Not By Choice, but By Favor by Andrea Brown Buford

On January 22, 2008 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Fortunately it had not spread to the lymph nodes. Surgery was successful and then there was chemo to attend to. At the time I received the invitation for Look Good…Feel Better I had not lost my hair – I attended out of curiosity and the desire of meeting other women that were on a journey along with me. I attended with expectations of being encouraged and uplifted. HOPE I think it’s called. Well my expectation was quickly confirmed as I walked in that room with some of the most beautiful, high spirited and happy women I’d seen in a while. Everyone was on the same level – there was no feeling of superiority or inferiority, we were all on level ground. I looked in awe at the beauty that was before me and knew that my journey would be a special one.
As we were instructed on proper methods of applying makeup – me being advised to apply less for the natural beauty to flow – there was much laughter flowing about the room and I believe we all walked away with better understanding of Look Good…Feel Better. Not only because of learning new techniques of applying makeup or how to tie a turban, but because of the inner beauty that I believe each woman that attends this session walks away with. When I did lose my hair, that first day as I prepared to step out into the world among people that knew me with a head full of hair, I took the time to apply what I had learned on my face, but also, that which I had experienced was in my heart. I stepped out knowing I walked in pure radiance. As people that were familiar with me saw me they too were in awe of the radiance that God had placed in my heart that showed through on my face because the distraction of my hair was no longer there. I believe every sister that journeys with me in fighting this thing called cancer would find encouragement and support in attending Look Good…Feel Better. We as a people need one another and in our needs we look for those who have been where we’ve been or have similar experiences to share and that’s what I found in my attendance – laughter in the midst of the storm and an assurance from a sister that has been where I was heading. Because of them I am now able to do for others what they did for me. Thank you for this program and may God Bless each and every one that is touched by cancer (I think we know, that’s everyone).