As you know the 2010 “To Have & To Hold” breast cancer photo shoot is set into motion. Throughout the year I will be posting stories from breast cancer survivors. If you are a breast cancer survivor and would like to share your story in a published book in which 100% of the net proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation click here.

Let me introduce you to Christel.

The title hit from Smash Mouth, Everyday Superhero is what my story is all about.  My name is Christel Bethea and I’m proud to say I’m a one year breast cancer survivor.  My story is unique because I went against my doctor’s advice to have a benign tumor removed.  The extraction of this foreign object provided me piece of mind and ease that I acted on my early detection instincts.  During my post operation visit, I received the most shocking news of my entire life; the results revealed malignant cancer cells.  How was I going to tell my husband and 2 young active boys that Mommy now has cancer?   As we informed all of my family and friends, I received the same feedback:  “How is this possible?  You are so healthy, work out everyday, and eat wholesome foods.”  I guess this goes to show that cancer has no biases or health specific preferences.

On April 24^th 2008, I had a mastectomy on my left breast and the removal of 23 lymph nodes.   I choose to have the Tram Flap procedure which entailed a complete breast reconstruction from the fat cells of my stomach.  My mobility returned within the first two weeks. As a matter of fact, I completed the Susan G Komen 5k Breast Cancer Walk on May 10; 18 days after the initial surgery.  Slowly I began adding all the work-out routines I was accustomed to prior to my cancer diagnosis.  I went to my favorite room in the house (work out room) and began running on my trend mill, climbing my stair master, and working out on my elliptical.  Mentally and physically I was a different person.  I had survived cancer with a reminder of a newly reconstructed breast that was now part of my overall femininity.

My road to recovery began with my Oncologist ordering a sequence of tests to include CT/Bone Scan and MRI’s to verify that all the cancer had been identified.  On May 26^th, my husband and I were called in to review the results.  The doctor informed us that the tests results were inconclusive; however, there was a trace of cancer on my Adrenal gland that if positive, would be terminal.  I could not believe what was being said.  I thought I was in the wrong room and this diagnosis was for someone else.  He then informed me that a PET scan would be needed to determine this new found cancer cell.  It would take one week to get the results.  All I could think was that I was going to die and that I needed to go home to get my family affairs in order.

Monday, June 2^nd, was one of the best days of my life.  My Oncologist called informing us that the results of the PET scan were conclusive and the adrenal gland did not contain cancer cells.  All I could remember was that I was going to LIVE and from that day forward my new journey began.

Prior to the very first chemo treatment, I sat with my Oncologist to learn about the different changes that would take place in my body as the result of this “poison” used to destroy the cancer cells.  The main side effect would be overall body fatigue and muscle and joint achiness.  My doctor asked me if I worked out on a regular basis as exercise would aid in sustaining some of the body discomfort.  I told him that I was an avid exercise junky in which he responded “that is music to my ears.”

My doctor was correct about the body aches and joint pain.  Three days after my first chemo treatment (June 5^th), I felt muscle fatigue and joint tenderness.  Despite my body’s reaction, I decided to go for a run on my treadmill.  Amazingly enough, the pain went away within minutes.  Exercising made me feel rejuvenated, despite all the poisons and toxins that were in my body destroying any possible trace of cancer.

It became apparent to me that walking for the cure had become contagious.  On July 15^th, I registered for the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer 3 day walk (60 mile) in Atlanta, GA being held on October 24-26. During the walk, I was standing in line to use the restroom, when a lady named Rachel turned toward me and asked how long I was a survivor.  I told her that I was a 6 month cancer survivor walking the walk while undergoing chemo.  She proceeded to remove a necklace from her neck and place it around mine.  I stood there speechless as she told me her story about her grandmother who had died of breast cancer.  Someone had given her this Avon necklace with the inscription “We Walk as One” right after her grandmother passed.  She told me to hold on to the necklace, and that when the time came, to pass it on.  During that moment, time stood still as we cried and hugged each other.

