs and positions, please connect with us!

As you could guess, we’re all a little teal-obsessed here at TEAL Diva! But as you pull out your fall decorations take a moment to think before you decorate. Do you know that a teal pumpkin has a pretty significant meaning, and it has nothing to do with ovarian cancer?

The Teal Pumpkin Project is a worldwide moment to create a safer and happier Halloween for all kids. Imagine not feeling comfortable going trick or treating because those treats could make you sick. The Teal Pumpkin Project was created by a local awareness activity run by the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee (FACET). Its main goal is to make people aware of the risks that this childhood pastime could have on a child with a mild to life-threatening food allergy. Placing teal pumpkins on your porch during trick or treating means you have non-food treats for any little ghosts or goblins to enjoy.

Some suggestions for non-food treats:
Glow Sticks
Stickers
Spider Rings
Bouncy Balls
Bubbles
Spooky Erasers
Whistles
Finger Puppets
Temporary Tattoos

We would love for you to join us in placing teal pumpkins out on our porches and have non-food treats ready on October 31 to support the Teal Pumpkin Project.

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We’re back at it with our 4th blog in our September blog series. We’re finishing the month strong with more positives, more negatives, more advice, more connection, and more hope. If you have been encouraged by our blog series this month or if you want to find more connection with Teal Diva, please reach out – we are sisterhood waiting for you!

(email erin@tealdiva.org to get connected)

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We know that a cancer diagnosis can bring on so many emotions. The first emotion we think of is the negative emotion, but we do try to do our best to see the good in everywhere we look. We have gathered another group of survivors to share, with you, some positive moments, some negative moments, and some advice. We hope this offers you a connection – you are not alone in this fight, we are right beside you, fighting for you and fighting with you.

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Thank you, thank you, thank you for the support we’ve seen this first week of gyn and ovarian cancer awareness month! We’re back again with another group of survivors, another group of positives, negatives and bits of advice. Read, share, find community.

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Welcome to our month, the month of courage, the month of connecting, the month of sisterhood. September is both gynecologic cancer awareness month and ovarian cancer awareness month. We hope to inspire you and give you hope throughout these next 30 days. Teal Diva has collected both a positive and a negative moment, thought, memory, happening; in a post-cancer diagnosis life, and a piece of advice from our fellow survivor sisters. These are their thoughts, and will be their thoughts all month long – we’re so honored they shared them with us and now we get to share them with you. So, we invite you – open up the curtains, let the light shine in, breathe the fresh air, and know you are not alone, there is hope, there is support, and HERE is sisterhood!

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by Christy Chambers
 

Christine Schaefer –  A Resilient, But Reluctant, Advocate

I haven’t met Christine in person. This isn’t uncommon in this post-Covid era of Zoom and social media. We spoke to each other as she commuted home after work recently. Her warm voice and willingness to share her story belie the heartbreak she has lived through. 

As we talked I was struck by her ability to embrace her life in total, “today we’re talking about the ugly parts of my life, but there are beautiful things in my life too.”  She assured me that this had not always been the case. You see Christine was sexually abused and trafficked as a child. Her experience left her with fear, shame, complex PTSD, and an understandable reluctance to keep track of her gynecological health. She became very skilled at going through life, masking her emotions; she didn’t cry or laugh. She was highly functioning but not truly living. 

She began therapy in her twenties and was committed to trying to heal her trauma. ‘But even when you are deeply involved in the healing process there is always a feeling that all your progress could be wiped out in an instant.’ She intentionally built a small life, keeping relationships beyond immediate family to a minimum. 

In 2021 she began to experience abnormal bleeding. She ignored it. It happened again. She ignored it. Then in the winter of 2021, she had an episode where she experienced such extreme blood loss that an ambulance would have been warranted but, instead Christine drove herself to the ER where she received several transfusions.

After a multitude of tests and exams, she was told she had Stage 3 Endometrial Cancer. The doctor offered her no solutions, suggested she get her affairs in order, and estimated she had approximately two years left to live. Immediately Christine began to relieve her past trauma. “I was so disconnected from myself that I didn’t cry. I called my boss and told him I wouldn’t be coming to work that day and that I had cancer. I went straight home sat down in my chair and next thing I knew seven hours had passed. I was still in my coat still sitting in my chair and staring at the wall. And then Frieda called.”

