Dreams Beyond Tomorrow

Portraits of women living with metastatic breast cancer

A visual manifesto of life lived in the radical present eight women, eight dreamscapes, one truth untouched by illness.

 

In loving memory of Michelle Rybar & Joanna Szczowska

Artist and Fonder and CEO of Womanity Portrait Foundation Galina Semenova stand upfront of the people in auditorium before the showing of the documentary Dreams Beyond Tomorrow
The Project

We live as if we have a “warranty” on tomorrow, consumed by the noise of a world that demands we always run. But what happens when that warranty is withdrawn?

Dreams Beyond Tomorrow is a visual manifesto of life lived in the radical present. This project is a rejection of the fear and isolation that so often follow a terminal diagnosis. My goal is to replace that fear with empathy, recognizing the vibrant presence of women who have become my teachers.

These portraits are “Dreamscapes.” They are co-created visions that use digital artistry to visualize the inner worlds of eight women navigating metastatic breast cancer. By visualizing the places they still long to visit and the dreams they still hold, we move beyond the clinical narrative. We reveal a truth untouched by illness: identity is not defined by a diagnosis, but by the depth of our presence.

I invite you to stop running. Let these stories remind you that in an uncertain world, our most powerful act is to truly see one another in this very moment.

Stop postponing your joy. So many times we say we'll get to it — stop doing that to yourself. Whatever it is that's going to bring you joy, do that.

The Dreamscapes

Click any portrait to step into her dreamscape.
Ashley Banaag
Jen Heatherly
Melisa Preciado
Mona Mukherjea-Gehrig
Virginia Rodriguez
Veronica Ramos
Dolores Molina
Ruth Stark

Don't wait for a crisis to start living, but start paying attention to what's beautiful around you.

Do not let age or a severe diagnosis stop you from facing new challenges. Trying something entirely new can remind you that you need to continue actively living.

Dreams Beyond Tomorrow

This cinematic documentary moves beyond the lens to capture the powerful stories and shared wisdom of women living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. The film explores the profound impact of living in the present moment—how it reshapes our relationships, our quality of life, and our entire living experience.

Executive Producer
Production Assistant
Frank Wells

Do not hold back from making deep connections or enjoying the moment. Living fully in the radical present builds more than enough beautiful memories to give your loved ones the strength to move forward.

In the Press

CBS 8 San Diego

Television feature on the exhibition and the women behind it.

Exhibit explores the power of the present moment through San Diego women living with cancer

Artist and Fonder and CEO of Womanity Portrait Foundation Galina Semenova stand near her art work for the project Dreams Beyond Tomorrow
About the Artist

Galina Semenova

Founder & CEO, Womanity Portrait Foundation
Galina Semenova is an international award-winning fine art photographer and the Founder & CEO of Womanity Portrait Foundation. Her work is dedicated to reclaiming the “True Self” through self-compassion and visual storytelling. Dreams Beyond Tomorrow represents the intersection of her artistic practice and her humanitarian mission.
Fine Art Portraits
Creative Direction & Photography
Makeup & Hair
Documentary Film
Created by
Executive Producer
Production Assistant
Frank Wells

In an uncertain world, our most powerful act is to truly see one another in this very moment.

Support & Resources

Want to help or learn more about Stage IV / metastatic breast cancer?

Or are you a Stage IV breast cancer patient looking for support? Here are a few non-profit organizations that can help.
Metavivor

Direct support, research funding & advocacy for MBC patients

Focuses on metastatic breast cancer patients through direct support and resources, funding MBC-specific scientific research, and public advocacy on MBC issues.
National Breast Cancer Coalition

Scientific research & bipartisan public advocacy

Works toward ending breast cancer through research and advocacy — including efforts to pass the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act.
Behind the Scenes & Opening Reception

Moments from the making of the project.