The above story was the catalyst for my selection in the 2009 Susan G Komen Breast Cancer campaign and commercial opportunity filmed in Hollywood, CA.   This featured commercial, currently being aired, displays me and 17 other survivors and friends with the hit song Everyday Superhero by Smash Mouth playing in the background.  During the commercial, I stated “I’m going to be a 30 year Survivor” as the camera zoomed in on my smiling face.

Surviving breast cancer has awakened the Superhero in me.   I’m more aware of everything I can do and focus on improving my quality of life. My new personal ambition is to walk in the 15 cities featured in the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer walk in which I have 900 miles to go.  Although I’m not a professional athlete, I have led a very active physical life pre and post cancer.  I’m a working professional, wife, mother, and friend.  The lyrics from Smash Mouth describe me the best: “I’m just your average, ordinary, everyday, Superhero”.

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Let me know what you think about the slide show. For more information click here.

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The week of being in Haiti almost seems like a dream. Other than the fact that I have photographs and video to prove I was there I would almost swear that I didn’t even go at all. But juxtaposed with that is the fact that I am still writing about my experience there. I am still talking to people about the trip and planning to return. So here was our last day of distributing food. We were in a rural community in Port Au Prince, Haiti such that the buses had to drop us off and we had to walk the rest of the way. What made this distribution the most dangerous of them all is that fact that there is not local police near by. This community is totally on it’s own. Although there are about 8000 people reside in the community there is no electricity or running water. Because this community is on its own there is a benefit that they must all work together to stay alive. This would work for us but when a necessity like food is in high demand and mothers and fathers are desperate to provide for their families a mob mentality can easily take over.

Let me give you a little context. Let’s say that your family desperately needed food and water. There are four other families in the same predicament. Everyday you see your children growing weaker and becoming more sick. Food is distributed but there are only three bags of food available. You get the line late and you are number four. Would you just politely wait in line and hope there is another bag of food? If you see a bag of food lying next to someone who isn’t paying attention would you pick it up and run? This is the situation what we came into this community.

What are your thoughts after watching the video? After you leave a comment then Click here to see the Haiti Relief Photo Gallery

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Everyone these days seems to like behind the scenes stories. Stories are what give meaning to the mundane, don’t they? So I thought I would do the same with a few of my photographs from Haiti. The first thing that everyone notices about Port Au Prince is the trash. It is everywhere! What you will also notice is that there is no interest in sanitation. In short, the reason Haitians typically have no regard for sanitation is because it isn’t available to them. If the only water that you have is unclean how long do you think it would take you drink a little bit of it so that you don’t die of thirst? Not very long I think.

Mothers would bathe their children in a nearby gutter while the same water that was just used for bathing is used for washing fruit.  You may ask, “how could anyone do this?” Well, first you only ask that because you have been taught that disease and germs and exist even if you don’t see it. Also, there is not a one-for-one ratio with germs. Just because you drink contaminated water doesn’t mean you will always get sick. TRUE STORY: As a child I would eat raw bacon every Saturday morning when my parents weren’t looking. Does that mean it is okay for children to eat raw bacon since I never got sick from it? Of course not. This is the same for Haitians and others in third world countries.

Haitian man washing clothes on sidewalk

During the bus ride through Port Au Prince I noticed a man cleaning his jeans with water from a drainage. Although washing clothes in the equivalent of river water is not necessarily bad this man would have no problem drinking it as well. One thing I want to point out is that I noticed that Haitians took care of their clothes. They dressed up for church in suits. They would have no problem in walking in the heat wearing their finest all day! I certainly had a lot of respect for them because this showed me that no matter how bad it got they would always hold their head high.

Hog eating trash on sidewalk in Port Au Prince Haiti

I know that you cannot tell but that pig on the left hand side probably weighs 500-600 lbs. He is eating the trash that lines the streets. Everyone just throws their trash wherever they like. Public trash bins do exist but most people will throw their trash in its general direction. While I was there I think that I only saw three trash trucks but they just cleaned up the trash bins and not around it. One thing you have to remember is that there really is no motivation to clean up since life is already pretty depressing.

