A Florida mom has proudly shown off the scars from her double mastectomy in an effort to inspire other cancer sufferers to embraces to post-surgery bodies.
Mom-of-two Kelly Garrison from Kissimmee was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer - the most aggressive and rapidly spreading form of breast cancer - back in August of 2019.
However, the 46-year-old said she was happy to lose her breasts if it gave her a chance to live.
Watch the heartwarming moment Kelly's partner proposed on Christmas Day:A mom-of-two posed topless showing off the scars from her double mastectomy to inspire other cancer sufferers to embrace their post-surgery bodies.
Kelly Garrison, 46, was happy to lose her breasts if it meant she had a chance to continue being a mother. The former Starbucks manager said: "I'd rather lose my boobs if I know it gives me an extra day to live."
The mom underwent a double mastectomy - an operation where both breasts are surgically removed - at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is now undergoing another course of chemotherapy.
Kelly said of her treatment: "With the chemo I did, I lost my hair, my nails turned black, I gained weight and I had sores in my nose.
"I took it in my stride and when my hair started to fall out - my fiance shaved my head for me."
But after losing her breasts, the mother couldn't help battle with the feeling that she had lost her femininity.
"Your body turns into something you no longer recognize in the mirror," she said, adding: "Eventually I realized this is the new me and I needed to learn to love the new person I am now."
As a means of achieving self-love, Kelly shared pictures of her scars on social media, revealing: "I wanted to share the pictures because of the insecurities women go through. You lose a part of your sexuality and womanhood when this happens."
However, due to chemotherapy leaving her immune system dangerously weak and susceptible to the novel coronavirus, Kelly, mom to Robert, 24, and Allison, 22, has been unable to see her children for fear of being infected.
Fortunately, she has still been able to enjoy socially-distanced dates with fiancé Willie Miranda, 51.
Kelly said: "With COVID going on, I hardly go out anywhere.
"When I go to the hospital, I had to go by myself and Willie would wait outside in the car.
"I have to be extra careful and there were times I couldn’t see my own kids after my surgery because of the risk.
"Willie and I still have date nights but we order our food and eat it in the car.
"It just makes your life a little more hectic because you have to stay secluded."
Kelly has also revealed that she does plan on having breast reconstruction surgery once she receives the all-clear from her doctors, but, for now, she wants to love herself as she is.
"Sometimes I hated to look at my reflection because I didn’t feel like that person," she said, adding:
"I want other women who are going through this, who are afraid and ashamed, to know they need to learn to love their new body and not hold on to the old one."
We wish Kelly and her family all the best on her recovery journey.
