Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1495571
64 ASCP Skin Deep Spring 2023 I also have amazing tools I was able to introduce to my clients because of the tools I use to manage my chronic pain, such as LED red light therapy. I'm always seeking out more solutions, not only for myself but also for my clients. I'm able to say, "I'm there with you and this is what I found works for me. It may not work for you, but we could give it a try." It's made me more compassionate not to judge other people's journeys and not to look at them as anything other than human beings having human experiences. As humans, we're taught to hide things that bother us; we're taught to not talk about our pain or discomfort. And I think living with Ehlers-Danlos has given me a unique ability to draw that out of people and hopefully help them heal from it. SD: It seems like your clients are at the heart of what you do. Tell us about your nonprofits. SAS: They're ways of giving back, but still ways of doing what I love to do as an esthetician. Wings of Hope allows us to bring people who are currently undergoing cancer treatment into the spa who otherwise maybe couldn't afford a spa day—which is much needed during treatment. All services are performed by certified medical oncology estheticians and are focused on the guest feeling supported, loved, and whole. It was established in honor of Paula Tower, a dear friend of mine who heroically fought her metastatic breast cancer head-on with a beautiful attitude and spirit. Restorative Ink [works with] human trafficking survivors and domestic abuse survivors who were forced to have a branding tattoo placed on their person. Many times, these survivors are forcibly tattooed against their will to show ownership over them. I'm a lover of tattoos. But I was allowed to put my story into an artistic expression on my body. I can't imagine if someone who wanted to hurt me got to choose what was put on my body forever. I help guide these survivors back into the light. I also remove the visible and painful scars of the past, helping them move forward. The best part of any program we offer free of charge is that the only expectation [we have] of these folks is that they pay it forward in our community. SD: How do you put your Restorative Ink clients at ease during their sessions? SAS: We let them know they're safe and whatever emotion comes up is a valid emotion. And we do the best we can to keep them calm and comfortable—if it