Printed: August 19, 2024
Up to date: August 20, 2024
Written by: Lukas Harnisch-Weidauer
When Shirley Joseph met her future husband, Mike Joseph, on the set of one in all her music movies in 2021, she had already confirmed herself as a tenacious entrepreneur. When the COVID-19 pandemic introduced the music business to a halt a 12 months prior and ended talks between Shirley and a serious document label, she turned to chopping hair and styling locs.
It’s a talent she developed as a lady whereas watching her mom’s stylist and working towards on her associates. Salons have been closed, however Shirley made home calls, and phrase of her abilities rapidly unfold all through her group. The success revived an previous dream from her highschool days to personal a salon.
It wouldn’t grow to be a actuality till years later after she met Mike, who was appearing in her music video. He gathered the braveness to strategy Shirley, who remembers being struck by Mike’s eyes. They have been occupied with one another however led busy lives and have been an hour’s drive aside, so it didn’t appear that the connection had a lot of an opportunity.
Neither might have guessed that Mike would grow to be Shirley’s enterprise associate and her trusted caregiver as she underwent therapy for breast most cancers at Dana-Farber.
A fated partnership
Their relationship didn’t actually kick off till Mike and Shirley each occurred to be on trip in Miami, Florida on the similar time. Their week by the seaside sparked a seemingly fated romance that they introduced again to Massachusetts.
Shirley’s creativity and drive enraptured Mike, an promoting and advertising skilled who writes spoken phrase poetry, acts, and fashions.
“We complemented one another in lots of methods,” he says.
Their relationship flourished, and actual plans for a salon referred to as Locs by Us started to type. The couple discovered an area in Quincy, started reworking it, hiring stylists, and getting the phrase out.
The whole lot was set to open in early 2024 when all momentum got here to a halt.
For some time, Shirley had been experiencing discomfort and swelling in her breasts. Her surgeon initially suspected an an infection from a previous breast discount surgical procedure, however when antibiotics didn’t work, they visited a few specialists.
In January 2024, a biopsy revealed that Shirley had inflammatory breast most cancers, a uncommon and aggressive type of breast most cancers wherein most cancers cells block the lymph vessels of the pores and skin of the breast, inflicting them to seem purple or infected. The couple got here to Dana-Farber’s specialised Inflammatory Breast Most cancers Program for therapy and are being cared for by oncologist Leticia Varella, MD.
The Institute was advisable by a detailed good friend. From their first appointment, they knew they made the proper alternative. The compassion and generosity of their total care group made them really feel at house and would show immensely useful within the weeks to come back.
Shifting by therapy collectively
“The whole lot slowed down with the salon and my music,” Shirley recollects. “It was life-shattering.”
She follows this up with a joke: “Fascinating method to begin the 12 months.” It’s indicative of a philosophy the couple has: “We’ve realized throughout this journey that you just actually can’t have time for something unfavourable,” Mike explains.
That doesn’t imply you may’t really feel unfavourable feelings. “Should you’re unhappy, you’re unhappy,” Shirley says. “You’ll be able to’t deny it. I enable myself to really feel these feelings.”
However for Mike and Shirley, when you acknowledge it, it’s time to have a look at what’s subsequent.
Within the Inflammatory Breast Most cancers program — the one program of its form within the Northeast —specialists work collectively to supply a tailor-made therapy plan that meets each affected person’s distinctive wants. The school lead analysis efforts to higher perceive this uncommon most cancers making certain that the remedies they provide are innovative.
Shirley has completed her chemotherapy and just lately underwent a profitable mastectomy in July. All through every thing, Mike has been a gentle presence, caring for Shirley at house, asking questions within the clinic, and napping in hospital chairs when he finds a second.
As somebody who takes delight in her independence, Shirley isn’t one to ask for assist. Mike has realized to be proactive within the methods he will help. “If the mattress must be fastened up, don’t wait to do this,” he advises fellow caregivers. “Don’t wait to do the dishes or take the canine for a stroll. Do it earlier than they ask.”
The couple discovered further assist at Dana-Farber by a useful resource specialist and social employee who’ve helped them navigate their care.
Mike and Shirley have been introduced nearer by this journey. “With the prognosis, we weren’t positive what was going to occur,” Mike says. “However we knew we needed to be collectively. So, I proposed to her.”
Though their marriage ceremony has been placed on maintain, the couple has taken to calling one another husband and spouse.
“I don’t know if I might have gone by this with out him,” Shirley says.
Wanting ahead
Quickly, Shirley should undergo radiation and hormonal remedy. Regardless of the strenuous remedies, the couple continued to make preparations to open Locs by Us and recorded music. To them, work and artwork supply an escape and hope for the longer term.
After chemo and a mastectomy, Shirley and Mike celebrated the grand opening of Locs by Us. It was a bittersweet celebration. Within the meantime, Shirley had began dropping her hair due to the chemotherapy. Shaving her head was an emotional second for Shirely, who had all the time taken delight in her hair. However she has since come to embrace it.
“I do know it’s momentary,” she says. “However I’m used to the no hair vibes now.”
Locs by Us is open in a restricted capability. They’ve begun taking personal scheduled appointments. Mike, who co-owns the store, is managing its restricted operations.
“We’ve needed to settle for that we will’t put one hundred pc into every thing proper now,” Shirley explains. “We’re recovering.”
However there’s nonetheless a lot in retailer down the street. They’re about to rent a 3rd stylist to handle the swell of demand they’ve acquired. A brand new music video is in planning levels, and Shirley just lately carried out the Nationwide Anthem on the Jimmy Fund Telethon.
“Do what you like,” Shirley says. “And every thing else will fall in place.”