Underwater Transformation About Face Underwater Transformation About Face

Underwater Healer – The Beginnings

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Underwater Healer - The Beginnings For over two years I’ve had the pleasure of working with many amazing cancer survivors as part of my Underwater Healer - About Face campaign. Starting initially with 13 survivors, I raised funds on IndieGoGo to cover the cost of the portrait sessions for the survivors and to this day, all photography sessions are covered at no expense to them. The rest of the campaign money was donated to IHadCancer.com, an online community where survivors, family members and supporters share their stories and connect together. It’s been a profound joy to help cancer survivors celebrate regaining their health and life through underwater portrait shoots. What many may not know, is why I began Underwater Healer. It’s because I too had undergone healing. Years ago, I survived a traumatic car accident, in which I was severely injured and lost my father. The pain was immeasurable. As part of my own healing process, I volunteered with the American Cancer Society’s Look Good, Feel Better Program. This program teaches beauty techniques to cancer patients to help them manage the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment. Through this program, cancer patients improve their self esteem and gain support, confidence and courage through the beauty sessions and the LGFB community. Watching them marvel at their transformations touched me deeply. I wanted to lend my own talents to helping cancer patients and survivors see themselves as beautiful. I always have had an affinity for the underwater world and from this I had become a...

USA Today

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USA Today I'm so thrilled to announce that Underwater Healer About Face project was on USA Today last weekend! Thank you @studiomiyaando for bringing me #usatoday @usatoday #cancersurvivorproject #underwaterhealer #underwaterphotography #cancersurvivor #cancer #healthy #health #heal A video posted by Underwater_Beauty_SanFrancisco (@erenashimoda) on Sep 21, 2015 at 8:10am PDT 8 Things People with Cancer Really Want to Say 1.   The new normal is scary. Really scary. So don’t disappear on me when treatment ends! I may need you more than ever. 2.   You can’t catch cancer from me. It’s not contagious. You can stop avoiding me now. 3.   Everything might not be okay. Please don’t tell me that you “know” it will be. 4.   If you can’t handle this, I don’t have time for you. So if you walk away, don’t try and come back when I’m healthy again. 5.   Everyone’s experience with cancer is different. So you really have to stop talking about your brother’s sister-in-law’s cousin who passed away from cancer. It doesn’t help. 6.   Chemo brain is real. And it’s hard to deal with. Please be patient with me. It’s not like I want to be forgetful. 7.   Cancer doesn’t define me. So can we please talk about something else? I’m still me. 8.   Life with cancer is an emotional rollercoaster. The kind that goes upside down and leaves you hanging with the blood rushing to your face for a while—so, yeah, I might be optimistic one day and a huge b**** the next. It...

Boston Trip Report

about, art show, Travel, Underwater Healer About Face, uw portrait
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Boston Trip Report This was my Boston office for few days!! I'm missing it! I met Chien-Chi, a breast cancer survivor at 7:30-8:30am We connected in the water instantly! I met Katie at 8:30-9:30. She had her own mermaid tail from Hawaii! She did a beautiful job in the water! I met Kim at 9:30-10:30. She was nervous at first but look at this! She looks so natural! ' Next day, I had a presentation at Apple Store on Boylston street. I was super nervous as always. I had a different speaking coach this time and I practiced a lot before I left for Boston! The event was successful! It was the most emotional and impactful presentation I've ever had! It was so nice to hear everyone talking about this project. My heart was full with happiness!     I made these cranes for Boston people to wish them good luck and feel better. Next day, I had a maternity photo shoot with Vicky and Charles. They came from NY to support for my project. They helped me so much when I had a ABOUT FACE project in NY in 2013 We had lunch at The Neighborhood Restaurant in Somerville. I came here twice and I really liked it! I was recommended to go to Spanish restaurant, Dali. I was introduced to delicious wince, La Cana. I stopped by at this normal looking Sushi place. AND they were amazing!! So fresh! I always walked by at this local bar with bunch of alcoholics at...