The Natalie Necklace, $95, from Kaleidescope Jewels, was inspired by Katherine’s (the owner of Kaleidescope Jewels) best friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 23. Natalie is 25 now, and unfortunately, cancer has spread to her lungs.
Katherine agreed to share a little more about Natalie - with Natalie’s approval, of course. I have to admit this story is bringing tears to my eyes.
Natalie was 23 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She found a lump when she was taking a shower one morning that just appeared out of nowhere.
We work in a clinic/hosp so she went in that day and had an ultrsound, mammogram, and also a biopsy. Not thinking that it was possible because she has/had no family history of breast cancer.
She got a phone call about 4 days later telling her that is was cancer. she had a lumpectomy 2 days later and found out that it was in 2 out of 12 lymph nodes. She went through all the Chemo lost her hair and then had radiation.
With being 23 not married no kids she was feeling pretty down because they told her that she had a 50/50 chance of never having kids and to Natalie kids are her world!!
She made it through that without any major setbacks.
When she went to have her port-a-cath taken out they found that part of it broke off and lodged really like centimeters away from her heart. So she had to go in and have this emergancy surgery to have this piece taken out. That was really scary because any moment that could have dislodged and went straight to her heart and killed her.
So after that was all over she was fine for less then 6 months. She went in with pain the the breast so they did a MRI and found 8 spots on her lungs. She needed to have biopsied. Well like I told you they came back cancerous. The only option she has is chemo because there are so many in both lungs she can’t have a lung removed.
The chemo that she is on now is pretty harsh. Her blood levels run pretty low that she has to cancel chemo. She has had such low blood levels that she has recieved 12 pints of platlets and 6 pints of whole blood. Her platelets dropped so low that she couldn’t stop bleeding so she spent some time in the hosp.
This time around she has been pretty low with hope which scares me.
She is my rock and keeps me afloat and I can’t imagine my life wothout her. She is a great inspiration to everyone that she comes in contact with. She has so much light in her that everyone is drawn to her. she is the most compasionate and loving person I know and I am glad to call her my friend. I love her with all my heart and pray for her everyday!
Here is Katherine’s description of Natalie’s Necklace:
“The stones used in this necklace are: large white onyx, brazilian quarts moss agate, African pink rhodocrosite rhondelles and squares, mother of pearl (pink, champane, black), Nabimian amazonite, Australia deep pink Jade, Freshwater pearls (hot pink and cream), pink fossil, pink jade pillow stones, abalone, white stripped agate, white jade, and swarovski crystals.
The pinks are very eye catching and the sterling shines magnificently.
This necklace is made from multiple types of sterling silver chain. The chain is sterling silver and it measures at 45 inches. You can wear it as a single long necklace or double it up for more effect. I have also been able to make it into a bracelet.”
