Meet Marnie
From the very first time you meet Marnie, one would see a quiet, reserved woman with a peaceful resonance.
But there’s something behind those eyes.
When you get to know her, you see the spunk. The woman who won’t be held back by any challenge; mental, or physical. One who loves to dance, socialize, experience adventures & helps those she hardly knows.
She pushes herself to the edge with any
challenge and has a love of life that will bring you to tears.
She sees things we don’t all see. She loves in a deep and incredible way.
Her heart is as pure of a gold as I’ve ever seen.
She is love personified. Knowing Marnie is a gift.
She genuinely makes you feel appreciated, validated and most of all, loved.
Here is a woman who graces your life in a way that makes you want to be better,
do better, love harder and appreciate those things you’ve
been taking for granted.
Meet Marnie.
( BEFORE )
My name is Marnie.
(AFTER )
Makeup by Harold Santos
Hair Cut, Colour and Styling by Lisa Schoor
Wardrobe Styling by Kelly Hastman Cherewick
I entered the transformation contest as I felt this was just what I needed.
Time to get a little piece of myself back again!
Image by Harder Photo Design
Image by Harder Photo Design
For the past sixteen years I have been employed at Seven Oaks Hospital as a clerk.
I loved my job. Feeding the homeless on a night shift or just bringing someone a blanket made me feel great!
Image by Lynette Giesbrecht
Image by Lynette Giesbrecht
A few years ago, I had decided I wanted more and helping those that were most vulnerable would make me feel proud. I decided to return back to university to obtain my Bachelor of Social work degree. While working, being a wife, raising my children, this goal appeared as though it was in my near future. I worked hard and spent many, many hours studying. I had many aspirations I wanted to achieve.
So that’s where my planned path was going… Life, had other ideas for me.
Image by Lynette Giesbrecht
Over the next few months, I could never have predicted what would lay ahead. I was experiencing headaches and excessive thirst, and suddenly, I was attending specialist appointments and suffering from illness. My health took a drastic downfall. Although it took some time to figure out, an MRI showed a brain tumour near my optic chasm, which could lead to blindness. After numerous appointments, neurosurgeons, an endocrinologist, I was now told I had a team of specialists at Health Sciences Centre, working on a plan to save my life! What? I didn’t even realize how serious this had all become. After rapid treatment and often the highest doses of medication possible, I have fought and taken these horrible drugs that have reaped havoc on my body. I have lost hair, my feet, face, and hands are swollen most days. Some days it’s hard to walk as I am just so weak. These are just some of the side effects of the illness. Sometimes when I look in the mirror I don’t see myself anymore.
Image by Harder Photo Design
Image by Harder Photo Design
I have decided over this past year, to live each day as a positive role model for those around me, as much as possible. Although, I have no control over the days of nausea and vomiting, or the weakness and ability to sometimes walk only a few minutes. Those are the bad days. On every good day I have, I am outside doing fun things, and spending quality time with my children. I now have Panhypopituitarism due to a second tumour above that gland in my brain. I also have memory loss now, so my writing skills are a challenge. There is no need to go on regarding my twenty pills a day and two injections that are keeping me alive.
My university degree has been put on hold. I had to retire from my job as I could no longer work shift work.
Image by Lynette Giesbrecht
Image by Lynette Giesbrecht
Image by Lynette Giesbrecht
I am choosing to continue to stay positive and be happy around my children and others.
Helping is what I do best!
This was a day I will never forget. The experience will last a lifetime!
