Gay Jenkins It's ok, sometimes we get to amplify the love our extended gifted family. Nurses, cashiers, taxi drivers... some of the kindest people in my cancer journey have been the "family" that has chosen to be kind without strings attached.

She’s got you. We all got you. Ayanna Mackins Free ❤️🙏

成都按摩/武汉会所/苏州spa/重庆资源/济南上门/天津线下 @d_e_r_e_kc Tina Barta Ayanna (Ayanna Mackins Free): Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/off… + podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/off… Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6zRpHF… + open.spotify.com/episode/65hCWB…

🫶🏼 support Ayanna Mackins Free gofund.me/b7afb80b Thank you for this throwback video! So much history with The Challenge ❤️

I have said from day 1 that I wasn't going to let Cancer beat me. 8 months later I'm still fighting. Today I have no pain. I should but I dont. All of you out here give me strength. I in turn try to give you some of that. So a big THANK YOU. 🙏🙏❤

If you missed it live watch it here & hear ⁦Ayanna Mackins Free⁩ speak on her situation herself! instagram.com/reel/C3Iop7hg1…

Truly thankful for all of the support 🥰🥰🥹🥹🫂🫂

Some have asked me about my name... I had it legally changed after my dad passed away. I wanted to add "Free" since I was 12 years old, as my dad was not in my life for a large portion of it.

As a child, paternity was questioned by many adults around me, people can be unnecessarily cruel when your mom's last name doesn't match your own.

Even though my dad and I reconnected and reaffirmed our relationship as adults, I still wanted to change my name. I waited until after he died so his feelings would not be hurt.

After his passing in 2017 , I also had a child in the same year. In the hospital, I named my daughter and was told that she couldn't be "Free" because I was not "Free". As soon as I got out of the hospital, I filed for my name change. So my daughters could be free.

I wanted my little daughter to be free and that every time she said her name, she would know that she is free. Free of generational burdens, free of carrying the bags of past drama/trauma.

The autonomy to name ourselves is disruptive to some. I stand with anyone who has ever been called a name that doesn't match or affirm their self-identity, and been brave enough to request to be called by their chosen name.

I also learned at a family reunion that our birth last name, Mackins, was a chosen name adopted by a paternal ancestor upon their escape from slavery. I hope my ancestor would understand my own attempt at a version of freedom, to be called how you choose to be called.

If my little daughters read this one day in absence of my presence, know that your whole name was intentional. Girls, your names are for the strongest women as you are named for your grandmothers and great grandmothers. Your last name is Free. As these women are free.

Ayanna Mackins Free Veronica Portillo. from beautiful girls to smart women. I can say I watched it all happen! Proud of all you ladies.🫶🔥💗

Last Monday before the surgery that will change me forever as I know it. Been prepping, but I need more time. #goingflat #mastectomy #breastcancer

PBS Kids! Lyla in the Loop | Parent Testimony youtu.be/bXKLUrOQrAc?si… via YouTube

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