Sharon Spencer, A Formidable Woman Inspiring the World

Sharon Spencer is a poet, breast cancer survivor, and employee at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. In February of 2006, she had a hysterectomy (due to fibroids). As she approached 40 her doctor suggested that she have her first mammogram. To her surprise she was diagnosed with stage 2A breast cancer. In December of 2006 she had a mastectomy followed by chemotherapy in February of 2007. She lost her hair and developed a hernia and pneumonia. In 2008, she was in a terrible car accident and as a result she lost her right leg above the knee. After 22 surgeries and prayers she learned to walk again. She is a motivational speaker and also writes poetry. Sharon met Filmmaker, Barry Bradford of Keep It Real Productions at the Barclays Center. They have teamed up to share her phenomenal story of resilience in, THE Pink Runway, the story of Sharon Spencer.

FWM: Several years of physical loss and pain set you on a path of self realization. Take us back.

I was a very outgoing person. After the accident I noticed that I was becoming very withdrawn and I was in an extremely dark place. I had a hard time accepting what had happened to me. With the grace of GOD, I fought hard to get back to who I was.    

FWM: When did your world come to a halt?

Losing my leg was the most devastating thing that has ever happened to me. After breast cancer I remember saying that it could not get any worse and it did. The feeling of loss shock disbelief and grief all hit me at the same time. I had to hold it together for my family. Mothers tend to shield their children so that they won’t hurt. I was dealing with so many emotions and I just wanted to go back to the way things were.                                                           

FWM: Did you go through, “Why Me?” moments? 

I often wondered what purpose GOD had for me and I wondered why it happened?   

FWM: Where do you draw your strength from?

I draw my strength from GOD and church. GOD has a purpose for all of us. I am so glad that I not only discovered my purpose but I am for filling it. I am a public speaker an advocate for breast cancer and limb loss and now a poet. I write about my life experiences. It helps others going through similar circumstances and that helps me heal. I thank GOD for who I have become and if I had a choice to go back to who I was verses who I am now I would do it all over again.    

        

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FWM: You enjoy writing poetry. Is poetry therapeutic for you?

My poems are very therapeutic and they help others going through. I am in the process of starting a card line and I am trusting GOD to send the right card company to back me. I am currently putting my cards on Shopify. I am proud of my cards. My card line is called Resilient cards. I write about cancer, limb loss, self-esteem, racism, the coronavirus, single mothers etc… all the things that I have gone through and that is more of a reason that others will relate.   

FWM: What lessons have you learned as a result of painful times in your life?                     

TRUST GOD! Once you do that everything else will fall into place. You usually don’t finish with some of the people that you started with. You will lose some friends and as you evolve you will gain new ones. It is part of the growing process.      

FWM: Is Resiliency learned or are you born with it?                                             

I think that who you were before an accident is usually what you are going to show or be after. I was always a strong person so I continued to be strong when these things happened to me. Don’t get me wrong it was not easy but again with the grace of GOD,I was able to overcome my obstacles and carry out the assignment that GOD has for me. The situation usually magnify who you were before.  

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FWM: You are a much sought after Motivational Speaker. What are your key topics that you are sharing with the world?

I did a lot of public speaking before the coronavirus and I have been doing a lot of Zoom interviews. I wait on GOD to send me someone who needs to hear what I have to say and he does. I plan on speaking more this year. My key topics are pushing onward and upward loving yourself and about being the best you that you can be.

FWM: What do you want your legacy to be?

I want my legacy to be the mother friend and woman who helped others.I want to organize a support group different from an other that I have seen. I want to connect with Rhianna the R&B artist to do a fashion show with young amputees for their self esteem. I know that she is known for throwing fashion shows with full figured woman and the disabled. I want my cards in major stores. I want my son Aaron to be able to say that my mother made a difference and be proud of what I have left. That is what I want my legacy to be.

FWM: Please share your social media links.

Resilient cards@instagram and olivemysun@gmail.com