HOPE, HAPPINESS, AND LOVE.

What a wonderful message!

 Don't Worry Be Happy is a Cancer charity that helps pay this bills of Cancer Warriors through the sale of their stylish Don't Worry be Happy Shirts.


You can see and read about the story of each Cancer Warrior on the DWBH website.


This inspiring organization was created in honor of Kevin Carlberg, who passed away from complications with Brain Cancer.


While Carlberg was going through chemo therapy treatment, he often wore a shirt that said "Don't Worry Be Happy".


This became his life motto, his outlook for life was positive regardless of his battle with cancer.


My hope is for my readers to help out someone in need. Someone who has thousands and thousands of dollars in medical bills to pay, all while they are battling cancer.


Not only are you helping someone, you are relieving them from stress and you are giving them HOPE.


By purchasing a shirt, you are also spreading awareness!!!!


Please friends and readers, consider helping a Don't Worry Be Happy Cancer Warrior!!!!!!!

www.dwbhshirts.org


Have a BLESSED weekend,


and remember.....Life IS Beautiful....DON'T WORRY BE HAPPY!!!!!!




Roma

Today I have honored the life of my beautiful, strong, humble, giving mother Luz Armida Corona Villavicencio.

Mama (1955-2007) and I

Five years ago she passed away from  stage four Lung Cancer, the cancer took her life so quickly.  Back then we had HMO insurance which SUCKED when it came to getting medical tests approved.


This was the worst experience in my life.  I lost a mother that I took for granted. A mother that was so dedicated to her friends, family, and Catholic faith.


When we found out my mother had cancer, we had no idea what to do, or where to go. We didn't know what the next step would be.  But as a family (my brother, father, and I), we made the best decisions we could for her, since at this point she could not communicate for herself.


 Although I no longer have the most amazing woman in my life, who was the best cook, cleanest cleaner, loyal friend, outstanding wife, and most passionate mother, I know she is with me on my worst and happiest days. She is the reason for my existence, not only in a literal sense, but in a spiritual sense as well.


I am writing this so that my readers know that it is OK to ask doctors questions, all the questions in the world!! We are not doctors, we don't understand the doctor terminology, so cut to the chase and EXPLAIN to us what we need to KNOW!


I have learned that we have to be our own advocates and we do this by asking questions, doing our own research, and getting second opinions.


As cliche as it sounds, there IS only one life to live, it is such a precious one.  Stay on top of your health, look out for yourself, and live a joyous and content life!


Happy birthday mami, I miss you very much and you are in my heart.




God bless you all,


and remember....life IS beautiful!!!!


Roma


p.s.


HUGG and KISS all of your mamas for me xOxO

Top 3 Cancer Centers in the U.S.

According to my research, the top three Cancer enters in the U.S. are as follows:

#1 University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
       Houston, TX


#2 Memorial Sloan Kettering - Cancer Center
     New York, NY


#3 John Hopkins Hospital
       Baltimore, MD


I would have figured that UCI Medical Center and UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center ranked top three, clearly I was wrong!


If you or anybody you know are battling Cancer, please know that I would love to feature you on my blog.


People need to SEE and learn about all types of cancer that affect people of all ages.


I am working on speaking with different organizations and will feauture my first one by next week!


Until then, I will keep posting...


Wishing everyone a LOVEly Valentines Day!!!!


and remember....


Life IS Beautiful!!!




God bless,




<3 Roma <3

Cancer Ribbons

Did you know?

That there are other cancer ribbons than just the pink Breast Cancer ribbon.

These ribbons are the international symbol for awareness.

Two years ago I decided I wanted the teal Ovarian Cancer ribbon tattooed on my left wrist.  I wanted to remind myself everyday of the blessing it is to be alive. 

 My dear friend Carlee Gunderson also got an Ovarian Cancer ribbon on her right wrist as a symbol of our friendship and I am so thankful that she is spreading awareness!

I'm not telling people to go out there and get a tattoo, but I am telling people to get out there and spread awareness. Especially if you or someone you know has been affected by cancer.

You can purchase these ribbons, make them out of different materials, purchase stickers or magnets of them. You can just about do any crafty thing with these symbolic ribbons!

Here are some links to where you can purchase cancer ribbon related products!

http://www.ribbonfactory.com/html/awareness_ribbons.html?gclid=CNa39aP_k64CFQ5_hwodz3zqKQ

http://www.thehopeshop.org/shop/?gclid=COvb5tL_k64CFewZQgod_xAqKQ

http://www.choosehope.com/

Wishing everyone a beautiful weekend!

God bless,

Roma

Greetings, welcome, bienvenidos!


As I pondered what my blog would focus on for my opinion writing class, I debated about the many things I love in life.


Food, music, fashion, travel destinations...but these are all common themes for blogs. I wanted to write about something better!


My passion for LIFE overpowered all my other passions. 


 After losing my mother to lung cancer in 2007 (she never smoked a cigarette in her life), I felt robbed of the core being in my life and my life changed immensely.


I was frustrated and couldn't fathom her death.  Two years later I was diagnosed with stage 1C Ovarian Cancer...this...another shocker.


But as I learned from my Mother, Luz Armida's death, life would continue.  This was just another bump in the road and I knew she would be by my side all along the journey.


 I was diagnosed with a Dysgerminoma tumor which was 17mm wide. The doctors said it hid in my lower left pelvic area for about three months.


The tumor was removed, I went through three months of chemo therapy at UCI Medical Center in Orange, California and here I am two years later.


A healthy, blessed, stressed, happy, confused, social butterfly, ambitious (your everyday) college student.


I am here to give hope and strength and to inform my readers of wonderful organizations that aim to help and make the public aware of the commonality and dangers of cancer.


I am here to honor those who are fighting the battle, to let them know they are not alone, because I KNOW how it feels when your life is put on HOLD.


I am here to be a POSITIVE influence for the souls who need it and look forward to showing my readers that Life IS Beautiful!




Roma