Queen Shameka

MODEL: Shameka (Ohio)

Shameka is a 44 year old mother of one.  Born in an ambulance, she entered the world on her own terms and had lived her life the same way.  On October 22, 2020, when she heard those three words "you have cancer" for the first time, she knew her life would change in ways she couldn't imagine.  It was extremely difficult for Shameka to repeat those words over and over as she notified her family one by one.  Invasive ductal carcinoma in her left breast and ductal carcinoma in situ in the right.  Due to an overwhelming amount of calcifications in the right breast, a lumpectomy in both breasts was out of the question and Shameka had to decide is she would proceed with a mastectomy in the right side and lumpectomy in the left.  In those moments, she remembered living life on her own terms, and decided a double mastectomy was the best decision because "one without the other just won't do".  

Life has been "weird" for Shameka since her tranformation took place on December 18, 2020.  "I don't miss my girls as much as I thought I would. Life has a way of showing up and reminds us of just how precious life is and how miniscule outward appearance can be when it comes to life and death".  Shameka feels blessed to have met many individuals from various walks of life, connected by an unfortunate circumstance.  It's those people who remind her during low points that she still can live on her own terms, even if the circumstances are not by her own design.  Despite being in the midst of a pandemic, losing her job, hearing a cancer diagnosis, Shameka is STILL HERE!  A BEAUTIFUL, FEARLESS, WARRIOR WOMAN!  

ARTIST: Susan M Epperly (New Mexico)

"Art has been my safe haven my entire life. As a child, I spent many hours drawing in my Daddy’s hospital room as he battled a cancer that would eventually take him from me. Nearly forty years later, waging my own war with breast cancer, art once again was my savior (I illustrated a “chemo coloring book” during my infusions). And since COVID closed my thriving Massage Therapy practice (of twenty years), I have turned to art not only as a therapeutic sanity saver, but as a new career The multimedia series on which I have been working this year is titled “Corona” and is a nod to women’s unrelenting strength in the face of adversity and loss. This series is a collection of whimsical illustrative portraits of beautiful women of various ethnicities and archetypes, each wearing her own glorious crown of strength."

​Website: www.SusanMEpperly.com

CANCER MEETS ART:

The message Shameka wanted portrayed through art is "Faith and strength is a must in my fight with cancer".

ABOUT THE ARTWORK:

This piece is a 16” x 20” mixed media (3D) acrylic painting on a gallery wrapped canvas.