Learning to love OUR BODIES
Woman's Weekly|August 15, 2023
Three women share how they came to embrace the skin they're in
GILLIAN HARVEY
Learning to love OUR BODIES

'My scar is a symbol of survival'

Harriet Kelsall, 52, is founder of Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery and lives in Cambridge with her 18-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter.

I was born with a tiny leak in my heart valve, but never had any problems. Then, after my second child was born in 2009, I experienced a regularly racing heart.

As a busy mum, I put it down to stress and tried to ignore it. But in 2012 I suddenly collapsed. I was rushed to hospital, where I was told I'd need life-saving surgery.

Although the procedure was a success, I was left with a snaking red scar - I'll never forget when I finally came home after two and a half weeks, expecting my children to rush into my arms. My eldest, then seven, shrank back when he saw it.

I also suffered from survivor's guilt. Why had I been saved when not everyone with the same condition survived? And what about the workers in Peru, who mine the Fairtrade gold I use for my jewellery business? If they needed this procedure, it wouldn't be available to them.

Over the years, I came to terms with what happened and began to feel I was worthy of this second chance at life. I also designed a pendant to raise money for a charity called 'Chain of Hope', which helps children from developing and war-torn countries suffering from heart disease.

But the physical scar still made me self-insecure, and I became used to dressing in high-necked tops to cover it.

What happened next could be described as a eureka moment. It was 2015 and I caught sight of my scar in the mirror. Running my finger along its uneven surface, I marvelled at the operation that had kept me alive. I realised that while it might not be aesthetically pleasing, it was a souvenir of something incredible.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 15, 2023 من Woman's Weekly.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 15, 2023 من Woman's Weekly.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.