With Gratitude

Testimonials

Being asked to join Dreams Beyond Tomorrow was a profound honor, but it quickly became something much deeper: a sanctuary where I was finally allowed to dream again. For a long time, it was hard to voice what living with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer really means. This project gave me the courage to speak my truth out loud. It forced me to look beyond a diagnosis and define a wish—a beautiful future I am determined to stay alive and thrive for. The process began with a vulnerable interview, followed by being filmed and photographed. Galina captured a version of me that is often hard to see in myself, reminding me of my own beauty and strength. Participating felt like dropping a small stone into a quiet lake. The ripple effect has changed my life. Embracing my dreamscape unlocked a new wave of courage, opening doors I never expected. In the coming months, I will be showcasing my ceramics at two different locations. Dreams Beyond Tomorrow didn't just document my life; it expanded it, proving that even in the quietest waters, our dreams can create beautiful, lasting ripples.
Little did I know how much it would change my life. Never have I felt so beautiful and at peace with myself. Galina captured my spirit and my wish to do as much as I can while I can. Thank you Galina.
Mona Mukherjea-Gehrig
I am so honored to have participated in this project, it was truly a gift. A gift that keeps on giving, in the form of the new relationships I’m enjoying. The highlight for me was meeting the incredibly talented Galina, Erin, and their team, as well as the other participants. With Galina and Erin’s kindness, compassion, and attentiveness I was able to share my story and embrace a dream and a future that is not guaranteed, but nevertheless keeps me focused on possibility rather than lack. Living with Stage IV breast cancer is challenging in so many ways and the disease can take up all the space in your life if you let it. Being able to talk about my cancer journey and to visualize living out my dreams in these last days of my life, empowers me to embrace the future and how I want it to look. Most media shows cancer as a tragedy. The film Dreams Beyond Tomorrow shows a different side of cancer, one that is more nuanced. Even with Stage IV Cancer, we can have good days, dream big dreams, and live our lives to the fullest of our ability. There is still hope, promise, and love in abundance if you let it in. I was lucky to have many friends in the audience at the premier of the documentary and the portrait show. When my closest friend realized my dream before I die is to go to Bali, to visit temples, meditate, and practice yoga, she offered to take me using her miles. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to speak about living with a terminal illness with Erin, and to see my dream come alive through the incredible eye and artistry of Galina. That my dream is also coming true is just magical.
Virginia Rodriguez
It meant so much to me to be apart of this project with my mother because now I have an everlasting beautiful memory with her that I get to take with me forever. My mother passed on may 11, 2026 and this project was something to look back on that made me feel close to her again. My mom’s vision for this project was to live in the one dream she always had for me , to see me get married and to essentially grow old with me. I love the photo and the vision that was captured because it’s such a beautiful representation of how close her and I truly were. She was my everything, just as I was to her. Being apart of this project and community of women gave me such strength in knowing that there is hope for tomorrow and my mother is always with me , even if I can’t see her with my own eyes. ♥️
Amaya Cobian
When I first heard about the Dreams Beyond Tomorrow project from a friend, I thought it was a really good project focusing on what one can do in spite of a terminal illness. And as I thought about it a little more, I realized that I would love to participate in the project. It is something I had never done before and it focused on what I could do as opposed to what I couldn’t do. Little did I know how much it would change my life. Never have I felt so beautiful and at peace with myself. Galina captured my spirit and my wish to do as much as I can while I can. Thank you Galina.
Ruth Stark
This experience became so much more than that I imagined. It made me feel beautiful and seen as a woman living with metastatic breast cancer. You don’t always look like a cancer patient. We are still women. We are still beautiful human beings with dreams, hopes, feelings, and lives we want to live. Being a part of Dreams Beyond Tomorrow and having my family and friends there to see this beautiful art was truly amazing. But having my family/friends be part of the final presentation was the best part of all. Living with metastatic breast cancer, we don’t always know what the future holds. So moments like this—being together, surrounded by the people I love and sharing something so beautiful—mean the world to me. ❤️ P.s These are beautiful memories with the people I love, right here, right now. I’m still here. And I want to remember this version of me. ❤️ Thank you so much for everything. This brought back all the wonderful memories . "Choose hope. Find joy. Keep moving forward."
Veronica Ramos
Survivorship can be harder than treatment in ways people don’t always see. Dreams Beyond Tomorrow reminded me to cherish the small moments, celebrate even the smallest accomplishments, and be grateful for the extra time I’ve been given. After treatment, especially as a younger survivor, finding your way back to “normal life” can be its own journey. You expect to pick up where you left off, only to realize that your body has changed. Medications can come with lasting side effects, and I’ve had to learn to be more mindful of my limits, listen to my body, and adjust to a new version of normal. I don’t hesitate to plan vacations with my family anymore. I make the plans, take the trips, and make the memories. I’m learning that living fully doesn’t mean doing everything I did before—it means appreciating what I can do now. For me, Dreams Beyond Tomorrow was a reminder that I don’t have to wait for life to feel “normal” again. This is my life now, with its changes, limitations, unexpected joys, and precious extra time. I want to keep saying yes to the moments that matter and be grateful for the life I get to keep living.​
Ashley Banaag
Melisa Preciado
Jen Heatherly