Jill Resendez returned to the Hill Country to share how her mother's battle with breast cancer redirected her life and career path to providing transformative care for survivors.
Resendez explained how before her mother's diagnosis, her life seemed simple yet picturesque.
"I grew up in Texas alongside my friends, Mom and Dad, and an older sister. My childhood felt simple," said Resendez. "When people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always the same. I was going to California to become a fashion designer."
In her freshman year of high school, Resendez received news that changed her life.
"My mom was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer and was given six months to live," said Resendez.
Despite navigating such severe news at such a young age, Resendez was able to see her mother as the picture of resilience.
"My mom was determined. She faced this grim reality fiercely," said Resendez. " She planned adventures, trips, she made the most of every single day, all while going to endless appointments, treatments, and trials."
After bravely battling and participating in clinical trials at MD Anderson in Houston, Resendez' mother beat the odds.
"Those treatments had not been proven successful yet. They hoped to give us more time together, and thankfully it did. She fought with extraordinary courage and grace for four years," said Resendez.
Witnessing the poise and strength displayed in the midst of treatment inspired Resendez to help others like her mother.
"My mom's passing absolutely changed the direction of my life," said Resendez. "In the last month of my mom's life, I met a hospice nurse who made me feel comfortable in the worst moments of my life. I wanted to do that for someone one day," said Resendez.
Putting her fashion design dreams on hold, Resendez graduated high school with a newfound passion. She earned her associates in science from a junior college then graduated from Schreiner University's first ever nursing program in 2013.
" The majority of my nursing career was spent treating adult burn victims. It was so rewarding that I truly thought I had found my calling," said Resendez.
She returned to college, this time becoming a Nurse Practitioner, earning her Masters of Science and Nursing at the University of Texas at Arlington in 2020. Hired at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) as the sole nurse practitioner, Resendez was introduced to reconstructive and transformative services for breast cancer survivors.
"Just a few months into my role, Dr. Julie Park, who specialized in oncoplastic breast reconstruction, approached me and asked if I would be interested in tattooing nipples and areolas on breast cancer patients," said Resendez.
Resendez accepted her offer "without hesitation," despite being unfamiliar with the service.
" I asked about training courses, but the COVID restrictions and UTMB policies would not allow me to go to any in-person training," said Resendez. " I did not think online training would suffice to perfect the art of tattooing nipples and areolas, considering I did not even know how to turn the machine on."
Resendez began her search for a mentor. She began by reaching out to local tattoo artists on social media or going door-to-door to find someone willing to train her. The search seemed to always end fruitlessly, until she caught a pair of tattoo artists outside their parlor after closing.
"When I pulled up to the place, I was so nervous. I was practicing in my head what I was going to say. As I sat there, I saw two men turning off the lights, walking out of the shop and locking up to leave for the night. So I jumped out of my car," said Resendez.
After relaying her background at UTMB and her desire to provide high-quality nipple and areola tattoos for breast cancer survivors, she finally found a mentor in Ray Daffin at Marlinspike Ink in Alvin, Texas.
For the next eight months, Resendez spent all of her free time and weekends training at Marlinspike Ink.
"He taught me how to draw, how to shade. He would give me homework. He would say, 'Don't come back until you've drawn a thousand nipples.' He was the absolute best teacher," said Resendez.
Resendez' apprenticeship was deemed over by her mentor Ray, but she had one last session scheduled at Marlinspike Ink.
"I asked one last favor. I asked if I could bring my first breast cancer survivor to his shop and tattoo her there so he could watch and make sure it was perfect," said Resendez. "They taught me everything I needed to know about tattooing and told me if I ever needed anything, I knew exactly where to find them," said Resendez.
Now Resendez uses her tattooing talents to help breast cancer survivors feel more comfortable with their bodies post-treatment.
"I don't know every woman's journey, but I know what my mom went through, so I'll be damned if these women are going to get through the hardest years of their lives and not end up with the most beautiful nipples and areolas," said Resendez.