From Adversity to Art: My Journey in Jewelry Design and Rediscovering My "Why"
My story begins in November of 2015, when I was first diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It’s impossible to describe the whirlwind of emotions that follow a diagnosis like that, but I found solace in one thing: I went into remission almost immediately. For a moment, I breathed easy. But the calm was short-lived. Twenty-three months later, just a day before Thanksgiving in November 2017, the leukemia came roaring back. The timing couldn’t have been more painful. While most people were preparing for a holiday of gratitude and togetherness, I was bracing for a new fight.
In December 2017, I began chemotherapy once again, this time to prepare for the fight of my life—a bone marrow transplant. On April 6, 2018, that life-saving transplant finally happened, and it was a moment of both physical and emotional rebirth. My sister, my angel on earth, was my donor. She wasn’t just giving me a second chance at life; she was giving me time, a priceless gift that cancer taught me to treasure.
Cancer forces you to reevaluate everything. It teaches you that time isn’t just precious—it’s fleeting. You learn that your time is just as valuable as everyone else’s, and it’s okay to demand what you deserve because life is far too short to settle for less. My battle with AML, and the rollercoaster of emotions that came with it, catapulted me into a space of deep reflection. I found myself pivoting, not only in how I lived my life but also in how I expressed myself creatively. The journey also solidified my “why”—the reasons that push me forward. My “why” is my mom, my sister (my lifesaver), and now my late aunt, who passed away just one day before her 79th birthday on January 10, 2024. These women, their love, and their strength are the foundation of everything I do.
During the long months of isolation after my transplant, when my immune system was as fragile as glass, I was forced to be sequestered from the world, a prisoner in my own home, avoiding germs, illnesses, and even a simple cold. It was during that time that a close friend brought me a gift that reignited an old flame—an elegant, simple rose quartz bracelet that he had personally created. Rose quartz, the stone of unconditional love, carried a deeper meaning for me at that moment. That bracelet not only symbolized love but it sparked a passion I had long forgotten.
I had attempted jewelry making a decade prior with little success, but that one piece of beaded art brought everything rushing back. From that point on, I immersed myself in the craft. By January 2020, I was in full creative mode, mastering techniques from elastic bracelets to wire-wrapping, macrame, and more. Each bead I threaded was a testament to my journey, each knot a symbol of resilience.
Crystals gave me a form of hope, inspiration, passion and continued faith to fight for what i deserve...To live a long, healthy and prosperous life. My goal is to create and distribute bracelets for fellow cancer patients like myself. Each crystal holds a purpose, a meaning, and if I can inspire just one patient to "continue to fight," it would further feed my soul's purpose (to bring love, hope, faith. intention and support to all those that I cross paths with.
This journey—through cancer, through healing, through rediscovering my passion—has shaped who I am today. Jewelry design has become more than just an art form for me; it’s a way to express my life’s challenges and triumphs. Every piece I create tells a story, and every crystal holds a power that resonates with the wearer.
My “why” is clear: it’s my love for life, for my family, for those who have stood by me and those who inspire me daily. As I continue to design, I do so with the knowledge that each piece is not just a beautiful accessory but a symbol of strength, love, and the preciousness of time.
Join me on this journey of creativity, healing, and inspiration. I hope my designs, like the people who have shaped my life, will resonate with you in ways you never expected.