MAHOMET, Ill. (WAND) — "Karley is the biggest ray of sunshine...," said Salon 105 stylist, Leah Mattingly.Â
"More than anything else, she is so kind...," added another stylist, Morgan Pruitt.Â
Karley Bridgwater is a mother, a friend, and a master when it comes to styling. She's been cutting hair ever since she learned how to use scissors.
"I always wanted to cut hair. I had the Bratz doll mannequins I'd sit down and braid!" shared Bridgwater, with a huge smile.
At 26, she has a successful career, a list of clients, and a family. That is, until a bomb fell into her lap when she noticed a lump in her breast.
Last month, Karley was diagnosed with Triple Negative Invasive Mammary Carcinoma, a rare and particularly aggressive breast cancer.Â
Holding back tears, Bridgwater added, "My cancer just kind of grew on its own. And it's growing rapidly on its own."
Only 10 to 15 percent of women with breast cancer discover that it's triple negative. Now, Bridgwater is gearing up for months of intense chemotherapy.
"They picked the wrong one...," said Mattingly, with a smile. "She has always been a fighter."
Now, it's the salon's turn to join their friend in this battle.
"We didn't think twice," shared Pruitt. "We have shirts, we have a GoFundMe, we even have a tip jar for Karley that has a clever pun."
As the salon prepares her as best they can, they hope to help Bridgwater and her family during this time of expensive medical bills.
Bridgwater began chemotherapy this week, and already cut her long, blonde hair into a bob.
"My hair has always been part of my identity..." she said. "Cancer and chemo will absolutely change my appearance of my hair and my body, but it won't take away my spirit."
Bridgwater said, the secret to doing hard things is to always laugh when you can.
"I'm still going to be unapologetically myself and crack a joke along the way."
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