I love sharing stories from our tribe, but periodically a story from outside the tribe catches our eye and it’s too good not to share! Today, we’re excited to feature an interview with a New York City actor, her tribe of friends and family, and what happens when you bring costumes and a camera into the mix. Meet Karen Walsh – and learn about her fresh take on cancer treatment.

Karen Walsh (Rullman), a Broadway actor, wife and mother of two young children who lives in New York City, was diagnosed with stage-four colon cancer 6 months ago, just after her 40th birthday. After a friend suggested she go public with the news, Karen began posting photos from each of her bi-monthly treatments. These creative and theatrical photo shoots have taken on a life of their own and are helping Karen – and others – to see beyond a cancer diagnosis.

Round 9: The Resistance is Mounting (Star Wars)

Who/what inspired you to do a photo shoot with each round of treatment?

It all happened very organically. I took a selfie during my first infusion, seeing it as the first step towards healing. And then took another one for Round Two. I decided to post the second one and sort of announce what was going on with me in a more public way. A friend had grabbed me the afternoon of September 11th, when I was leaving the playground just after I learned I had cancer. She told me the best thing I could do for myself was to be public about this. She had been sick with breast cancer the entire year before and hadn’t told anyone. She said she really regretted this, because she was constantly trying to hide something and didn’t have the support she could have had. So up it went on Facebook. And Instagram. And the responses were beyond my wildest expectations. It was entirely self-serving to post, because I was reaching out for encouragement. But I GOT IT. So much! And I felt so strong. And after that, they started to become more…”creative.” The strangest part, for me, is when people say these photos are inspiring. Because I think I don’t quite understand why. It’s just my coping mechanism. However, I have started to get notes and letters from people I don’t know telling me that they help. The photos seem to help other people in my situation see something positive or funny or creative happening with treatment and that helps them. It’s been nice to hear that they do some good for other people.

Round 5: Aerial Performance

The photo shoots have grown more complex with each treatment. Was this a conscious decision or an evolution of the concept?

It wasn’t a conscious decision. During my Round 4 session, my friend and choreographer/ director Sam Pinkleton joined me. He is so creative and so much fun to create with… I love working with him. And we started playing around with the space we were in and trying to make a fun selfie. Which is how I ended up on the window ledge with curtains wrapped around my leg, to make it look like I was doing some aerial work, while receiving treatment. We found it hilarious. From that point on, creativity became a way to make my treatments and CT scan preps more entertaining. Really, it’s all about passing the time. And having some fun with my friends and family. Also having a creative outlet, particularly when I wasn’t able to work in those beginning months.

How do you come up with the ideas for each scene?

Once I know who is joining me for a treatment or scan, I like to brainstorm with them and make it a collaborative process. We have been on a movie theme for a while now. Maybe it will continue or maybe it will change. Regardless, it’s been so fun…especially as so many of my pals are actors and are collaborative by nature. They are also quite willing to play, which is awesome. It’s also very enjoyable when my “non-actor” friends come too. I love seeing them dress up and get a little whacky with me. It’s just great to spend the time with people who want to fool around a bit and visit. I like to laugh. Having cancer is just absurd.

Round 10: Sincerely Yours, The Breakfast Club

Does the planning/preparation for these photo shoots help you to manage your emotions leading up to each new treatment?

It’s certainly a distraction! Honestly I don’t usually need too much “emotion management” leading up to a treatment. On the infamous Day 3…that’s when I need to manage my emotions because I’m tired and feel the effects. I tend to feel the most emotional and so it’s nice to look back at the photos then. They remind me that I felt fine and I that I will the next day. It helps me remember that it will pass. My Day 3 mantra!

You were in the middle of planning a cancer benefit when you were diagnosed. Tell me more about your involvement with the benefit.

Round 11: “Get Hit and Keep Going” (Rocky)

In 2011, my friend actor Jim Rebhorn had a recurrence of his cancer and I wanted to do something to help. So in January 2012, in Jim’s honor, I produced a Broadway concert and auction with my friend Eva Kaminsky, benefitting the American Cancer Society, titled “We’re Gonna have to Ask You to Leave.” Jim wasn’t public about his illness at that point, so it was secretly in his honor. He was the only one who knew. Jim passed away in 2014 and in the spring of 2015 a friend suggested I do it again. This time around, my friend Rebecca Brooksher was free to help me produce it and we decided to go for it. Then I had spine surgery and seven weeks before the event I got my cancer diagnosis. Rebecca definitely ended up taking on more than she signed up for and so many people jumped in to offer help. I did most of my work from my bed, on the phone and computer. It was a really successful event thanks to everyone involved. We publicly honored Jim, with his wife’s permission, which I loved. We sold out. Michael Urie and Celia Keenan-Bolger hosted the event and we had an amazing cast of Broadway talent and raised about $25,000 for research, for the American Cancer Society.

How has your life changed since your diagnosis?

Round 12: Golden Ticket! (Willy Wonka)

I think back to 2014 when I was running around doing a couple of shows, had a brand new second child, was actively participating in PTA activities for my first child’s school, play dates, nights seeing other shows, traveling with my husband…and keeping a pretty active social life. It was so, so busy. And I LOVED it. I’m eager to get back up to tempo, but in the meantime I’m learning that slow is ok, too. And that it’s ok to say no when I’m tired, and that hanging on the couch with my husband is relaxing and fun, even if it’s three nights in a row!  And actually, maybe slowing down sometimes isn’t a terrible thing. Everyone else on the planet probably already knew that… but I’m glad to catch on.  I’ve been declared “out of crisis” and my parents, who’ve been here since the start, will be going back to rural Massachusetts soon. It’s probably good I didn’t know I was “in crisis” but I’m glad to hear I’m out of it! So it’s a new chapter. Cancer as a chronic disease is apparently becoming a much more common thing. I will miss my parents so much, and I’m nervous about the upcoming independence, but this first phase has taught me the value of slowing down, the value of family and friend time (whether it is quiet or loud), the value of staying true to myself, and the courage to ask for what I need. It’s also taught me that life is actually fleeting. All of our lives! So why should we spend time doing things that don’t make us happy? That’s my new chapter resolution.

Want to check out all of Karen’s photos? Visit her Instagram account at Kwrandthebigwin.