Community Highlights: Meet Paulette Duggins of The Angelic Warrior Foundation

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paulette Duggins.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story of how I got to where I am today begins with the story of one of my daughters. My daughter, Ms. Angelica Da’Juana Duggins, affectionately known as Angel, was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal Cancer at the very young age of 29. Angel faced her cancer challenge bravely, patiently, faithfully, and lovingly for three years. She transitioned from this earthly realm in 2020 at the age of 32. Although my Angel gracefully embraced and endured her cancer experience, cancer remains the most ugly and horrific beast I’ve ever seen. As mothers, our human nature is to nurture, care for, and protect the beautiful human beings we are so blessed to conceive, carry in our very own womb, birth, and love for the rest of their entire lives. (And beyond, as I have now learned). Therefore, for me as a mother, the worst thing I have ever experienced or had to deal with is being faced with a situation, challenge, or problem that I could not solve, fix, or resolve for my baby. There are not enough words in the English dictionary, or any other dictionary for that matter, nor a clearly defined emotion, that could effectively explain or describe the emptiness, helplessness, torture, and pain that encompasses a mother watching and caring for a child enduring this tragedy. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This road I am on is by no means smooth. In fact, navigating this path has been, and continues to be, a very bumpy roller coaster ride. For how do you continue to navigate your life on earth without your Angel? How do you go on with life when the life you nurtured has been drastically and dramatically snatched from your bosom? 

I set out on this journey to do a good deed, and that is to fulfill by daughter’s wishes, to honor her legacy, and most importantly to help save lives. Yet as honorable as my intentions and the good deeds are, I can’t help but experience the constant ebb and flow of emotions that come out of hiding from time to time and remind me of how I happened upon this path. But nonetheless, those same emotions also propel me to keep going and keep sharing because sharing is caring, and caring is what Angel did so very well. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about The Angelic Warrior Foundation?
The Angelic Warrior Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. I am currently President and Co-founder. The original founder of the Angelic Warrior Foundation is my daughter herself, Ms. Angelica Da’Juana Duggins, affectionately known as Angel. The Angelic Warrior Foundation was established in 2020, a few months after Angel’s transition from this earthly realm. During Angel’s experience with cancer, she was confident she would overcome it and often expressed her plans to start a nonprofit to help other cancer patients. It was just like her to be concerned about others even in the midst of her own challenges. She was a very sweet, loving, kind-hearted, and giving person. When Angel passed, her siblings and I knew we had to honor her wishes and make her nonprofit a reality. Thus, the Angelic Warrior Foundation was established in her honor and with her original purpose in mind, which was to help other patients. 

What you should know is that as a mother and caregiver of someone diagnosed with colorectal cancer, I know all too well the devastating affects that colorectal cancer can have on the patient, those caring for the patient, and family members close to the patient. Therefore, I am very passionate about advocating for patients, caregivers, and the families affected. My goal is to work relentlessly to fulfill the mission of Angel’s Foundation. The mission of the Angelic Warrior Foundation is to increase Colorectal Cancer awareness and to provide the support that patients, caregivers, and families need in order to thrive. Three years ago, I would have never imagined I would be living life without my Angel and that her life would have ended at such a young age due to colorectal cancer. What I do know now that I did not know then is that colorectal cancer diagnoses among young people is rampantly on the rise with no clear etiology. It is abruptly disrupting lives, and I am on a mission to try to stop it by making people more aware and preventing others from going through what Angel went through and what I and my family went through. I now spend my days and nights strategizing, networking, planning, and collaborating with other organizations to raise awareness and to educate individuals, families, and communities not only about colorectal cancer itself but also about Early Onset or Young Onset CRC. Early Onset (Young Onset) CRC is colorectal cancer diagnosis that occurs before the screening age of 45. We don’t know why colorectal cancer is invading the bodies of so many young people, but we do know that the only way to protect yourself from it is, is to become aware of it and to be educated about it, including risk factors, signs & symptoms, and family history. Spreading awareness and educating others about CRC, and advocating for equitable care and treatment for those diagnosed, is now my life’s work in honor of my daughter… 

What sets me apart from others is two things; for one, I bring to the organization a deep pain that fuels my pure passion for this cause. Another thing that sets me apart is my experience as a caregiver which affords me the ability to relate and empathize with other caregivers. 

I am most proud of how I am able to take the bitter lemons that life has served me and my family and make lemonade to which we are able to serve others. What I am most proud of about our brand is the beautiful logo that was created using Angel’s beautiful face, her sweet personality, and her very own warrior selfie that she took one day as she encouraged herself. 

I want readers, especially those who are patients, caregivers, or family members of someone diagnosed with colorectal cancer to know that the Angelic Warrior Foundation exists to be of support to other patients, caregivers, and families who are going through what Angel and her family went through. I also want readers who are between the ages of 18 and 35 to “be aware and show their bodies they care.” The way to do this is to listen to all that we are sharing about the prevalence of Early Onset CRC, be aware of the risk factors, know your family history, and be aware of signs & symptoms as well as the lack of signs & symptoms. And lastly, pay attention to your body. When something seems off or different, investigate further, see a doctor, and never be ashamed to discuss any symptoms you may be experiencing. 

We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
A couple of  surprising things that people may not know about me is that one, I am a former Educator with over 15 years of experience in the public school system. Secondly, I am a Poet and a published Author with two poetry collections and one children’s book to date. And lastly, my therapeutic outlets are writing & reciting poetry, painting, and planning “Poetry & Tea” events and “Kids Art & Poetry” events.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://angelicwarriorfoundation.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelicwarriorfoundation/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelicWFInc/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/68337100/admin/feed/posts/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AngelicWFdn
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGA3OJbPv4nje7wlUTGqehg
• Other: https://paulamarieduggins.com/

Image Credits
Life’s Image Jasper and Fern Photography