Mother and daughter team Cindy Coniam and Ashley Warner have turned their tears into a business aimed at helping others cope with loss and forever record love. Their new website, http://www.olivejuicedesigns.net, was launched earlier this year to help others keep alive the memories of those who left too soon.
It’s been 12 years since Cindy’s daughter and Ashley’s sister succumbed to melanoma just four months and five days after being diagnosed with the aggressive cancer. Kelly’s brave fight was a heartbreaking journey, but what was most important to Cindy and Ashley was keeping the true spirit of Kelly alive for her young children and everyone else who loved her.
“I started every morning crying in the shower where no one could hear me. I felt I needed to keep a brave face. She was 25 years old, how could this be happening to her? She was so young and had just barely begun her adult life. I’ve struggled since then to figure out how this could have happened, and what I’m supposed to do with this. I knew I had to document her life for our family and especially for her kids who barely got to know her,” Cindy said.
“I looked and couldn’t find anything that would cover her whole life, from birth to death. Her sister Ashley and I spent many hours talking about this and decided to write the book/journal ourselves. When the journal was finished, we realized that everyone should be able to have their story told and preserved for future generations, and so with this thought in mind, olivejuice designs was born. This truly was a labor of love. We want everyone to have the opportunity to record their loved ones life, and feel it’s so important to the healing process. I finally feel like Kelly has a permanent place in the history of our family.” Cindy said. Ashley added, “There are a lot of journals for someone to document their feelings about their loss, but we couldn’t find anything for you to record your loved one’s life. A book that is just their story.” With this journal you can be your loved one's story teller, this journal contains 38 pages of prompts to help you. From how they came into this world, to how they left it, and everything in between. Pages include things like where they went to school, some of the things they loved, places they've been, their first home, favorites, words they lived by, and so much more. Once completed, this will become a treasured book that will be passed down from generation to generation. It's a celebration of their life!
olivejuice designs features different products to help families do just that. The memory boxes and books available on the site are designed to reflect the personality of your loved one and be filled with all sorts of memories. In addition to our memorial journal, and memory boxes we’ve designed a scrapbook photo album that can be personalized, sterling silver memorial jewelry, book marks and key chains. All good quality, beautiful items that will keep your loved one close to you.
There is also a grief message board on the site for people to come and find the peace and friendship they need, or just leave a memorial tribute to their loved one. Cindy is very proud of the fact that they are able to provide that “service” free to visitors. After her daughter died she says she found great comfort in grief message boards, and credits that with her healing.
Everyone needs a diversion once in a while so take a look at the recently added blog. They plan on making it an eclectic mix of reflections from different contributors with different views and personalities.
Since cancer has touched their lives in such a profound way, a portion of the net proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society, an organization dedicated to helping cancer patients and their families.
May is designated as Melanoma Awareness Month, Cindy and Ashley are grateful for the effort to educate people on the dangers of the sun and the risk of tanning beds. Education is crucial, 74% of young adults have little or no knowledge of melanoma. They frequently post information about melanoma on their cancer information link to help in this effort.
For more information about olivejuice designs, please log on to www.olivejuicedesigns.net. For press or wholesale requests, please contact Ashley Warner at 727-946-7103 or via email at ashley@olivejuicedesigns.net.
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Important facts about melanoma:
“Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. It is also the fastest growing skin cancer in the United States.
In a recent survey by the Center for Disease Control, 74% of young adults and 50% of older adults said that they had little or no knowledge about melanoma.
There have been no significant advances in the medical treatment or survival rate in the last 30 years.
If caught in the earliest stages, melanoma is entirely treatable with a survival rate of nearly 100%. If untreated and allowed to spread, there is no known treatment or cure.”
Source: www.charlie.org/melanoma_facts.html
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About Olivejuicedesigns.net - we specializes in unique, personalized sympathy gifts, being most proud of our memorial journal. Write your loved ones life story, there are prompts on each page to help. Once completed; this journal will become a treasured book that will be passed down from generation to generation. Other sympathy gifts include a photo scrapbook journal, memory boxes, personalized jewelry, guardian angel key chains and book marks. Visit our olivejuice designs message board and leave a memorial with or without a picture for your loved one. You can find cancer information and inspiring stories of hope and survival. Our newly added blog will give you a little diversion we all need. Authored by four contributors with different personalities it will be a eclectic mix of reflections. We hope to in some small way help to heal your grief.
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