Join me in the fight against cancer

This time last year I was preparing to have surgery to remove my thyroid, but it wasn't just another routine surgery. Doctors at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston had just diagnosed me with papillary thyroid cancer and surgery was required to remove the cancerous tumors. By June, I had endured the four-hour surgery and not only was my thyroid removed, so was one of my parathyroid glands (which controls calcium intake for our bodies) along with 50 surrounding lymph nodes.

For the next few months I recovered nicely, although I was still working through the emotional toll a second cancer diagnosis was taking on my mental state. Ovarian cancer had threatened to end my life at age 30 in 2001. By the grace of God, I survived that crushing cancer diagnosis and although harsh chemotherapy treatments left a wake of other destructive medical problems in its path, I had remained cancer-free until last year. Radioactive iodine treatment to kill any remaining cancer cells in my body was looming in my future and obviously, I was not looking forward to it. RAI, as it is referred to, can lead to some potentially devastating side effects, such as losing one's taste buds or saliva glands. In the meantime, I found comfort in my volunteer work for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life, an overnight event to fight cancer and the signature fundraiser for the non-profit organization.

In 2007, I was honored to be selected as a "Hero of Hope" on behalf of the American Cancer Society, which essentially means I am a traveling ambassador for the society, sharing my story of hope and cancer survivorship at Relay For Life events across Texas. Despite my second cancer diagnosis, I was able to find the positive side of my situation, thanks to my faith in God. I approached this cancer battle with the same faith I had with my ovarian cancer: God is in control…it's up to me to accept His will.

My resilient faith was tested by November, when my 58-year-old mother, Lina Esparza, was diagnosed with stage III cancer of the small intestine. How could this happen to her? In my mind, I had reasoned my cancer battles and tireless cancer advocacy volunteerism would automatically give my family "immunity" to the disease. How could we handle two people going through a life-threatening diagnosis of cancer at the same time?

Within a month, doctors at M.D. Anderson had an established protocol of chemotherapy drugs in place to battle her newly diagnosed disease. They noted that this particular type of cancer is extremely rare, with just 6,000 cases last year. My mom had a two in one million chance of getting this type of cancer.

Meanwhile, doctors in Houston gave me news that proves miracles still happen: no radiation treatment would be necessary for me because tests could find no cancer! The surgery removed all the cancer and according to my doctor, that in itself was a modern miracle.

This year, my mom and I celebrated our first Relay For Life event where we both walked as cancer survivors. It was something I had always prayed would never happen, but fighting back tears as participants cheered us on during our lap, I was proud to be recognized as a cancer survivor alongside my courageous mom. We'll be there on Friday, June 19, God-willing, at Whataburger Field, for the Corpus Christi Relay For Life event. I encourage our community to join in the fight against cancer at Relay For Life Corpus Christi, either as a sponsor, donor, walker or fundraiser.

Cancer may very well be in my genes, but so is my fighting spirit to battle the disease, for my mom, myself and cancer survivors everywhere.

Relay For Life is a 12-hour walking event representing the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day, cancer will be eliminated. To participate in the June 19 event at Whataburger Field, please call the American Cancer Society at (361) 857-0136.