Expecting Mom, Meghan Koziel’s Post-Cancer Message Inspires Hope
Wow! Wow! Wow! If anything is worth sharing, it’s this! What an amazing woman! Cancer survivor and expecting mom, Meghan Koziel shared this stunning image of her ‘in-milk’ bath with an inspiring message of hope via her Instagram page.
In the post, Meghan shared her harrowing cancer journey – the chemo, radiation, the hair loss, the boobs loss and the surgery and a body full of scars.
Meghan who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 26 feared she would never become a mom, but she’s now expecting her ‘miracle baby’, as can be seen in her photos.
Her baby daughter is due in September, 2018.
Meghan wrote:
”October 12, 2015 my life changed forever. I received the call… the unimaginable, the “you have cancer” call. I was 26 years young, just beginning my adult life. Over the past 3 years… my life has completely 360’d.
We bought a house, got married, went through Egg retrieval and made 3 embryo babies that are still frozen somewhere, I went through chemo, lost my hair, radiation, countless surgeries, lost my boobs, gained some foobs, I have a body full of scars… BUT I survived!
My life surely changed… Never in a million years if you asked my 26 year old pre-cancer self where I saw myself in 5 years would it include boobless with a cancer history.
ALSO READ: This Mum’s Fight With Cancer Inspires Hope, Even as She Dies a Day After Giving Birth to Her Twins
But today… exactly one month until our little miracle baby arrives, I can’t think of anything to be more grateful for! This is exactly the life I would have wanted in my 5 year plan! I have been given the strength and a second chance to LIVE my best life!
Sure, I have some scars, and some of my parts have been replaced like a broken Barbie doll… BUT I am alive and I cannot wait to start this next chapter of being a MOM!!!!! I am so so blessed#tanlines #dontmindmytan #breastcancer#breastcancersurvivor #mastectomy#mastectomyscars #pregnant #thebump#pregnancyandcancer #cancer #scars#thriver #pregnancy #myscarstellmystory#myscarsarebeautiful #milkbathphotography????: @jillfranz #inspire #thriver #surviver#preggo #preggobelly #pregnantbelly#pregnancydiary #maternity#maternityphotography #maternityshoot#roses #maternityphotoshoot #foobs #scars#mastectomyrecovery #plasticsurgery.”
”I look back on this past year of my crazy crazy life, and am like wow time flies! And not quite just when your having fun! The even scarier part is I don’t even remember looking this sick! I feel like it was just yesterday that I was hearing those words sitting in my mother in laws car as the doctor told me over the phone “you have cancer”, at 26 years young I was scared, I felt helpless, and I cried a lot.
I didn’t know if I would be here a year later because of how society has created a big scary stigma around the big scary C word CANCER. What I have learned this past year and a half is that the L word is actually the big scary word… LIFE throws us all many twists and turns throughout our anticipated straight journey, but how we chose to handle the bumps in the road really do pave the light to our future.
With the help, love and support of my family… I never ever ever gave up nor lost my sparkle. I was challenged a lot! But, I chose to smile atleast once a day, which in essence is fairly easy to do.
Today, I challenge YOU! Find the beauty of life. Find one thing that makes you smile or feel good about yourself. Live life and #sparkleon let your inner happiness and glow shine bright and have a magical Monday! #iamsurvivor #breastcancer#breastcancerawareness #chemo#chemovibes #beautifullybald#cancersurvivor.”
The expecting mom also educates her followers on how to perform self-examination of their breasts for early detection.
READ ALSO: Mom-Of-6, Kris Jenner On Breast Cancer Early Detection And Why Early Detection Is Important
”Did you know that majority of all breast cancers are found not from a doctor first feeling an abnormality… BUT by You or your partner. By touching those boobies, you may find that one is perfectly round, the other has a few bumps or lumps… what should you do?!
How do you know if something is there if you never feel them to begin with? Yes I’m talking about those boobies ladies and gents! Did you#feelitonthefirst ? If you notice something different, uncomfortable, or weird—take a deep breath, and call your doctor to have it looked at! DO NOT attempt an online doctorate of google!
Most often these differences are normal…however, other times they aren’t! One of the biggest advocates and motivational girls out there,@nalieagustin created an easy way for us all to remember. Every 1st of the month, you should complete a monthly breast exam? What are you looking for you ask? Breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color.
Breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling. If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor’s attention: Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin, a nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out), Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling.
I think the best place for a breast exam is in the shower, but its very simple to give them a quick squeeze to make sure your lumpless! Have a magical day, and #sparkleon.
How to perform a breast exam: Raise your right shoulder and your right arm behind your head. Using your left hand, move the pads of your fingers around your right breast gently in small circular motions covering the entire breast area and armpit.
READ ALSO: Two-Time Cancer Survivor, Emilee Garfield Inspires Hope With Her Cancer Survival Story
Use light, medium, and firm pressure. Squeeze the nipple; check for discharge and lumps. Xo#feelitonthefirst tag your friends men and women and let’s feel those boobies because it’s September 1st people!!! #megospreggo#breastcancer #mastectomy#mastectomyscars #foobs#breastreconstruction#breastreconstructionawareness#savetheboobies #thebump #pregnant#pregnantbelly #pregnantaftercancer.”
Such a beautiful story to share! Congratulations to Meghan and her family!