Chanel Wilkins Brain Cancer - Medical and Recovery

If you know Chanel Wilkins, then you know she is ready to help others at any time. She is a leader within our community who is always looking to spark positive change and who is always looking to promote inclusivity. She is a problem solver, who likes to get things done, often on her own, or at her direction. Needless to say, Chanel has given tirelessly to our community for which we are all extremely grateful. And now it’s time for us all to show our gratitude and lift up Chanel, like she has done for so many others.

Chanel’s life was presented with a curve ball just weeks ago when she learned she had a cancerous brain tumor. And just days ago, she was in the hospital having surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible. The surgery, along with her upcoming treatments will prevent Chanel from running her business, and she will continue to incur fees and expenses related to her battle.

Chanel’s positive attitude during all of this has been inspirational! She continues to smile, she continues to have faith and she is ready to fight!

Please take time to donate what you are able, in order to relieve any/all financial stress and instead allow Chanel to focus solely on healing and recovery!

It's not surprising, that the first thing Chanel said to me when I told her I was starting this GoFundMe, was that she wholeheartedly intends to source all of her needs from local Holly Springs businesses whenever possible.

Here is an absolutely amazing and inspirational post from Chanel talking about the journey that she has just begun:

(Chanel will continue to update her progress and detail how your donation was used in her recovery)

“ I need to share this news as it has an immediate impact on my family, my business & my life.

I write this with a clear conscience and full belief in the Healing Power of God.

Please trust updates/directives here and/or from my husband Princeton Wilkins, and friends LaRonda Schenck Scott & Tonya Palumbo as local points of contact. We’ve been candid, they are fully aware of the severity of my current condition. I trust them, without question, to share and act on my behalf in my very best interest.

For the past couple weeks I was experiencing migraines from the time I woke up, until I went to bed. I wore shades and hats because full sunlight was almost blinding and covered it with ibrophen thinking it was stress.

You know, “muscling through”.

I noticed my vision was blurry, and thought at 41 years old this would be the time I finally needed to deal with the reality that I no longer had 20/20 vision & my husband scheduled me for an eye exam because I was “too busy” and kept putting it off.

We assumed that with glasses my vision would be clear and the migraines would stop. Quick, simple ~ then back to family, business & community.

To my surprise ~ this past Monday ~ while easing the family life of a young entrepreneur, her mother passed me from outside, came in the house and asked a question. I began to answer at the same time as her daughter, the home owner. It was at that moment I realized that I had no sight in my left peripherals. I’d begun to answer because I thought her mother was talking to me ~ I had no idea she was in the room with us.

This was more than a long day, stress, a migraine or needed glasses. I called my husband, made my way home and he took me to the ER at Rex in Holly Springs. After a CT scan, a doctor with tears on his eyes informed me that they’d found a brain tumor and had already arranged for me to be transported to Raleigh.

After days of evaluation and testing a neurologist and oncologist have advised me that my brain tumor is a Gbm & likely cancerous. I will have surgery next week to remove the tumor and proceed with Chemo & Radiation to make sure none of the tumor is left.

Doctors have advised me that afterwards, because the tumor is intertwined with my optic nerves, my complete loss of vision in my left peripherals will not return nor will my limitations in my right peripherals return to normal, my declined vision in my forward vision will not improve, my recovery will be challenging, my creativity & imagination sensory will suffer and due to seizure concerns I’m not to drive for 6 months at least.

Trust me, I know it all sounds horrible.

I don’t know an better/softer/gentler way to share what is currently happening.

To my friends of now & old:

You KNOW I love you.

To my customers: Owning our own business is one of the hardest things I’ve endeavored to do but to me it is part of my mission on earth. I believe what we do helps you, your family & employees live a better quality of life. You have welcomed me into your homes and trusted me with insight to your growing and/or evolving families. During Covid, some of you shared your deepest sorrows, I listened and cared as a friend ~ not a service worker.

Over the past 5 years, this process has allowed me live out my dreams while being able to raise my children , focus on my family and serve our community. I don’t take any of it for granted.

I trust my husband and staff to continue serving you with exceptional quality during my limited engagement and/or absence while I heal.

To everyone in Holly Springs, NC - I believe I was sent here on purpose. Whatever comes of this, my feelings of the historical richness and beauty of this town ~ coupled with the greatness it is and will become will never change.

~ If we have ever met and I gave you a hug and a smile I meant it.

~ If I ever reached out to warn you of anything, it’s because I truly wanted the best for you.

~ If I asked you a question about your life, your business, your family ~ it was genuine concern & care~ never small talk.

~ If I laughed, you were funny

~ If I cried for/with you it was because I could feel your pain ~ it was never a show.

~ If you shared your story and I got in your corner, I believe you. I believe IN you. I pray for your victory even now.

~ If we ever sat for coffee and chatted, I was already FOR you before we met in person.

And with all this, I haven’t been perfect, but I have no regrets. I now understand why God has me sharing the power of authenticity with so many.

Mothers/Wives, the idea of a “Superwoman” cape is a lie that binds us to sacrificing ourselves for some imaginary award. GET THE HELP YOU NEED.

There are some “strangers” in town that have always felt like family ~ you probably wondered why I latched on so tightly. I never really understood why either -Now I do. #Cousins

And here’s the crazy part:

I’m upbeat & in good spirits.

I’m not in shock or denial.

- I’ve written this because I fully understand the existence of life rests in the will of God alone. The constant question I’ve asked throughout my life~

“Why does God have me here?”

Before being transported, I assured the teary eyed Doctor, that if they needed a case study on healing, I’m the one. He looked me in the eyes, smiled, and said I was taking it better than he was.

I am taking streriods that are lessening my brain swelling & I don’t even have headaches. While at the hospital I’ve had nurses coming in individually to meet me, they are confused. They’ve seen my chart, they understand why I’m here~ but without that insight I look “well”.

My daughter is having a hard time especially without her brother close by to lean on. So do me a favor please~ if you see her, she doesn’t need your pity (she’s struggling with the flood of emotions)~ remind her of what I think of her, she is brilliant and naturally effortlessly good in every way. With her own brilliance she has exemplified wisdom & discipline her entire educational career and she owes it to HERSELF to see it through. She is human & no mistake she could ever make will disappoint me. Whether I’m on earth or in heaven my love for her isn’t dependent on her perfection.

Encourage my husband - be kind to him. I can’t begin to express the full spectrum of his feelings for him, but I’m sure “helpless” is somewhere in there. You’ve been able to see me because of his support as a husband and father. I’m confident that if there was anything he could do to ease this for me or from me, it would already be done.

Keep my son in your prayers. I have always been his biggest fan & in my heart he is one of America’s next greatest heroes.