Hello, my name is Maria. I am 66 years old. I grew up in Chicago and moved to San Antonio in 1997. My wonderful, loving, and supportive husband, Gerard, and I have been together for 41 years. We have two beautiful boys, Jerry and Nick, ages 35 and 31. I love the outdoors and stay active as much as possible. I hike about 150 miles a month! The best times are spent with my guys. When at home, I enjoy cooking, baking, knitting, and having get-togethers. I am a woman! I am a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a friend, and a 3 times cancer survivor!

My Journey Through Cancer

In 2012, I became septic due to an intestinal infection and ended up with a colostomy. Right before the colostomy was to be reversed, I had a check-up, including a mammogram, and was diagnosed with breast cancer, stage 2. I went through a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, and 5 years of “maintenance.”

In 2019, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. I could not stop crying for days. I could not believe this was happening. I underwent chemotherapy and 2 years of maintenance, wherein I received a chemotherapy drug every other month. This lymphoma is monitored by getting CT scans every 6 months.

After the Lymphoma, I thought I was done with cancer forever. But that wasn’t the case. In March of 2023, I was diagnosed with another breast cancer. This one was more aggressive at stage 3; therefore, treatment was equally aggressive. There were 3 hospitalizations, a blood clot, a bilateral mastectomy, and 6 months of immunotherapy. During this time, I understood why some cancer patients refuse treatment and decide to give up. I’ve been sick, tired, have neuropathy, lymphedema, lost toenails, gained weight, lost weight, lost brain cells, and lost all my hair—but never lost hope.

A New Perspective and Community

Cancer has interrupted my life a few times, but I have not allowed it to take over my life. It has reaffirmed the importance of enjoying each day to the fullest and getting rid of all negativities in my life. I am blessed with a loving and supportive family and circle of friends. I express my gratitude to God every single day.

And then there’s ThriveWell… It came into my life at the perfect time. I had decided to retire in 2024 but was concerned about what I was going to do all day, every day, for the rest of my life. ThriveWell has given me the opportunity to remain as active as I want by offering me the Diva Program. My goal of staying fit and strong has become an attainable goal. More importantly, I have a whole new set of friends: amazing, strong women who have welcomed me into their lives with open arms, women who truly understand my journey. We laugh, we cry, we share our stories; we love and support each other.

A Call to Action

I know how busy we get with work, family, and everything in our lives, but I urge you to please, do not neglect your health. It is so important to get your check-ups, and especially your mammogram every year. It can save your life.