Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Rice
Hi Karen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story truly begun after going through such a horrific time in my life, not once, but twice. I thought going through an abusive marriage was the worst part of my life, but I hadn’t yet encountered the iceberg yet, cancer. That is the worst thing in life beside losing a loved one. I’m a two-time cancer survivor (breast/colon) and like most, when I heard the words, first thing came to mind was “a death sentence”. However, I found out later it was truly “an awakening”, at least for me, especially when I received unexpected news again later down the line. Never thought that it would happen again in a million years, yet it did. Cancer again, but why? Why me? Why not someone else was my thought? Am I being punished for something? Will the second cancer diagnose the end? What had I done so bad in life to have this placed upon me? Yet, when I look back, I know why, and I feel truly blessed. I am still here to talk about them both. I asked myself, why was I so special that I couldn’t possibly be diagnosed with such a horrific disease; others were. I’ve heard of cancer all my life. I worked around patients with cancer for many years. One day, it was if I suddenly received an answer I truly believed and I knew that I was going to be OK.
I also realized that I was about to face a new beginning, new hope, do and see more with a whole new perspective on life. When I think of the “gift of life” that was given to me twice over, I knew that I would develop and gain strength from all my experiences. I would never say having or going through cancer is a gift; surviving it, receiving a second and third chance at life, is the gift. Yet, through it all, I did not allow the disease to take away who I am, or what I stand for. Even with all the current complications I now must live with, I still feel truly Blessed. For a while, I was not happy with the way I looked after my surgery, nor the pain I must deal with daily. One day I decided to snap out of it. I thought about the individuals, especially children, who receive an overwhelming number of different treatments during such an ordeal. They are so young and have not yet lived, as well as other individuals who are no longer among us. I also realize that there will always be someone worse off than I am, so who am I to complain.
One day during one of my many surgeries, I experienced something so real, so peaceful, that I knew I had to write it down. I turned my experience into a poem, and I called it “Peace”. I took that poem, along with many others I had written during my Breast cancer period and placed it into book form, and had it published, and I recently completed another book titled, “Cancer, Yet Cancer again, but I Will not Die, before I’m Dead.” I titled it that because that is exactly how I felt when I heard the word cancer. I thought right away that my cancer diagnose was truly a death sentence, because you are not sure of your outcome. I have learned not to blink twice at life anymore and to live it to the fullest. Through my tragedies and all that I had to endure, it all became an awakening for me, in which I received and gained all the strength and encouragement I needed to conquer.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not been a smooth road. I’ve gone thorugh so much and I’ve taken so mcuh in that thorugh ti all, Idragged my feet on many things in my life, becasue I never thought I had a true meaningful future. How could you, falling over many rocks. Yet I kept geetijng up. Day after day, I get up and place one foot in front of the other; most times not feeling weel, but I do not allow that to stop me. It’s not my time to lie down forever. So I carry on through all of my endeavors, wishes and creations, tyring to get as far as I can with them. Yes, it has been a rocky road throughout my entire life, yet I’ve cruised my way thorugh it all.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At the moment, I’m not working a fulltime job, I’m retired, but work on other endeavors, as well as performing PT work here and there. I’m an author of two books, yet working on another (childrens book). I work PT as an actor in hometown theater. I worked in many filmed movies with small roles, as well as commercials. I work PT as a 68yr old freelance model. I have Cancer Survival products within an online store, where I’m hoping to some day, open my own online store.
I’m also working on an idea-invention that I’ve drawn out, while working towards a provisional patent, as well as learning all there is to know about copywriting your idea. I’m in the early stage of reaching out to who or what industry I need to gain all the info concenring my idea; making sure it’s the correct contact, the right people, It’s an idea I came up with years ago while helping my elderly mom while she was ill. I think it will be a great access to many others who cares for the elderly.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Yes, I have. I’ve learned to be cafeful where ever you go and in whatever you do, as well as who you do it with, Covid or not. With the illnesses I now live with, I have to be careful not only due to my illnesses, but my age as well. When you live with or have lived through illnesses that has compromised immune system, you’re most likely to catch an illness or disease faster than the average individual. So, you have no chioce but to try and be careful. Covid was a hoffific disease that truly got out of hand, and it may not be the last one. It would be great if indiviuals would go through daily life as if Covid is still around. That way, we can keep most diseases down to a minimun.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zazzle.com/store/faithandsurvival_777
- Instagram: @kmimsrice
- LinkedIn: https://Linkedin.com/in/karen-rice-44053335
- Twitter: @KarenRi79930503/X-twitter
- Other: https://Pinterest.com/kmimsrice77
Image Credits
Three of the photos are from a JC Pennys sessions with a signed release, the others are from or through a family members TFP/freinds/poss future photographers. Makeup/wardrobe myself!
