Lynn Folkman and Felipe Prieto
The Story
Lynn Folkman
Philadelphia, PA
@lynnstagram
Survivor
Twist on Cancer: My life has been completely transformed by my breast cancer diagnosis, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. From 2006-2008, I was one of my mother’s primary caregivers when she was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. She passed away in November 2008. After she passed, I thought my life would soon return to “normal.” In March 2009, I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, a moment in which my life was turned upside down.
Initially, I went from appointment to appointment, treatment to treatment, barely taking a breath to process anything. I just wanted to move through and check everything off the list. However, emotions can take a bit more time to catch up to the mind, and I believe they do catch up with you one way or another. Once I had the head space and time to think about my experience, I immersed myself in complementary therapies to assist in my healing: Acupuncture, Shiatsu, nutrition, meditation, traditional psychotherapy, art therapy, and sound healing. All of these modalities were in addition to my traditional treatment, surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, and hormonal therapy. These complimentary explorations gave me the space, tools, and time to heal. They brought me back to myself, the self that I had long ago put on a shelf.
When I was going through this experience, I felt changed from the inside out. I liken it to the visual of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. No matter how hard you try, it will not fit! The Lynn I was prior to my breast cancer experience was not the same as the Lynn after breast cancer. It provided me the opportunity to re-prioritize my life, examine how I had changed, and to implement changes into my “new life.”
I knew that I wanted to change careers slow down a bit from being a medical meeting planner. I had a desire to help and support others who were diagnosed. I had no idea what that would look like and how I would do that; I just had the seed of an idea. In 2011, I began volunteering for Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) as a Helpline volunteer. In 2012, I joined the staff of LBBC. I now train advocates across the country to support others in their community.
I knew I wanted to re-prioritize my relationships, my family, and friends. I got married in 2013. I released stressful relationships and situations. I prioritized my creative spirit and life purpose. Life, to me is about growth and learning. None of these changes happened overnight, and it took time and exploration. Time to examine what I want to adjust in my life and change, and of course, that does not remain static; it is a continuous ongoing process.
Below are some of my lessons learned and that continue to evolve:
• Sometimes, we just need to get out of our own way to heal and give ourselves the gift of time and space.
• You never know who you will meet along the way. Take the time to connect with others.
• It takes time to process all that you have experienced, and healing (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) is not a straight line. Give yourself grace and kindness.
• When you are ready, giving back and supporting others in a similar circumstance can be a gift to yourself and also support your healing.
• One of the greatest lessons that I learned that stays with me to this day is that I have a finite amount of life force energy and time. I continue to ask myself – How do I want to spend it, and who do I want to spend it with?
I would not have knowingly chosen to have a cancer diagnosis in my life, but it has brought me to find a deeper purpose in my life and awakened me to living a more conscious, meaningful life.
@lynnstagram
Survivor
Twist on Cancer: My life has been completely transformed by my breast cancer diagnosis, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. From 2006-2008, I was one of my mother’s primary caregivers when she was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. She passed away in November 2008. After she passed, I thought my life would soon return to “normal.” In March 2009, I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, a moment in which my life was turned upside down.
Initially, I went from appointment to appointment, treatment to treatment, barely taking a breath to process anything. I just wanted to move through and check everything off the list. However, emotions can take a bit more time to catch up to the mind, and I believe they do catch up with you one way or another. Once I had the head space and time to think about my experience, I immersed myself in complementary therapies to assist in my healing: Acupuncture, Shiatsu, nutrition, meditation, traditional psychotherapy, art therapy, and sound healing. All of these modalities were in addition to my traditional treatment, surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, and hormonal therapy. These complimentary explorations gave me the space, tools, and time to heal. They brought me back to myself, the self that I had long ago put on a shelf.
When I was going through this experience, I felt changed from the inside out. I liken it to the visual of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. No matter how hard you try, it will not fit! The Lynn I was prior to my breast cancer experience was not the same as the Lynn after breast cancer. It provided me the opportunity to re-prioritize my life, examine how I had changed, and to implement changes into my “new life.”
