The Strength Within – Silvia Garcia

“Let’s start with something simple.

“Hi, my name is Silvia Garcia. I was just another human drifting through daily life. Not the slightest hint of how my life was about to flip on its heels.

“It was the 25th of March 2020, when I was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. One realizes the fragility of order in one’s life when chaos breaks out. As tough as it may be, swallowing this bleak reality is just the first step. Holding one’s ground in this quicksand is next.

“It was a long drawn out exhausting five months of chemotherapy. It was then I realized that I couldn’t let myself be swallowed by this uncertainty. I won’t let this define me. I learned that proper nutrition, a lot of water, and rest are crucial to staying as strong and healthy as possible. I will have a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction in October. One among a long line of battles.

“I’ve learned to find joy and even laughter amid cancer. I won’t let my heart get soaked in the ugliness of this. I’m determined to face each day with a positive attitude and a smile on my face. This fight is challenging but it’s not impossible. I refuse to be a victim, I will be a survivor, and when this is all over, I will have a fantastic testimony to share.”