My Story

Cancer is scary. The treatment is scary. No one truly understands this journey unless you go through it yourself. I have and I want to share with you my story and why I created Dhremo. 

In June of 2014 I received the unexpected and terrifying news that I had stage II breast cancer. I was 38, had a 3 year old son. I could not have been more shocked. The more I researched who survives this deadly disease, the more I realized the importance of my mental perspective. Even my Oncologist (who was all about research, evidence and numbers) said to me that trusting my treatment was ultimately more important than which treatment I was given. That made me pause. 

My mental perspective was the one part of cancer I had control over, and I needed to figure out a way to empower and focus my mind. 

I knew this was going to be challenging when I took a tour of the hospital’s infusion center. It was cold, sterile, and lacked a feeling of healing, life or vitality. The nurses were wearing rubber gloves to handle the medication. Even the word “Chemo” sounded like chemicals.  Even the IV bags were adorned with caution stickers!  How was I going to be okay with sitting in this space for hours at a time with this terrifying substance pumping through my bloodstream?  Where would my mind be? My mental perspective was the one part of treatment I had control over, and I needed to figure out a way to empower and focus my mind. 

"I was determined to not focus on the fear, but instead see this journey through cancer treatment as an opportunity to grow, to let go of what was not serving me, and to focus on love and wellness."

One of the greatest gifts I was given leading up to the start of my treatment was a chat with my dear friend Heather (yes you will now find her on the contact page working with me!), who is  also a nurse and yoga teacher. In listening to my fears, she suggested I imagine the chemo infusions to be something else entirely– like light or love. Well, that’s all it took. Not only would I imagine it to be so, I would re-label the chemo entirely! As an artist and sculptor, I realized I had the power to create a new space and a new mindset. I could infuse myself with whatever I wanted to dream up. This would not be “Chemo-therapy” this was going to be “Dhremo-therapy;” and it certainly didn’t have to be a nightmare. 

I began designing decals based on old apothecary medical labels and printing them on my home printer, for each round of chemo. I actually looked forward to infusion days! It became a healing meditation, imagining these substances coursing through my body. I would laugh with the nurses about how I was feeling giddy from my “Happiness Formula”, or already feeling more energy from the “Vitality Mixture”. They would come by and check on my progress with my “Hope Serum”, and prepare a “Clarity Infusion” for me. I soon began to see this was not just affecting me in a positive way, but also my loved ones, the nurses, and my fellow patients (I always brought extra to share).  I absolutely believe the mindfulness, and positive attitude these helped me to maintain during my treatment were much of the reason I did so well and am now in remission. 

 I’m so pleased to share these with you. My hope is that these will be “re-MIND-ers” to help you focus on the light that is guiding you through this journey. I believe in miracles and I believe you can be one too. Wishing you the best in your treatment, and hope you can see the light hiding in the shadows

MARSHA

Founder, Mom, Artist, and Cancer Survivor