Fashion. Culture. Community.
How PUG helped me get through Cancer & Changed my life.
I was diagnosed with cancer in 2009/2010 (Im all better now). The treatments involved heavy chemo and radiation therapy. My body changed rapidly, one minute I was deathly skinny and the next bloated and icky. I felt terrible about my body, skin and hair and everything deteriorated for me I lost confidence in myself, I did not think I could make it.
Whilst browsing the net I came across the PUG site. As I browsed through the designs I fell in love with what I saw, but as I looked down at my swelled bloated and busting out body my heart sank and I thought "these are obviously made for models and would look terrible on me". However I kept looking and when I saw the red Heidi, I thought "that might work", I saw the first class and thought, oh good that would highlight my boobs and hide by ever bloating thighs, I bit the bullet and ordered (life's short right?).
When they arrived I immediately put them on.... and hesitantly looked at myself in the mirror (expecting to see bulges, tummy and hips in all the wrong ways). Boy was I WRONG! I looked not only normal but STUNNING (well I thought so anyway haha). I had finally found something to make me feel happy with my body, as my confidence grew so did my happiness with other areas in my life. This was my turning point, I was mentally happier, when I was in PUG getting compliments from strangers, getting told how wonderful I looked, I stopped thinking about how sick I felt, the nausea did not seem as bad, my thinning short hair didn't bother me, I could take on any body shape issues (because of my secret PUG weapon).. The better I looked the better I felt.
I started looking up Ms Pitt & Ms Byrnes, I wanted to know more about these women who designed clothes that fit me. The more I found out about them the more in awe I felt. Looking at their careers I felt inspired, they had found their passion and had jumped all in.
They inspired me to not only stop feeling sorry for myself and get on the right mental track to recovery, but to follow my own dreams. Corporate work might have paid me a 6 figure salary but I was unhappy, I wanted to give something back, I wanted to teach. So I took a page from these women's books, enrolled in a teaching qualification, quit my job.
2012 and I am a fully qualified primary teacher (specializing in Natural Math) AND cancer free. PUG might not have cured me but give me the confidence to help myself.
It may seem shallow to say that dresses changed my life but it wasnt the dress, it was the confidence these women and their designs gave me, their drive that inspired me. Women who understand womens shapes, who are strong and empowered yet real.
So Thank you.
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Comment by Katherine Palma on August 10, 2012 at 2:11pm
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Aww, this is awesome! Thank god you're doing so much better! And you're a total cutie pie! Your pictures always putba smile on my face!
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Comment by Denise on August 10, 2012 at 2:23pm
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thank you ladies
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Comment by Sarah F. on August 10, 2012 at 2:28pm
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What a fantastic story! Well done, you :)
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Comment by Laura Byrnes on August 10, 2012 at 5:02pm
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Wow, im speechless. What an amazing story <3 <3 <3
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Comment by Charlotte Richardson on August 11, 2012 at 8:38am
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Very happy you are doing great, its beautiful when a word, smile, comment can empower, be supportive and incouraging. Your strength and story can help others too by sharing it. So happy for you!
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Thank you ladies, what doesnt kill us makes us stronger, sometimes we just need a PUG helping hand ;)
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Comment by Micheline Pitt on August 15, 2012 at 12:18pm
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Denise thank you for sharing such a personal story with all of us. I feel blessed to be apart of something that helped you through such a dark time. I had to share this on the Facebook page since I felt it was so inspirational and humbling to read. You are a strong beautiful woman.
<3
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Comment by Dyan Reaveley on August 15, 2012 at 12:19pm
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fabulously written x
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Thank you fellow PUG lovers and thank you Micheline and Laura.
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Comment by Rockarelli on August 15, 2012 at 1:05pm
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that is a beautiful article. and you are amazing x
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