In 2010, when she was only 22, Jasmine Gailer experienced a pain and weakness in her leg. Soon, she found herself unable to walk, and doctors discovered the devastating reason: she had a cancerous tumor in the bone of her knee.
What followed were a series of physical and emotional rollercoasters, surgeries and treatments, and having to relearn to walk. Out of all of it, she came away with a 30 centimeter scar running down her leg.
Gailer and her scar. For a long time, the scar upset her, but posting an image of it on social media was, she found, a liberating experience -- and it gave her an idea.
After her experience, Gailer decided that she wanted to raise awareness about cancer in young adults, as well as help lift the spirits of those living through cancer. After living with anger, sadness, and shame over her scarred body, she wanted to help others going through the same thing. "I was ashamed of [my scar] and I was ashamed of my story," Gailer recalls. "That's when I realized all my issues are based around this, why couldn't I deal with this? And that's when it all started."
She started a fundraising campaign called Scar Stories and teamed up with several photographers. Together, they took these moving photos of young men and women (as well as some "young at heart" types) showing off their scars.
Sara was diagnosed with bone cancer at eight, and her young life has been a series of surgeries and treatments. She doesn't let that stop her from surfing and creating music, though, and refers to her scar as her "shark bite."
Nathan was diagnosed with a brain tumor just before turning 20. "Before my diagnosis, I thought life was open ended," he said. "Now, I think differently. Right now, all I want is just to make the most of life." Sadly, Nathan passed away shortly after this photo was taken.
Natalie, seen here, also had bone cancer, and had to have her leg removed.
Diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, Lucy now has a 40 centimeter scar running down her leg.
Hayley's eye was removed due to retinoblastoma at six months old, and she now wears an artificial one. Long ashamed of it, she finally decided to embrace it as a young adult.
"Since I've stopped hiding my scar, it has been easier to accept the fact that I had cancer," she says. "I am finally able to let my guard down and be happy with how I look."
Hannah also lived with crippling shame over her scars, but has learned that they do not define her. "My scars are proof of my past, my pain, and my struggle. But I won't let them determine my future," she says.
Scar Stories isn't all about young people. They also show the strength of older survivors, like the Tough Beautiful Chicks, a network of breast cancer survivors who celebrate their triumphs over cancer.
(via Metro)
Scar Stories is partnered with CanTeen, an Australian organization that focuses on the unique challenges faced by teenagers and young adults affected by cancer. Gailer's photos have been displayed and auctioned off throughout Australia, with all proceeds going to CanTeen. Gailer also hopes that seeing other young people with scars, physical and emotional, will help cancer patients around the world.
You can see more stories on Scar Stories' website. If you'd like to help out, you can also make adonation or purchase a print. You can also check out what CanTeen is doing to help young cancer patients.
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