The beautiful bride who didn’t let cancer control her life
3rd March 2019
She wore a bright red saree with a white tulle veil and mehendi adorned her delicate hands and feet. The photographer captured the perfect moment when her lips curled into a smile of a shy Indian bride. A moment that won the hearts of million. However, what sets her apart from hundred other brides, is the story of her fight against cancer, which is an inspiration for millions of cancer patients and survivors. She is Vaishnavi Poovanedran. But most of us perhaps know her as Navi Indran Pillai after her powerful photo series on Instagram of ‘Bold Indian Bride’ went viral.
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A shy bride? Maybe? Hahaha for those who know me will strongly say I am not shy... hahaha back me up here people... ?: @shi.vaa90 @celesgrd MUA: @blushbeautybeyond @emmanuel_ravi98 Accessories: @desirec.my Outfit: @pattushastra Henna: @bdazzled_beauty
A post shared by Navi Indran Pillai (@naviindranpillai) on Feb 23, 2019 at 6:44pm PST
Poovanedran, an Indian-origin Malaysian, is a motivational speaker and dancer. She chose the popular social media platform Instagram (@naviindranpillai) to share her bridal photoshoot, which was done by photographer Celes Gerard, to help cancer survivors realise that ‘the human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it’ and not even cancer can beat that indomitable human spirit.
She is a breast cancer survivor who truly stands by what her Instagram profile says—what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger. In one of her posts she wrote, “For me, as a cancer survivor, I dreamt the day I marry the love of my life. Dreamt, what it is like to look like a bride, to feel like a bride. Having gone through cancer treatments (chemotherapy, etc.), losing my hair was by far the hardest thing I ever had to go through. I felt that I was not beautiful enough to be loved and was not beautiful enough to look or ever feel like a bride. Hair, it is our 'crowning glory' and having that taken away from you is devastating. But we choose to accept what we have, appreciate what we are and welcome what is coming. So here it is, *Bold Indian Bride*”
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Cancer treatments has given us alot of limitations, has robbed us from beauty and taken away our confidence. As a little girl, we have always dreamt of what our big day will be like and how we would look as a bride. But having cancer has stripped some of us from fulfilling these dreams. Alot of cancer survivors has postponed or even cancelled their big day. For me, as a cancer survivor, I dreamt the day I marry the love of my life. Dreamt, what it is like to look like a bride, to feel like a bride. Having gone through cancer treatments (chemotherapy, etc.), losing my hair was by far the hardest thing I ever had to go through. I felt that I was not beautiful enough to be loved and was not beautiful enough to look or ever feel like a bride. Hair, it is our 'crowning glory' and having that taken away from you is devastating. But we choose to accept what we have, appreciate what we are and welcome what is coming. So here it is, *Bold Indian Bride* ****************************************************** Bangles & Bridal Anklet : @desirec.my Silk Saree & Bridal Veil : @pattushastra Photography: @celesgrd Assisted by: @shi.vaa90 Make-up & Styling : @blushbeautybeyond Assisted by : @emmanuel_ravi98 Henna: @bdazzled_beauty #kissedbycancer #cancersucks #cancersurvivor #youngadultcancer #letsfcancer ** A huge thank you to the team. You guys made my dream come true. Not only I looked like a bride, I felt like a bride and it was all thanks to the wonderful team for bringing it to life. I am so grateful to have met such wonderful people. I am extremely blessed for the amount of love and support I have received. Scrolling through the pictures, tears rolled down because I got to have my dream come true and it is because you guys made it happen for me. I am extremely grateful. Thank you all so much. Lots of love, Navi
A post shared by Navi Indran Pillai (@naviindranpillai) on Feb 20, 2019 at 7:11pm PST
She had defeated cancer not once but twice. After being declared cancer-free, Poovanedran again had to fight cancer when it was found to have spread to her liver and backbone after five years. After intensive treatments and sessions of chemotherapy, she beat cancer once again in 2018. “Cancer treatments have given us a lot of limitations, robbed us of beauty and taken away our confidence. As little girls, we have always dreamt of what our big day will be like and how we would look like as a bride,” wrote Poovanedran who is now a beacon of hope for cancer survivors and people who are still fighting against the deadly disease.
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The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it Cancer free as of 27th December 2018 ❤ Photography: @satishchandramohan_ MUA: @sunnymua #kissedbycancer #letsfcancer #cancersurvivor #cancersucks #youngadultcancer
A post shared by Navi Indran Pillai (@naviindranpillai) on Jan 28, 2019 at 11:58pm PST
We wish her all the best and a blissfully happy married life!
Source: indiatimes.com