Unbeknownst to Christine her boss had contacted Frieda Weeks, the president of Hope for Heather, an ovarian cancer awareness group. He asked if she would call Christine and help connect her with support and resources. Frieda called; and she talked Christine through the next few hours, instructing her to take off her coat, to turn on the lights, to eat, etc. Most importantly Frieda offered hope.

During her active treatment, Christine avoided ‘cancer everything’ in an effort to calm her complex PTSD and prevent herself from reliving her childhood trauma. After she received her NED (no evidence of disease report) she came to a very humbling realization: she had spent her years of therapy running away from her trauma instead of embracing her life experience. She had been going through the motions of healing but hadn’t actually allowed herself to do so. She describes it as a sort of cockiness. Her experience with cancer led her to a spiritual awakening that caused her to ‘speak truth to herself.’ 

Here are a few of the actions she took on her path to reclaiming her truth:

1. She made an effort to join both in-person and online cancer support groups. Christine felt that if she could authentically share her story she may be of service to someone else. That could be through a conversation in those groups, in person, or online.

2. She went back to the physician who diagnosed her for an honest discussion. She explained that as an abuse survivor, gynecological exams are traumatizing; and that her discomfort during the process was due to her reliving her abuse. Christine explained that she knew that many doctors are trained to look for signs of sexual abuse, but few are adequately trained to deal with abuse survivors. The physician was genuinely affected by this meeting and appreciated the discussion. 

3. Today she is sharing her story PUBLICLY. She believes ‘God will place people in her path’ who will benefit from her knowledge.

Nowadays she lives her life more transparently. She is more willing to share her past because she no longer views it with fear or shame; instead, it is a testament to her resilience. She has found a way to balance the scales of her experience and the darkness she survived, to live her life in a truly authentic way. This has helped the people around her know how to love her better and in turn, she loves herself better. She believes ‘the dark moments bring us perspective and lead us to light.’ She desires to leave the world a better place and to help others ‘love themselves back to life.

To read more stories of survival head over to the Teal Diva Blog.

Looking for community, we’d love to hear from you.

There are many things that connect cancer survivors, especially gyn cancer survivors. Chemo, doctor appointments, mental hurdles, and scars. We are honored to share with you on this National Bikini Day. Two AH-mazing women share their scar stories with us and show off what it means to be on the journey of embracing a post-surgery body and proving that YOU are beautiful. We know their stories will encourage you wherever you are in your journey and we are proud to stand with these ladies in our teal sisterhood.

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Teal Diva : Tell us a little about yourself and your scar journey.

Relonda : Hello my name is Relonda and I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer on November 5, 2013, two days before my 50th birthday. The infamous scars have been a journey of their own. Every day since my March 31, 2014 surgery, I have avoided showing my scars to anyone. Many days, I avoid looking at them and when I do look some days I cry. It’s a bittersweet reminder that I haven’t allowed anyone to see not even my husband. I kept them hidden until now. Today, I see power in my scars. Power to overcome a cancer diagnosis. Power to embrace the beauty of my scars. Power to overcome the pain endured during the fight. Power to be resilient post-cancer. Power to love myself. Power in any battle. Power in knowing I beat the hell out of Ovarian Cancer. 

Teal Diva : Was it easy to embrace your scar? 

Relonda : In transparency, it was not easy to embrace my scars. Until this project, I had not embraced my scars. It has been hard to look at although I see them every day. It’s a constant reminder that I battled cancer. When I get out of the shower, I glance at my scars and tell myself, wow, you really fought cancer. 

Teal Diva : How have you embraced your scar? 

Relonda : Since agreeing to participate in this project, I have embraced my scars. It’s been 8 years and in the last month, I see my scars in a new light. I’ve eliminated feeling sad about my scars. I see them as a reminder that I fought and beat Ovarian Cancer. My scars are a reminder that I am a Teal Testimony. This is a reminder that these battle wounds are proof of a battle won. 

