Cold and Flu

This is about the Cold and Flu.  I don't know how many times in almost 30 years that people have scheduled an appointment while they were actively sick.  The misconception is that massage will push the illness out.  It will NOT.

As long as you are symptomatic, you are still sick.  Unless you have a doctor's note stating that you are not contagious, no massage therapist wants to work on you. 

For me, my husband has an immune deficiency called Hyper IgE syndrome also known as Job Syndrome.  This deficiency makes it difficult to fight off illnesses as it exacerbates his asthma.  My mother is in her 80s and battling Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia, which causes the brain to not function properly, causing her immune system to be at risk.  Getting sick can severely affect her cognitive decline.

If I get sick, I risk getting my family sick.  I don't appreciate when a client makes a fuss when I cannot take them because they are sick.  Even if I didn't have "my" people around me, I still would not want to work on someone sick with cold or flu.  

It will require me to have to significantly sterilize my work space, because your sick face is breathing through the face cradle, that other people need to put their face into.  It will cause me to have to work with a mask on, and that is very difficult to do, for someone like me who has a difficult time breathing through a mask and doing a vigorous exercise such as massage therapy.  I have to double wash my hands and arms with antimicrobial soap and hand sanitizer just to make sure I don't bring your germs home with me or pass them on to my next client.  

The best thing to do is stay home when you are sick and ride it out.  If I get sick, I cannot work.  My family depends on me.  I'm sure you wouldn't want me to work on you if I am sick. Stay home.

Rest In Peace Jamie Lopez - Babydoll Beauty Couture

Photo of Jamie via her personal Facebook profile

Years ago, about a decade ago, I was introduced online to a young lady named Jamie Lopez.  She was a nail technician, make-up artist, and hair stylist, who lived in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The goal between our online meeting was for me to go to Las Vegas and participate in massaging a few of her guests at a Spa Day for Supersized Women.

That spa day never happened, so I never went to Las Vegas to work on clients.  The door remained open in the event she decided to try again.

Jamie was a larger than life woman.  At her most, she weighed over 800 pounds, that's 200 pounds shy of an average car's weight.  She carried it well.  She remained beautiful no matter what.  Her spirit was gorgeous and the glow and beauty radiating from her was way bigger than she ever was.  

Jamie began to lose weight, and shared this journey on her profiles (business and personal) on Facebook.  She began to walk again after being bedbound for a long time.  She went on to share how she cooked and what she did for exercise.  

It wasn't 'til after her death, that I had realized she had a reality TV show called "Super Sized Salon."  I guess I knew, because I shared it on social media, but didn't really know the extent of popularity her show was.  It was on WETv.  I went years without having a television and so I never got a chance to see her rise to stardom.  Even still, she was a star to me.  She had a thriving business, dedicated to keeping bigger women feeling safe getting beauty treatments and pampering at her salon, Babydoll Beauty Couture. 

That said, Jamie Lopez will be remembered for being a kind woman, compassionate about her clients, and a star to me.  I am glad I had the opportunity to meet her, even if only online.  

June 19, 1985 - December 18, 2022
Rest in peace, Angelita.