For Irika Haywood, breast cancer was a bittersweet diagnosis.<\/p>\n
Just over a year ago, Irika was living a carefree life. A Healthcare Professional and a loving mother of three, she enjoyed her days off where she could let go and have fun with family or friends. Extroverted and sociable, Irika says she wasn\u2019t paying much attention to her health. That is, until she noticed a large mass on her breast while taking a shower.<\/p>\n
Irika\u2019s life took a scary turn. Originally diagnosed with Stage Two breast cancer, it quickly spread to Stage Four. In a matter of two weeks, everything in her life had changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt all happened so suddenly. I got diagnosed June 15, then I started chemo June 28,\u201d Irika says.<\/p>\n
While navigating the speed at which everything was moving, Irika decided to leave her nursing job and focus on her treatment plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was probably the hardest part for me physically and emotionally. You go through a lot of changes: losing hair, feeling sick, not eating well, and not working,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Despite the emotional baggage that comes with a cancer diagnosis, Irika\u2019s treatment was a success. In addition to undergoing a successful mastectomy, Irika had 19 lymph nodes removed from under her arm. \u201cI am cancer free now!\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
However, Irika reflects on both the negative and positive outcomes of her \u201cbittersweet\u201d diagnosis.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt changed my personality. I used to be extroverted, and now I am introverted. I\u2019m not as talkative anymore.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut this diagnosis has also forced me to look at myself. It forced me to look at my health. It forced me to look at what I\u2019m passionate about. And it forced me to ask, \u2018Am I really living to my full potential right now?\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why I am now going to new places and trying new things that I didn\u2019t do before\u2014like Wellspring,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Irika heard of Wellspring through her son\u2019s diabetic appointment in November 2022. The doctor knew Irika had cancer and encouraged her to get in touch with Wellspring. Although initially hesitant to join, Irika finally overcame her anxiety and walked through its doors.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand if people are hesitant to join Wellspring, but once you\u2019re ready, I can confirm that your takeaway from it is so much more than what you fear going into it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you arrive at Wellspring it\u2019s like the hand and glove metaphor. You have found your glove,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Being a new member of Wellspring, Irika is looking forward to the abundance of programs it has to offer\u2014particularly the yoga and art programs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s kind of where I\u2019m at right now: putting my well-being first. Before cancer I wasn\u2019t really doing that. It was my work and my kids and my family, and I was kind of\u2026 lost.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am ready to get out there and be stronger this time around,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Although Irika did her own personal self-healing over the past year, she admits that Wellspring played a huge part in getting her to where she is today.<\/p>\n
\u201cWellspring is a part of the journey to me finding my well-being, putting myself first, and giving back to me<\/em>. The whole self-care and love that I didn\u2019t know I was missing before. I\u2019d always be like, \u2018I\u2019m great!\u2019 but I don\u2019t think I really was. Now I\u2019m feeling a lot lighter.<\/p>\n \u201cI pressed the reset button. Now what am I going to do?\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For Irika Haywood, breast cancer was a bittersweet diagnosis. Just over a year ago, Irika was living a carefree life. A Healthcare Professional and a loving mother of three, she enjoyed her days off where she could let go and have fun with family or friends. Extroverted and sociable, Irika says she wasn\u2019t paying much […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":8452,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"location":[],"class_list":["post-8451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-member-story"],"yoast_head":"\n