Teal Diva : What would you say to other cancer survivors to encourage them to embrace their scars? 

Relonda : I would like other cancer survivors to embrace their scars early on. See them as signs of their strength, resilience, and their fight. 

Teal Diva : Does your scar encourage you in any way?

Relonda : My scars encourage me to keep thriving in my survivorship. 

Teal Diva : Any advice for being body-positive post-surgery?

Relonda : When we look at our bodies, we want the “perfect” body image defined by what society sets a standard for. But what is the “perfect” body image? There is no “perfect” body image. We have to accept our bodies and all the imperfections. Imperfections are beautiful and perfect in their own way. We have to embrace our uniqueness and speak positively about the body we were blessed to have. It’s learning to accept the beauty in our bodies. To give ourselves positive affirmations about our bodies. I do this every morning and since this project, I have begun adding affirmations about my scars. I repeat several times, “I love my scars! I embrace my scars! My scars are my superpower!!” I also say, “Imperfections are simply perfections with a twist” – Relonda 

Teal Diva : Anything else you’d like to share with our teal sisterhood? 

Relonda : Doing this project took me completely out of my comfort zone. A swimsuit photo about something I’ve avoided for 8 years. I’ve been able to look every day without getting sad. I have been able to conquer the sadness and replace it with acceptance. I now feel empowered and see the scars as a strength.

You can connect with Rolanda on her socials, give her a follow and some love for truly being a teal warrior!

Facebook: R Hancock McGhee Msw 

Instagram: Wonder.Woman.Ree

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Teal Diva : Tell us a little about yourself and your scar journey.

Vernelia McKnight : I’m Vernelia McKnight and my ovarian cancer journey started on January 2, 2019. After three rounds of chemo and a radical hysterectomy, my scar is a constant reminder that I’m just getting started. Three years later, my survivorship made me determined to be victorious in educating and advocating for all cancer thrivers through empowerment. I serve as an advocate in two capacities: Board of Advocate for the Stephenson Cancer Center and an Advocate Leader for Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. 

Teal Diva : Was it easy to embrace your scar?

Vernelia : Absolutely not! I felt like a ripped bag of potato chips but I knew it must be done for me to survive. 

Teal Diva : How have you embraced your scar?

Vernelia : I’ve learned to accept my scar as a process of healing and recovery. A scar is something we can live with let alone cancer. 

Teal Diva : What would you say to other cancer survivors to encourage them to embrace their scars?

Vernelia : In every battle, there are wounds and scars but embrace your journey with pride and courage. 

Teal Diva : Does your scar encourage you in any way?

Vernelia : Yes my scar is a daily reminder for me to take care of myself and put me at the top of the list but most importantly appreciate life. 

Teal Diva : Any advice for being body-positive post-surgery?

Vernelia : Don’t allow society to dictate how a person should look. We are all shaped differently and made in a beautiful image that makes us unique. 

Teal Diva : Anything else you’d like to share with our teal sisterhood? 

Vernelia : My passion for sharing my cancer journey inspired me to become a vlogger that provides insightful, impactful, and intentional information to assist anyone in life. I’m passionate about building Share The Tea with V with hopes of building a community of resources and networking. 

You can connect with Vernelia on her socials

Instagram – Share the Tea with V

YouTube – Share the Tea with V

Facebook – Share the Tea with V 

As we continue our celebration of National Cancer Survivors Month and Pride Month, we wanted to bring you a blog from one of our members who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer as a young adult. Camille offers a unique perspective and wants her experience to inform others. She uses her survivorship and social media platform to advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the gynecological cancer space.

