Last year, I had what I call my needle-off-the-record-moment. “You have cancer.” Those words will forever be tattooed on my soul. How was it possible that two days earlier I was a normal person and now I was a cancer patient? How could I live with cancer without thinking of dying every day? It was weird. I didn’t feel sick, I didn’t look sick and yet there was cancer inside me. That’s when I knew I had to be fearless. It was my only option.
2013 was a whirlwind year for me. Heading into my senior year of high school, I was pushed down the steep scary landslide no one wants to face. On August 2, 2013 I was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes. It was a normal day for everyone except for me. I woke up presenting a Superior Vena Cava Syndrome, in other words an obstruction of the superior vena cava (SVC provides venous drainage to the head, the neck, the upper extremities and the upper torax). I actually felt like someone was choking me. It was horrible. Doctor’s appointments revealed a cancerous tumor between my heart and lungs, and suddenly a care free senior year turned into a carousel of treatments, surgeries and medical visits. The tumor was so big that it pushed my heart and lungs. The months of August through December were filled with chemo therapies, multiple surgeries and intense radiation. But as the dawn of January brought a new year, I began a new chapter in my life – a brighter chapter. On February 6, 2014 I was declared Cancer Free and words cannot describe how great that felt.
I came out with a lot of bad memories from this experience but I also have the most amazing memories that I’ll cherish forever. When Beyoncé came to the island on tour, I was beginning my second chemo and I had a surgery done two days before. I had bought the tickets with so much anticipation and was so excited that I was not going to let cancer take that away from me. After arguing and pleading with my oncologist, she let me check out of the hospital; with one condition-I had to stay far away from people. How? In a concert it’s an IMPOSSIBLE task. Somehow, Beyoncé and her crew heard about my story and invited me backstage. Imagine my surprise when I actually see, at arms length, Queen B-she even delayed the concert to chat with me.
During the concert she dedicated my favorite song and we both sang to the melody. At some point, she leaned to kiss me on the forehead and asked the audience “Isn’t she beautiful?” After the concert, she stayed a little longer to talk and to say goodbye. It was an amazing opportunity. Along those memories are meeting the handsome Ricky Martin AND the amazing feeling of kicking cancer’s butt.
My life has forever changed since my diagnosis and there will always be a sort of virginity that was stolen by cancer. And yet I swear it was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Why? Because if you let it, cancer can take you to your point zero and teach you how to truly live. Since my diagnosis I shifted my perception, understanding that this as a chance for me to learn, to dive deep, kick cancer’s butt and of course to truly live life. I saw this adversity as an adventure instead of the commonly used word “battle.” I saw it as an opportunity instead of a curse. I guess I came to understand that there’s only one life and that we all need to choose to truly live.
Life after cancer has been very rewarding and everything has fallen into place really fast. As a result of a situation I went through when I went back to school I proposed a a Law Measure. Which is currently running in the Capitol; if approved, the law measure will create a reasonable accommodation to students dealing with chronic disease such as cancer. I wanted to be the voice of those that can’t be heard. I was also accepted in the program of Chemical Engineering in the UPRM, where I’m currently a member of the Her Campus UPRM Team and the college’s swim team, where I’m working to represent my campus the best way I can.
No one will give you license to carpe diem. You are the only one who can make the decision to go for it. This is a call for action. Your first step is your desire to live. Don’t worry about the entire staircase, just take one step and tomorrow take another. You don’t have to be a cancer patient to start an inner revolution. No one gets an easy pass on life, we can either drown in a situation or use it as a personal metamorphosis. I dare you to push boundaries and never take no for an answer. I dare you to become empowered and start a personal revolution. What are you going to do? Be fearless and let yourself thrive!