Happy Holidays - CanCare

CanCare Board MeMBer sPotlight:
sonYa villamaGna
“I always understood why God chose to put cancer in my life. Not only did I get to learn at a
very young age what living is all about, which I feel is a gift, but I feel extremely blessed to have
the opportunity to help others. I feel like my cancer diagnosis taught me to fight hard, love hard,
live hard and give hard!” – Sonya Villamagna.
In December 2005, Sonya noticed a
small bump at the base of her neck.
It tested positive for cancer, and she
was diagnosed with stage II Hodgkin’s
lymphoma. Less than a month later, she
began five months of chemotherapy and
radiation.
Sonya was forced to change her life around,
even quitting dance. “This was the hardest
part for me,” recalls Sonya, “because dancing
is my passion…it’s how I express myself.” She
was a Houston Rockets Power Dancer for
two years before her diagnosis, and when her
cancer treatments were over, she joined the
Houston Texans Cheerleaders.
She danced with them for
three years. “I wouldn’t change
the way things happened for
the world,” says Sonya. “It
was hell, but it opened up my
world in so many ways: how
to live life, the value of others,
relationships.”
Sonya has been a CanCare
volunteer since 2006, served on
the Young Friends of CanCare
for six years and is the current
Sonya Villamagna
chair of that board. Sonya
was introduced to CanCare through her
church. When she initially called to become
a volunteer, she was not far enough out of
treatments. About six months later, CanCare
contacted her about going through volunteer
training. “For some reason, I was very
apprehensive about re-living my cancer past
and almost did not go through with training”
she says. “With encouragement from my
boyfriend, Grant, I decided to go for it and
not only did I become a trained CanCare
volunteer, I was a member of the CanCare
staff for several years too.”
Reflecting back Sonya remembers, “I wish
I had another young person to talk to while
I was going through treatment. As I sat in
the waiting room and the treatment areas
in my oncologist’s office, I saw no one even
remotely close to my age there to whom
I could relate. I didn’t feel like there was
anyone that I knew who could understand
what I was going through. That is why
I believe in CanCare! I wish my family
and I could have spoken to someone who
understood exactly what we were all going
through.”
“My cancer diagnosis taught me how
strong my family is and that they will always
be there to support me. They are my world!
There were days when I didn’t
want to speak to anyone but
my mom, dad, sisters and
brother-in-law patiently stayed
by my side.”
The day before she started
chemotherapy, she read a book
about what to expect. At the
end of each chapter was a
quote, and one of them really
struck her: “The journey is the
reward” (Tao Proverb). She
thought to herself, “This is
going to make me a stronger
person.” She typed up the quote and put it in
a picture frame so she could look at it every
day.
Sonya’s story of triumph and survival
is certainly one to cheer about. Now, she
enjoys spending time with her boyfriend
and two dogs. “I love learning new things
and pushing my body to its limits,” she says.
She stays busy with activities such as boxing,
yoga, competitive salsa dancing, volunteering
for the Houston SPCA and training for
the El Paso 5K with Team CanCare which
is January 15, 2012. Anyone interested in
running or walking with CanCare can call
713-461-0028 for info on how to sign up!
7
u P C o M i n g e v e n t s
CanCare holiday open house
Tuesday, December 6
team CanCare in the Chevron
houston Marathon, Aramco
houston half Marathon & the el
paso 5k
Sunday, January 15
team CanCare Victory party
Monday, January 30
CanCare Support Volunteer
training
February 17-19
CanCare and Memorial
hermann “Back to the Future:
living With and Beyond Cancer”
Saturday, February 18
hospital Volunteer & Support
Volunteer Continuing education
Saturday, April 14
CanCare Support Volunteer
training in Atlanta, gA
Weekend of April 20-22
Young Friends Crawfish Boil
Saturday, April 28
CanCare’s 18th Annual national
Cancer Survivors Day luncheon
Tuesday, May 22
2011
2012
&
713.461.0028