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It was like any other Tuesday… After my last class, I was walking in the hallway with my best friend getting ready for cheerleading and gymnastics practice. Suddenly, everything was different. I felt a foreign excruciating pain in my stomach, I felt dizzy, and the next thing I knew, I went into the bathroom and threw up. This pain was unlike anything I had ever felt. I had painful periods since my very first one at the end of the fourth grade, but this pain had a mind of its own. My best friend called my mom who rushed over to me and drove me to my primary care physician. During the drive, I could not stop moving. Pain interrupted any opportunity that I had to sit still, fasten a seat belt, or take a breath without it being accompanied by a moan for help. Upon arriving at the doctor, and explaining my symptoms, my doctor pressed his boulders for hands on my stomach and quickly gave the diagnosis of a bladder infection. As my mom and I drove home, she tried to assure me in between every moan that I would be okay once the medicine that the doctor prescribed kicked in… little did she know, that she and that doctor were very wrong. I’m honestly not sure how long I waited for the medicine to work before I said to my mom, “Mommy I’ve never had a bladder infection before, but it can’t possibly be this bad. Take me to the hospital.” 

I will never forget how cold that hospital was. I will never forget how loud those monitor beeps were. I will also never forget just how arrogantly my pain laughed at the Dilaudid, Morphine, and Toradol that I was given that night. The pain that night changed my life. I received my first pelvic exam that night, and it was during that exam, I finally felt some relief. I then experienced my first ultrasound. To everyone’s surprise, tumors were found on my ovaries. The one on my right ovary was the size of a golf ball, and the one on my left ovary was the size of a grapefruit. A few days later my first surgery ever was scheduled to remove the tumors. When I woke from surgery, I learned that the left tumor had completely taken over my ovary, leaving me without a left ovary or left Fallopian tube. The tumor was kind enough to leave me a partial ovary; not too nice though. After my biopsy came back, I heard the word “cancer” for the first time in my life. While I remember my family deliberating with the doctors at this long beautiful wooden table about my plan of care, I don’t remember much of anything besides sitting at the head of the table fighting with every ounce in me to not cry in front of them. We were told that I had two kinds of tumors, a germ cell and a teratoma. It was decided that chemotherapy was the best next step. During this course of action, I would be in the hospital for one week, getting treatment daily, and out for two weeks while I could continue going to school. Stage 1 ovarian cancer. 

That was my routine for three months, chemo while hospitalized for a week, the side effects of chemo and teenage angst for two weeks. In the course of a week, I went from “Cammie the varsity cheerleader” to “Cammie the girl with the plague called cancer”. It felt like there wasn’t a person in my life that understood what I was going through. While in the hospital my doctors felt cold. Very rarely did they have a genuine conversation with me. They knew nothing about me. They didn’t know that my favorite color was teal (how ironic), or even that the most important thing in my life was cheerleading. They didn’t know that I wished so badly for my brother to be there in the hospital with me but that he was at college in another state. To sixteen-year-old me, they didn’t care. This felt so strange to me especially because I was on a pediatric oncology unit. When you see kids with cancer in movies the doctors always seemed so personable. I expected to have a Dr. Arizona Robbins, instead I had a Dr. Christina Chen (season 1).  I had visitors almost every day between my family and a few friends. The only time I was truly alone was at night when I was comforted by the hospital monitors and my barf bucket. 

I’ve been cancer-free since March 13, 2006, and while I’m grateful for that, my journey has been nothing short of uncomfortable. Remember that right partial ovary that I mentioned? I’ve had countless painful tumors and fibroids repeatedly form on it over the years; that and scar tissue. I’ve been on every form of birth control to try to treat the pain, including Lupron, where I was not only put in a medically induced menopausal state, and I was always in bed for days with migraines. Finally, in 2018 my gynecologist asked me to consider having a hysterectomy. To be honest, I hadn’t given much thought to if I wanted children or not, instead I just quietly smiled through years when people gave me their “assurance” stating, “at least you can still have kids” when they heard my story. At 28 I was asked if I wanted children for the first time, and it was so comforting to be prompted to think about it. I quickly realized that I didn’t want children, that I never wanted them, and that surgery was the best option for me to have a good quality of life. My gynecologist was amazing. She included my now spouse in all of her correspondents, she made it a point to know who my spouse was and more than just her name. She walked me through the process of what would happen surgically, how my body would change after, and kept in touch with me ongoingly, even after the scheduled surgical follow-ups. At 28, I finally felt free. I finally felt what it was like to live without pain. 

I’m 34 now. I am still cancer-free. I am still pain-free. I am still living a life of quality; the only difference is now, I’m just a little more sweaty ☺