Healing Planet was founded by Painted Planet's owner, Donna Padgett Bowers, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. Donna realized soon after surgery that she would never be the same. After intensive chemotherapy, and over thirty radiation treatments, and even more chemotherapy, she hardly recognized herself in the mirror. Not only had she lost part of her breast and all of the lymph nodes under one arm, she'd lost her pretty red hair - the one thing that people always complimented her on. Her blue eyes, which once were framed by very dramatic brows and long dark eyelashes, seemed to disappear on her pale face. She had no color, no sparkle, and nothing left to make her look special. When she lost the familiar parts of herself that she once loved, she lost her confidence.

She noticed in the cancer clinic one day, how most of the women looked sad and almost withdrawn, and how they didn't seem to want to make eye contact with each other. She could feel how uncomfortable they were in their own skin, in their unflattering wigs and hats, with no brows or lashes to accentuate their sweet, sad faces. It broke her heart. As uncomfortable as she was herself, she knew that she was still the same person inside that she was before her diagnosis - and she knew they were too. She knew, too, that losing your identity to cancer was worse than losing your life to it. So she vowed that very day to encourage women "in the fight of their lives" to actually "fight for their lives" and to hopefully inspire them to love themselves more than they ever had before.

 She convinced several professional women who were experts in the fields of beauty and wellness to become volunteer caregivers for these women she affectionately calls her "girlie girls". She named her ministry Healing Planet. All of the Healing Planet services were to be offered absolutely free of charge to her girls fighting cancer or other catastrophic disease, plus they could bring a friend or relative with them at no charge. Donna wanted to extend the service to one guest per participant, because she realized that most women have another woman in their life that supports them emotionally. It may be their daughter, their mother, their sister, their partner, or maybe their best friend, but she believes that because they are supportive, they deserve to be pampered, too.

 Since Healing Planet held its' first SPA NIGHT in 2003 inside Painted Planet Artspace, so many people have helped keep it going. Massage therapists have donated their time for full body, spot, chair, and deep tissue massage. Make-up artists have shared their expertise so Donna's girlie girls know how to accentuate the beauty God has blessed them with, and how to do it with purer, safer products. Many experts have spoken at Spa Night on beauty, health, nutrition, weight, and spirituality, so these precious women can be well educated in many important areas of concern to them.

Now that the word is out about how Healing Planet is helping these women in need, other women who are unaffected by cancer, are stepping up from the community to help. Women are showing they care by assisting with footbaths, manicures, pedicures, wig and brow styling, facials, paraffin treatments, chair exercise, reflexology, self defense, yoga, visualization and meditation. Even professionals from the medical and mental health community have volunteered to help. And best of all, people from all walks of life, men and women alike, from all denominations and faiths, have begun to pray in earnest for the Healing Planet ministry - and for its' caregivers and participants.

 So, if your life has been impacted by cancer, or someone you love is fighting that fight, or if maybe you just want to help someone in a bad situation feel better about themselves, give Donna a call at 901-725-0054 or you can E-MAIL her. Healing Planet takes no cash donations...ever.

The only donation they'll accept is of your time and your energy and your prayers. You too, can request prayer for yourself or for your loved one by phone or email.

Painted Planet/Healing Planet is a host site for the American Cancer Society's Look Good, Feel Better.

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