Julie
On reconnecting with herself…
“I just don’t feel right yet. But I know I will someday. Maybe not the same, but I will feel right.
I was talking to someone and she told me ‘Your body is amazing.’
(Not meaning my figure.)
‘Think about your organs and your bones and how hard they worked. They processed all that chemo. Think about how hard your body worked to make you well again.’
It was like a light went on. Because I had been blaming my body for betraying me.
Forever, for the whole year and a half, I had been just angry and just out of touch with my body, and when I thought about that, I thought,
‘My gosh. That is so true.’ ”
“If my body were not this amazing, it would’ve killed me.
If it couldn’t have handled all it had to go through…. It was my body that worked so hard.
So, after I had that breakthrough, I thought,
‘Thank you, body. Thank you for doing this for me.
Thank you so much.’ ”
Julie Howell | 44 | Arlington, Texas | wife to Scott | mother of Maddie and Harrison | homemaker
Diagnosis: DCIS w/ invasive component July 2008 | Bilateral Mastectomy August 2008 | Chemotherapy September 2008 – February 2009 | survivor
21 Comment to “Julie”
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Hey Julie-
Thank you so much for sharing. These are beautiful and your story is beautiful. We are so happy for you and your family. I hope you are just enjoying life and loving where you are. We are asking for prayers for a family who’s son is battling his second round with cancer in a year. He’s 15. He’s currently at St. Jude’s prepping for a stem cell transplant. Lots of chemo and rest. His name is Gabe Hilliard and you can follow his story at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/addisongabehilliard. His story is very inspirational and the fact that his family is so faithful and sees this as a way for God to use them as a tool to bring people to Him is amazing. Love to all of you!!
Julie,
I love the pink gloves! You do fight like a girl, you scratched and clawed your way back and boy are we glad (had to slip boy in there). I say we are glad, because we know first hand what you went through, we prayed, a lot, and look at you now. Incredible success story, tell the world! You are whole again and ready for anything. Bring it on.
Julie Howell!!! My awesome “little” friend
Thank you for sharing this with me. As I read your words I was brought to tears of joy of how gracious and kind our Lord has been to you…As you continue on your journey of self discover (of feeling “right”)….. Remember Jesus makes all things NEW 
Im excited about your new beginning!!!!!!! Love you sooooooooo much!!!
Love love love those pictures!!! Cancer did not know what it was up against with you! What an inspiring project….You are beautiful on the inside and out. Love ya!
This is precious, the pictures the writing- I love it & you! What is this blog/ project?? You will have to tell me in a few days. Love the pink gloves. A great thing to read at the beginning of breast cancer awareness month. I love “the glass is half full” perspective about your body fighting for you. Thanks for sharing. Suzanne
Julie,
What an amazing story you have! You don’t just look like the beautiful fireball I grew up with, YOU ARE incredibly beautiful and inspiring!
I love you and miss ya but look forward to getting together sooner than later!
I’m going to share this with our SA friends,
Stacie
This is so rockin’ awesome! Sharing your story, the struggles and the triumphs are a gift to us, just as you are
. I believe in listening to our bodies too, but exactly how to do that takes practice–at least for me it does. My lesson is to “let go and let God” — in that way my stress is less and suddenly I’m more in tune with everything I need to be, including my own body. Cheers my friend. Your smile above is precious and infectious!
Julie, You constantly amaze me with your strength and determination. I am so proud to call you my friend! You really are a fighter and we are all so blessed by you!! I love you dearly!!!!(And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the pink gloves!!!)
Julie-
Thank you so much for sharing your story! The pictures are darling and you can tell what a fighter you are just by looking at them! Your precious, precious body has fought the fight and WON! Thanks to God for giving us such great friends to sometimes point out things that we aren’t seeing. And thank you God for giving us JULIE HOWELL. You truly are an inspiration to us all!
Julie-
You are an inspiration. I am so proud to count you as a friend. Glad you decided to take part in this project–you look amazing.
Karen
Julie-
You are truly a divine, influential fighter and I thank God for that. He made your crooked path straight,and now,the Lord is using you as a vessel to spread His word! Looking at you makes everyone know just how good God is! Continue to have faith and be blessed.
Debbie
You (we) asked God to see you through this FIGHT… he gave you some boxing gloves and saw you through each round! Remember to praise Him and pick up those gloves when you need them in the ring of life!! I am, and always have been, in your corner.
I love you!!
Toni
P.S. Love the photos…You are adorable!!
Julie, you look HOT! Keep up the fight so many more women need this kind of support.You have been a angel in our life an we are so thankful. God placed you in our life dont know what we would do with out you. May God bless an keep you in all the things you do.Always Fight!
Julie,
You are amazing. You have been such an amazing blessing to so many. Your story is inspiring. You have been through so much. You ARE a fighter. You are an answer to prayer. I know that you will continue to make your life count. God is good.
Scott Youngblood
Julie:
As a fellow member of BSF, I remember a line spoken many years ago by our leader, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called”. How gracious and generous of you to share your experience. I know sharing will encourage many who might have similar circumstances.
You are a blessing to those who know and love you!!
Sherry McClure
Julie: I have followed your progress through your Dad & Mom and I am so happy you have won your fight. You know my wife, Ali, went through this same fight 15 years ago and she won her fight also. I know she had strengh I don’t believe I would have had and obviously you have this same strength. God bless you and keep spreading the word to other people, who have the misfortune to contract this dreaded desease, that you can fight and win this battle. You are living proof.
Hope to see and your family someday soon.
Yay, I’m leaving a comment tooooo!! I feel so special hahahahah((:
anyway, you look freaking GORGEOUS stop stealing all the pretty!!!
Just kidding, you totally deserve it. (: Love the haircut, btw…(;
You look soooo gorgeous!!! Seriously. ugh. stop it. the pretty burns hahahahah(; Well, since I was, like, there with you through all of the bad, I know that you’ve come a long way and I’m super duper proud of you, madre. (:
Love love love loooooooooove you hahahah((:
isnt she pretty shes my mommy aren’t you jealous!!?
I love the vest it’s pretty
love harrison
ps i love her
Julie! Oh my goodness!!!! These are amazing photos! My two favorites are your fight face and you showing those guns! You are a living, breathing example of the beautiful warrior princess every woman has waiting inside herself. Brava my Faerie Queen, brava!
You are amazing! You are my inspiration and a true friend, I love you.
Simply courageous. Beautiful. And an inspiration to so many. I love you.