Finding A Way Forward

     When faced with cancer, mental health issues or debilitating pain some people will look beyond the traditional methods to cope. For those looking into non-traditional methods or therapies there are many options. For example green therapy (nature therapy), creative therapy, equine therapy and more. While many insurance companies do not recognize non-traditional therapies, people will find a way.
     Three people facing different situations were willing to discuss what they went through and what has helped them reach beyond the diagnosis or situation.

 Cheri Baker

Cheri Baker with daughter Sam


     Cheri Baker was just 36 when she received her diagnosis. As a wife, mother of three and an occupational therapist by trade, the diagnosis was not expected. In early 2016, previously having found a lump (diagnosed as a clogged milk duct), she was not too worried, but continued tendon pain gave her cause to visit the doctor. In May 2016, Baker received her diagnosis, Stage II Adenocarcinoma of the breast tissue. 
     Prior to her cancer diagnosis, Baker was very active with her family and had begun creating and selling wire trees and other items through her home business My Steel City Treasures. After being diagnosed, while bead work and wire work is not typically physically draining, it was extremely difficult for her to continue while going through treatment. That is when she picked up her camera.

Simple beaded wire tree on rocks

Wire tree on a stump with moss and lama's

     "Being behind the camera is calming," Baker states. The photography, the photo-editing has become soothing and distracting, removing the focus from her diagnosis to the moment in front of her. "Photo-editing has given me a chance to remember the moment that I took the photo and not to stress about what else is going on," she states as she looks upon her computer and her home office.

Prints on display in Bakers home office
 
Another print on display among wire trees

     In a physical therapy office, not far from her home in Pueblo, Colorado, Baker has been able to help others going through therapy, while using her photography as non-traditional therapy for herself. A therapy within a therapy. The title of the collection "Flavor of Pueblo" are images that you may see walking through Pueblo. The patients that are there will see Pueblo instead of the walls of the therapy rooms while on a treadmill.

Smaller framed prints from the "Flavor of Pueblo" Collection on display in Bakers home office

April Renner

     According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, 20% of youth age 13-18 live with a mental health issue. This young woman is no stranger to that.
     April Renner is a 17 years old and has dealt with depression, anxiety and self harm since she turned 12. For 13 years she lived in a home with an emotionally abusive step-mother and an emotionally neglectful father. Having been told many untruths, she was unsure of her place in her mothers and siblings life. That all changed in 2015, when she realized the truth and reconnected with the other side of her family, but there was still progress to make.
     With no one to talk to, no one to turn to, having been turned off and denied the ability to see a psychologist, she turned to self-harm. She was able to hide it from her father with the excuse that it was the cat. Renner was able to finally find the strength to quit cutting the summer of 2015.

The largest scar on Renner's left leg, with many of the others fading


     When Renner moved out of the emotionally destructive home, she was finally able to start healing. Still not trusting and unwilling to attend a traditional therapy, she turned towards nature and meditation. 


Renner meditating on the shore of Lake Beckwith

     Whether she is in the mountains, on the lake or playing in the dirt, she is able to find peace and finally discuss and talk about the problems she has faced. She has finally been able to find a space in her life to act her age, and gain emotional freedom within her life.


Playing on the shore of the lake


Pausing and posing for the camera


     While progress has been made, there are still moments that she sinks back and the depression or anxiety creeps in, but as she has said "I have a reason to continue my life, because I have been shown that I do matter, I am not alone and there are other ways to deal with mental illness."

Looking forward

Molly Moreschini

     Domestic violence, rape and trauma can happen to anyone. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, an average of 20 people are physically abused every minute by a partner. The Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network reports that 28% of rapes are committed by strangers. Everyone has been witness to, or effected by traumatic events, its how the events are faced and dealt with when it comes to healing.

Strength and sass show with the moody sky behind Moreschini

     Molly Moreschini lived in Pueblo, Colorado after graduating from Rye High School in 2003. Three years later, she was attacked by her boyfriend. He broke her temple, occipital bone, nose and jaw with a 40 of Mickeys. Multiple plastic surgeries were able to correct the physical damage, but she had yet to face the emotional damage. In 2009, she was raped by a stranger after being left at a party by friends. Instead of addressing what had happened to her, she ran away to Denver to get away and hopefully never see the man that attacked her. "The best thing that happened was my arrest in Denver," Moreschini states, "I was forced to start dealing with the rape in group therapy, I finally was able to face what had happened." 
     Unfortunately, the trauma did not end there. In 2012, she had plans to go to the movies with friends but was unable to go because of stitches in her knee. That night, a shooting happened in the theater she was supposed to be in. That was enough for her and she decided to move home. It was at this point that Moreschini picked up her camera. "It was soothing, I was looking at life through a different lens, things became not so real and harsh," she stated.

Moreschini looks out on her family land

     In 2015, Moreschini's mom went in for a biopsy of her lung and was on life support for three weeks. Cancer had riddled her body, it was everywhere. The only thing left was hospice and keeping her comfortable. Moreschini never left her mothers side, she was there for every moment, and the only thing she could do was give her pills. In June of 2015 she lost her mother and eight months later she lost her father. It was at this point that the grief, the pain was taking its toll. Moreschini was unable to sleep, she never stopped moving, she even had suicide cross her mind. Without a moment to grieve, from January to June of 2017, Moreschini was the primary care giver to her ailing grandmother. "The hardest part, they looked alike. My mother and grandmother," Moreschini said, "I was watching it happen all over again."
     Moreschini suffered night terrors, the only time she felt she was able to show emotion was at night, alone. The night terrors got worse, and she found a way to address them, to start healing. Moreschini used digital art and photography to show bits and pieces of what caused the grief and the night terrors. The art, the photography gave her one thing to focus on at a time instead of the tidal wave that she often faced. She was now able to grieve, after two years, for her parents and her grandmother.

Moreschini uses her four wheeler to get out and photograph her cows

Big Red approaches Morechini for some love after she has put her camera down


     Now when Moreschini starts to despair, she is able to utilize nature and her art to relax, to focus on just one thing at a time to get through to the next day. "I am finally able to express myself, show people what I have been going through, share it and maybe help someone else," she states as the clouds roll in above her.

Big Red walks away as Moreschini's camera is brought up


Through out it all, Moreschini has found a way to smile to find a path to peace


     These three woman, the epitome of strength. While facing situations that would mentally cripple, emotionally damage most people, these three have thrived. While each still faces their own demons, and the path before them is not permanently clear, they have found a way. Remembering that what works for one, may not work for another. While traditional therapy has not helped completely, they have each found a non-traditional method that suits them and works for them. Giving them each a peace of freedom, a moment away from what is before them.


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