Positive Energy

Outside of her hospital room, where she was given only two to six weeks to live, thirty-five-year-old Keisha Harris posted a list of words. It read, “Die, Cancer, Can’t and Try,” and all who entered could not use any of these words in front of her.

“Someone who is fighting for their life doesn’t need to hear those words,” says Keisha. “I never thought for a second that I would die.”

It was this attitude that turned a 5 percent chance of survival into a life dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others. What began as a kidney tumor turned into stage 4 cervical cancer that spread to Keisha’s kidneys and spinal cord.

After leaving Hawaii to be close to family in Virginia, Keisha sought treatment at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center. Unfortunately, radiation and chemotherapy had greatly deteriorated her kidneys and other vital organs, lowering her chances of survival. In a last ditch effort, her gynecologic oncologist recommended a risky and extensive procedure, involving double ostomy surgery, a hysterectomy and the reconstruction of internal passageways.

In the midst of the fight for her life, Keisha’s fiancé walked out. For the first time, she felt like she had nothing to live for. Though the surgery was successful, she was on 78 pills a day, many of which were narcotic painkillers with significant side effects.

One day, while in the throes of pain, she resisted asking for another powerful dose and prayed for the pain to go away. Moments later, a nurse came in and offered her Tylenol III which alleviated her pain without the side effects. She considers this an answer to her prayer. It was that day when she realized there were many options to relieve pain and she didn’t always have to take the traditional route.

After this, a friend suggested she try an herbal tea designed to stimulate the immune system and detoxify organs. In the span of a week, Keisha started feeling better. She pored over information about the effects of food on the body and put herself on a liquid regimen of nutrients, and later raw foods. She is now off of all medications and teaches nutritional workshops to those with various medical conditions.

“I teach people that they have to restart their body and train it on what its job is,” explains Keisha. “What excites me the most is to see people’s lab work come back corrected and know I’ve been a part of it.”

Good nutrition was not Keisha’s only medicine; support was vital. Her Wound Ostomy Care Nurse (WOCN), Ann Rice, gave her a lot of hope. Within a week after surgery she asked a hospital co-worker with a colostomy to visit Keisha. She remembers the relief she felt seeing an attractive woman in heels living a full life, and vowed to do the same for others. Keisha is now the woman in heels the hospital calls upon to visit patients with ostomies, especially on Christmas Day. She comes bearing gifts to let them know she was once in their shoes and they are not forgotten.

During her entire ostomy journey, Keisha has worn Hollister products with great results. She went so far as to visit the Hollister plant to hug the people who make the products and explain how important they are to her.