Meet SJ (she/her/hers) 

A woman powered by an artificial heart and an even more powerful soul.

 

I’m SJ — founder of SolePhuel Collections™, LVAD warrior, designer, and visionary behind fashion that functions and a brand that heals.

 

I’m originally from Centreville, Virginia — a small town just outside of Washington, D.C. 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 in pursuit of something bigger than survival — I was chasing my calling.

 

But my journey didn’t start there.

 

In 2017, at age 29, I was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. 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.

 

Coming home from the hospital, shoulder aching, I went searching for a simple waist bag to carry my LVAD batteries and controller. Most were too small, poorly made, or completely ignored the dignity and lifestyle of someone like me. I found that only high-end designer bags — Gucci, Fendi, and the like — had the space. But none were made for us. That’s when I knew: survival and style shouldn’t be mutually exclusive.

 

So I got to work.

 

SolePhuel Collections™ was born from pain, passion, and purpose — not privilege. Funded entirely from my own pocket, I learned everything from scratch. Direct-to-garment printing, fulfillment, design, branding, and building a working website — not because it was fun, but because I had no other option. I could’ve cried over Wix prices (and I did), but instead I rolled up my sleeves and got messy. I burned money. I made mistakes. But the knowledge I gained was priceless.

 

What started as therapy — customizing clothes to cope with my reality — grew into a movement.

 

Now, SolePhuel™ offers more than apparel. It offers tools for transformation.

 

I created tiered memberships to meet people where they are:

 

• Sole Circle – for those needing a safe space to read, reflect, and heal with blog posts, soul journaling prompts, and community vibes.

• Phuel Files – for entrepreneurs ready to map out their vision with downloadable tools, planners, and business resources.

• The Blueprint – the all-access lifestyle upgrade: healing, strategy, structure, and soul all in one.

 

 

And now, 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.

 

Even through new storms — a stroke in 2022, pneumonia in 2024, constant housing discrimination — I keep building. Because I know SolePhuel™ 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.

 

SolePhuel Collections™ is where fashion meets function, healing meets hustle, and soul meets self-expression.

 

If you’re ready to heal, build, or just feel seen — welcome to the Phuel.