Meet SJ (she/her/hers)
A Woman Powered by an Artificial Heart — and an Even More Powerful Soul; I’m Sonya (SJ) Jackson, founder of Sole PHuel Collections™ — a brand where fashion meets function, healing meets hustle, and soul meets self-expression. I’m a designer, LVAD warrior,
and visionary who turned survival into style and pain into purpose.
The Beginning: From Centreville to Calling
I grew up in Centreville, Virginia, a small town just outside of Washington, D.C. After leaving my hometown in 2004, life took me through a few chapters and zip codes before I eventually
settled in Camp Springs, Maryland, right across from Andrews Air Force Base, where I lived for nearly a decade. During that time, I unknowingly battled the effects of water contamination that would later change the course of my life. Years later, when my heart began to fail, I was told “no” by Washington Hospital Center — a moment that could’ve ended my story. But when Cedars-Sinai in Beverly Hills, CA said “yes,” I knew my next chapter wasn’t in Washington D.C. anymore. So, in the middle of a pandemic, I took a gamble on my purpose. With nothing but faith, my dog, and a FaceTime apartment walkthrough, I packed up and moved silently to Southern California — chasing something bigger than survival. I was chasing my calling.
The Break: When Survival Became Purpose
In 2017, at age 29, I was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer — a fight I believe was triggered by the contamination I was exposed to back in Maryland. After six months of chemo, radiation, and surgery, I was declared cancer-free in early 2018. But shortly after, I suffered
congestive heart failure that led to a coma. When I woke up, I was fitted with a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) — a machine that keeps my heart beating and, unexpectedly, opened the door to my next chapter.
The Spark: What the Market Missed
Coming home from the hospital, shoulder aching, I searched for a simple waist bag to carry my LVAD batteries and controller. Everything I found was either too small, poorly made, or lacked dignity. High-end designers like Gucci and Fendi dominated the luxury space — but
none of them made space for people like me. That’s when I knew: survival and style should never be mutually exclusive. So I got to work.
The Build: Born from Pain, Passion, and Purpose Sole PHuel Collections™ was built from pain, passion, and purpose — not privilege. Funded entirely from my own pocket, I learned everything from scratch: printing, design, branding, fulfillment, and building a working website. It wasn’t fun — it was survival through creation. I
burned money. I made mistakes. But the knowledge I gained was priceless.
The Evolution: From Therapy to Movement
What started as therapy — customizing clothes to cope with my new reality — grew into a movement. Now, Sole PHuel™ offers more than apparel. It offers tools for transformation. I created tiered memberships to meet people where they are.
Sole Circle — a safe space to read, reflect, and heal through blog posts, journaling prompts, and soulful community vibes.
Phuel Files — for entrepreneurs ready to map out their vision with tools, planners, and business resources.
The Blueprint — the all-access lifestyle upgrade: healing, structure, and soul all in one.
The Innovation: Designing the Ventri-Bag™
I’m proud to be developing the Ventri-Bag™ — a medically conscious, stylish LVAD waist bag that blends survival with self-expression. Because no one should have to hide their hardware
or shrink their light to feel seen.
The Legacy: Rebuilding from the Inside Out
Even through new storms — a stroke in 2022, pneumonia in 2024, and constant housing discrimination — I keep building. Because I know Sole PHuel™ is bigger than me. It’s for anyone who’s ever had to rebuild themselves from the inside out. From a hospital bed to a
press machine. From Centreville to California. From pain into purpose. If you’re ready to heal, build, or feel seen — welcome to the PHuel.