TRIGGER WARNING – Some readers may find this content upsetting to read. Reader discretion is advised.

Jane and I went through cancer treatment together! I was the one in the chair, replenishing my armies for battle every week (aka chemo), while Jane was there teaching me everything there was to know about cupcakes!

I was diagnosed the day before I turned 36, stage 3 breast cancer. I was a stay at home mom of a 1 and a 3 year old, and our lives were turned upside down. It’s a full time job battling cancer, with the 150+ doctors appointments and dozens of treatments, it turns into hundreds of hours of your life with you just sitting there and waiting. Sit and wait, sit and wait, that’s all I did.

Everything about cancer is ugly. And all it does is take. It takes everything from you! Your time, your energy, your happiness, your hair…my confidence was at an all time low. Everything was just…grey.

Then, with a few months left in my treatment plan, I was sitting and waiting (like always), scrolling through my phone, and came across a photo of a cupcake bouquet. I froze, amazed at how beautiful it was, and immediately became envious of its creator, because I wished I had that type of skill. Then I scolded myself, and said, girl you’re kicking cancer’s ass right now, which will be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do. I think you can decorate a friggin cupcake!!!

From that point on, I was on a mission. While I sat and waited, I watched every single video Jane has ever created (or at least it felt like I did!). I took notes of everything she said. I made a list of all the piping tips I needed to buy. I learned recipes. I learned how a cupcake business works. I looked forward to my appointments because Jane was now my treatment buddy, and I was so ready to see what I was about to learn next! She taught me everything I know about cupcakes, and gave me a purpose.

It’s impossible to even take a guess at how many hours I spent practicing. Everyone who does it knows it’s not easy! My poor cupcakes heard a lot of inappropriate language thrown their way, cause the struggle was real!! But I just had this overwhelming desire to keep pushing. Don’t give up. You’ve got this. You can do anything you set your mind to. Because as Jane continues to remind us time and time again….anyone can do this!

It wasn’t easy giving away those first cupcakes. They weren’t great, but boy was I proud of them! But at the same time, I knew I could do better, so I kept going. I was only planning on doing it as a hobby, something I did just because it made me happy. But what was only supposed to be for family and friends turned into people I knew asking for them, then total strangers reaching out looking to order! I started posting my work, and strangers started following me, commenting on how much they loved my work! I was blown away, shocked at how quickly it grew into something I never expected! I still pinch myself to this day, thinking that people want something that I actually created!

My life will never be the same as it was before cancer. It changed me, and for the better. I’m stronger, braver, happier with who I am, and proud of what I can do. Cupcakes brought my confidence back. They gave me something that I can call my own, and that makes me truly happy. My most favourite thing is making other people smile, and I now do that, every day, with cupcakes!!

Moral of the story, when life feels like it can’t get anymore grey, beauty will come along in the most unexpected way. When you’re craving something beautiful, make it yourself. It’s been just over a year now that I’ve been sharing my creations, and I’ll be forever grateful to Jane. Floral cupcakes were a light at the end of the tunnel for me, the distraction I needed, and have since turned into a passion I’m quite proud of. Thank you so much treatment buddy!!

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