Elephants and Tea - December 2022 - 22

Photo Credit: Courtney Cook Imagery, www.courtneycookimagery.com
Sisterhood
OF THE
Matching
Scars
NINE SCARS AND
COUNTING
BY LISA ORR
A
s I step out from the shower
and wipe the condensation
from the mirror in front
of me, I see a woman who
has been through more
than anyone my age should
have ever had to endure. Five scars-from
my breasts to my lower abdomen and from
countless biopsies and two different surgeries.
Four permanent tattoos from radiation
sprawled across my chest. Endless aches and
pains that should never plague a body that
has only been on this earth for 35 years. All
these things never would have been there had
cancer not walked into our lives. Not walked,
crashed into our lives. Cancer causes permanent
destruction to your mental state and
changes your body in ways that you just can't
prepare yourself for. There are insurmountable
scars-both external and internal-that
I will be working through for the rest of the
days I am given.
Like many women, I spent my teenage
years and early twenties silently tearing my
body apart piece by piece. As women, we are
constantly comparing ourselves to others;
something that begins from a younger age
than I care to admit. Fast forward several
years and a wedding later to the happy time
when my husband and I excitedly decided
we were ready to expand our family. Being
pregnant was an incredible experience; the
idea of your own body growing a life over
the course of nine months is mind-blowing.
But little by little, your body changes in
ways that you are not prepared for. It is
easy, however, to see past the stretch marks
and extra pounds you carry because of the
beautiful reason for those changes. When
your body is forced to undergo indefinite
changes due to circumstances beyond your
control, it feels different . . . it is different.
My younger sister Deana and I have
always been close. We are only two years
apart, and even though we look different,
we would always get confused for twins. I
believe this speaks to our closeness, and
22
ELEPHANTSANDTEA.COM
DECEMBER 2022
https://www.courtneycookimagery.com/ https://www.courtneycookimagery.com/ http://www.ELEPHANTSANDTEA.COM

Elephants and Tea - December 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Elephants and Tea - December 2022

Contents
Elephants and Tea - December 2022 - Cover1
Elephants and Tea - December 2022 - Cover2
Elephants and Tea - December 2022 - 1
Elephants and Tea - December 2022 - Contents
Elephants and Tea - December 2022 - 3
Elephants and Tea - December 2022 - 4
Elephants and Tea - December 2022 - 5
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Elephants and Tea - December 2022 - Cover3
Elephants and Tea - December 2022 - Cover4
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