Today we are speaking with Jearlean Taylor about her rare cancer diagnosis at the tender age of 3 years old and how she turned her pain into a purpose as she speaks to women and men all over the world to inspire them to find their passion in life.
BIO
I am Jearlean from Baltimore, MD. I am a Christian, cancer survivor, double ostomate, fashion model, author, public speaker, entrepreneur, and ostomy advocate.
My life has had some unexpected outcomes. I guess you can say “life” happened. At the tender age of 3 years old I developed a rare form of cancer (Rhabdomyosarcoma). It was because of the location of the tumors and treatments I had to undergo ostomy surgery. Ostomy surgery of the bowel is an operation that changes the way intestinal contents leave your body when part or all of your bowel is diseased, injured, or missing. During ostomy surgery of the bowel, surgeons connect the large or small intestine to the skin on the outside of your abdomen. As a result, I was left with two permanent ostomy bags (colostomy & urostomy) www.ostomy.org .
I was cancer free a year after my diagnosis and treatments, but 2 ostomy bags. How would I cope? How would I deal with what life had dealt me? Growing up with (2) ostomy no one could imagine my difficulties, low self-esteem, insecurities, too many surgeries (I lost count), and my problem with loving me. My life was a journey of unexpected circumstances. I suffered with low self-esteem, pity, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. Through my journey and faith in God, I discovered who I could be in spite of my medical circumstances. My insecurities did not change overnight, but I learned to be a survivor.
I am using my voice through my cancer survivorship and ostomy journey through public speaking, appearances, educating, and communicating that your life is not over because you have life circumstances.
I used to say, why me?’ Why cancer, why ostomy bags? Now I say, ‘why not me?’ Now, T.V., radio, billboards, magazines, commercials, and making a difference.
WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
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Jearlean Taylor
Be all you can be and more
