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MidReal Story
Trina Anderson,
Anonymous
Apr 1
Scenario:Trina Anderson, a personal shopper for cancer patients, helps her client Samantha feel beautiful after a year of battling cancer, and considers expanding her business by hiring a full-time employee; meanwhile, Jackson Reed, an architect and heir to a billionaire, faces criticism from his family about a failed investment and clashes with his aunt over his capabilities in the business.
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“Just a couple more minutes,” I called through the door of the fitting room.
I pulled out my phone and snapped a quick picture of my client, Samantha, twirling in the dress.
Her short brown hair flared out around her like a ballerina’s tutu and her hazel eyes sparkled with happiness.
She was breathtaking.
She stopped spinning and walked to the mirror where I stood.
“I love this one.” She pointed to the sleek, black dress.
“It’s so simple but feels so elegant.”
I hugged her and she looked at me, her eyes filling with tears.
She’d had a tough year—breast cancer at thirty-two years old isn’t something anyone should have to go through.
But she’d made it through her treatment with grace and strength, even when she’d lost all of her hair, even when they’d had to remove her breasts.
And now, she was healthy and happy and I was so proud of her.
“You look beautiful,” I said.
“I’m so proud of you.”
She hugged me back.
“Thank you for being here for me.” She pulled away and looked at me, her eyes full.
“Of course,” I said.
“You’re like a sister to me.”
She smiled and we shared a moment of silence.
Then I tossed the dress in the take pile and pointed at the next one.
“Next,” I said.
We had a lot more to try on before we were finished.
I’m Trina Anderson, personal shopper extraordinaire.
I specialize in helping cancer patients and survivors look their best.
I started my business two years ago and it’s just exploded since then.
I have clients all over Chicago and a waiting list a mile long.
It’s been amazing.
It all started when I lost my mom to breast cancer ten years ago.
I was twenty-two at the time and it rocked my world.
I watched as this strong woman deteriorated before my eyes, as the life was sucked out of her by this horrible disease.
I vowed right then that I would do whatever I could to help other women feel beautiful, even if they were fighting for their lives, even if the disease took everything from them, including their identities.
Samantha was my very first client and we clicked right away, became fast friends after that first meeting in the boutique where I worked at the time.
It’d been her first visit there, and I’d been the lucky girl who got to help her find a dress for a work event.
She’d just moved to Chicago from New York City and we immediately hit it off—talking about fashion, food, and life in general like we’d known each other forever.
Then a couple months later she found out she had breast cancer and called me for help finding a wig and learning how to do her makeup without any eyebrows or eyelashes.
It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but I did it with a smile on my face because Samantha is an amazing woman and I knew she could get through it.