I knew that I wanted to change careers slow down a bit from being a medical meeting planner. I had a desire to help and support others who were diagnosed. I had no idea what that would look like and how I would do that; I just had the seed of an idea. In 2011, I began volunteering for Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) as a Helpline volunteer. In 2012, I joined the staff of LBBC. I now train advocates across the country to support others in their community.
I knew I wanted to re-prioritize my relationships, my family, and friends. I got married in 2013. I released stressful relationships and situations. I prioritized my creative spirit and life purpose. Life, to me is about growth and learning. None of these changes happened overnight, and it took time and exploration. Time to examine what I want to adjust in my life and change, and of course, that does not remain static; it is a continuous ongoing process.
Below are some of my lessons learned and that continue to evolve:
• Sometimes, we just need to get out of our own way to heal and give ourselves the gift of time and space.
• You never know who you will meet along the way. Take the time to connect with others.
• It takes time to process all that you have experienced, and healing (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) is not a straight line. Give yourself grace and kindness.
• When you are ready, giving back and supporting others in a similar circumstance can be a gift to yourself and also support your healing.
• One of the greatest lessons that I learned that stays with me to this day is that I have a finite amount of life force energy and time. I continue to ask myself – How do I want to spend it, and who do I want to spend it with?
I would not have knowingly chosen to have a cancer diagnosis in my life, but it has brought me to find a deeper purpose in my life and awakened me to living a more conscious, meaningful life.
Felipe Prieto
Philadelphia, PA
www.felipepprieto.com
@felipepprieto
“Resilience in Motion”
Photography
30” x 22” (with frame)
$695
Artist Statement: This has been one of the most challenging projects I’ve ever done. Full of intense stories, emotions, and growth.
I was matched with Lynn, a breast cancer survivor who has been in remission for the past 15 years. In hearing her story, I was humbled that despite going through such immense pain and suffering, she forged a path of resilience and created a life full of joy and wonderment. In the years since her initial diagnosis, Lynn has thrived. She has met the love of her life, found a job that she loves to be at, and continues to be determined to spend her time on people and things that are important to her.
Through Lynn’s story of hope and inspiration, I wanted to shoot an image of resilience and vulnerability. With the help of my mother-in-law as a model, a breast cancer survivor herself of 21 years, I set off to find a destination that could symbolize Lynn’s story.
In this photograph, I show a woman traversing a bridge, symbolizing the passage from hardship to healing. The bridge, sturdy yet delicate, mirrors her journey- an intricate balance between vulnerability and resilience. As she steps forward, each stride echoes the strength she has gathered through recovery, while the bridge itself stands as a testament to the support and transformation that has guided her path. The image captures not just a physical transformation but the profound emotional and spiritual evolution inherent in Lynn’s journey. The scene invites contemplation on the power of renewal and the beauty of perseverance.
www.felipepprieto.com
@felipepprieto
“Resilience in Motion”
Photography
30” x 22” (with frame)
$695
Artist Statement: This has been one of the most challenging projects I’ve ever done. Full of intense stories, emotions, and growth.
I was matched with Lynn, a breast cancer survivor who has been in remission for the past 15 years. In hearing her story, I was humbled that despite going through such immense pain and suffering, she forged a path of resilience and created a life full of joy and wonderment. In the years since her initial diagnosis, Lynn has thrived. She has met the love of her life, found a job that she loves to be at, and continues to be determined to spend her time on people and things that are important to her.
Through Lynn’s story of hope and inspiration, I wanted to shoot an image of resilience and vulnerability. With the help of my mother-in-law as a model, a breast cancer survivor herself of 21 years, I set off to find a destination that could symbolize Lynn’s story.
In this photograph, I show a woman traversing a bridge, symbolizing the passage from hardship to healing. The bridge, sturdy yet delicate, mirrors her journey- an intricate balance between vulnerability and resilience. As she steps forward, each stride echoes the strength she has gathered through recovery, while the bridge itself stands as a testament to the support and transformation that has guided her path. The image captures not just a physical transformation but the profound emotional and spiritual evolution inherent in Lynn’s journey. The scene invites contemplation on the power of renewal and the beauty of perseverance.