Hog eating trash at food market in Port Au Prince Haiti

Here is a close up photo of another 500-600 hog eating the trash on the side of the street. Unlike the previous photograph this hog is eating trash in a public market. I don’t think this would go well in the mind of a competent health inspector. Since everyone is poor there is no need for a business man to clean up because it’s not going to increase his market share. In addition, when you are poor sanitation and aesthetics are relegated to the bottom of your hierarchy of needs. For more info on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs click here.

The heart of the matter is that the government is corrupt and all the money that the world has given to the Haitian government for the betterment of their people has only lined their pockets and Swiss bank accounts. The Haitians are an entrepreneurial people and I hold them in high regard and have a deep respect for their motivation. So the problem doesn’t lie with the Haitian citizens but with the government who has stolen their lives.

Leave a comment with your thoughts.

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Once we got to Santo Domingo Airport that split us up in groups and then gave us a quick run down on what to expect for the week. View photo gallery here.

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During one of our last food distributions for the week I had the opportunity to walk along Pastor Edmond, a local Haitian pastor, to talk a little about the needs of his community. He has been doing this for almost 40yrs. This is a man that anyone of any faith can respect. Leave a comment on what you think. View photo gallery here.

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Just before we landed in Santo Domingo. I forgot how loud it can get on the airplane. Hopefully, you can hear a little bit.  View photo gallery here.

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• Haiti Video From Plane pt1

Although I am a photographer I figured it couldn’t hurt to take a small point and shoot with a video option along. Sometimes a photo needs a little movement to help tell the story. I’ll be uploading the vids throughout the week. Enjoy. Oh, don’t forget to leave a comment or two on your thoughts! To view the photo gallery click here

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• Haiti Video From Plane pt2

From February 6-12 I traveled to Port Au Prince with Score International to help with food distribution.  To be honest, I did not know much about Haiti, it’s people, and especially nothing about their history. It was certainly an eye opening experience and I will share more in depth experiences later on this week.  With so many photos of death, destruction, and mayhem plastered all over the web and tv I wanted to do something a little bit different. I wanted to photograph and capture the faces of the people and especially the children that I came in contact.  Because we were required to always have security around we were only permitted to have very limited access to the public. As such, the photographs of sidewalks were captured during the bus rides. If you have any questions or comments please leave them in the comment section. Enjoy.

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As long as there are no airline cancellations, I will be stepping on a plane for Haiti today about 6pm tonight. This post will serve two purposes. 1) To let visitors know that I am not lazy and not posting but that I am out of the country and 2) To update all my supporters. Just to warn you this is going to be a little rushed since I have to get a few more things together.

Here’s an email for a little context of the terrain and environment that we will be going to:

If you flight is canceled or delayed and will NOT make it to the DR before Sunday, you will need to cancel your ticket and reschedule for another trip. We cannot make arrangements for Sunday pick-ups in the DR because the teams are leaving out at 2:30am Sunday morning. If your flight does not arrive on Saturday you will not make it in time for the bus.

If you do have to cancel your ticket, you should have one year to use it and we will be happy to reschedule you for another Haiti relief trip. Hopefully this won’t be an issue for anyone.Also, we received this e-mail from our missionaries on the field today. Please take into consideration the following recommendations:

Hey guys, please email the people who are coming to Haiti and tell them to bring as many snacks: granola bars, peanut butter, trail mix, etc as they can bring in their ONE backpack.  They will need snacks to live on during the week since they will probably only get one meal a day of rice and beans.

Also bring:

Bug Spray
Tent
Sleeping bag
Matt for sleeping bag
Mosquito net if you have one
Baby wipes  (Bathroom facilities are extremely limited)
Two changes of clothes

Also, our destination will be Fond Parisian, Haiti to work with Love A Child Hospital so hopefully I’ll get to play with the kids.

Talk to you soon,

peter

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