The Douglas Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society begins this Saturday, October 25 at 10 a.m. at Copper King Stadium.
|
|
Cindy Castillo: A fighter, a survivor, and a winner
Cindy Castillo was born in Naco, Arizona 46 years ago. Her father was a miner and the family moved to Superior, Arizona when she was a child, but she has always considered Cochise County to be her home.
At the age of six, Cindy was diagnosed with a tumor in her left kidney. She went through radiation treatment, and then surgery to remove her kidney, her spleen, two ribs and her left ovary. For almost 40 years, she was cancer free. She was often a survivor participant in local Relays for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society, and she plans to attend this year’s Douglas Relay for Life. She will once again be there as a survivor, but this year she is not cancer free.
On May 28, 2008 Cindy Castillo was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in her left breast. She is now receiving chemotherapy, with surgery and radiation facing her in the next few months. Her last chemo treatment will be on October 23, but she has vowed to participate in the Douglas Relay for Life, even if she is in a wheelchair. The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, and other events like Standup2cancer, inspire and motivate her. She wants the scientists to find a cure and help others like her. There have been many advances in technology and medical science, and she knows that the funding and support generated by Relays for Life help with that research and that bone day a cure may be found.
Cindy has worked at Food City in Douglas for 12 years. She is currently an assistant customer service manager. “They are so supportive and caring. I have a loving, caring family, but my co-workers at Food City are like my second family. I just love Rita Moreno for what she does…walking for 24 hours, non-stop in the Relay, year after year. She is one of my heroes.” Food City is one of the sponsors of this year’s Douglas Relay and their team will be walking, raising money, and having fun, all in the name of fighting cancer and supporting Cindy Castillo.
Cindy is often tired and scared. She went through a time of denial and anger, but she has kept on fighting. She kept working at Food City for a while, but the chemo forced her to stop. She gets very sick and she hurts deep down in her bones, making it difficult to walk at times. “I have a very deep faith in Jesus, and this helps me have a good attitude. We all need to fight to overcome something in our lives. So many people have this disease and it touches so many others. I am lucky because my husband Javier, my daughter Eva, my parents, my sister Evelyn Valdez, and my two grandchildren…they are all so supportive. I need to win this battle…for them.”
She also attends a support group which helps her with the tough times. She has to take many pills every day, but she refuses to let this battle take her down. “Nobody really knows what it’s like until they walk down this terrible path…life is precious and we need to fight to make it better, for ourselves and for others. I will be so happy with each day God gives me. I have no complaints about what life has given me. I have hope for us all. I appreciate life and other people in my life. I thank God, and believe we are all miracles.”
“I thank God that I have health insurance, because the cost for the medication and treatments is huge. I really feel for the people that don’t have insurance.” Cindy wants to one day win the lottery. Not so she can be wealthy, but rather to use the money to help others with treatments, to help find a cure, and to give others the strength to win their fight against cancer. “If I win the lottery, I would give all of the money to the Relay for Life. We all need to help beat cancer. I hope a lot of people join me at the Douglas Relay for Life. Together we can win this fight.”
Comments