I had always been strong—healthy, energetic, and full of life. I ate well, exercised regularly, and never experienced a single symptom that something might be wrong. When I went in for my annual screening, I expected nothing out of the ordinary. Instead, I received devastating news: I had breast cancer.
But I wasn’t the first to hear it—my daughter was.
She was home alone when the call came. The results were positive. When she turned to me, her eyes filled with fear, I knew I had to be strong. I forced a reassuring smile and said, “Nothing is going to happen. Medicine has come so far. Everything will be fine.” But inside, I was terrified.
With my entire family in Mexico, the only support I had in Tucson was my daughter and son-in-law. The weight of the diagnosis pressed heavily on all of us. I had always been independent, raising my daughter alone, overcoming every obstacle life threw at us together. But this time, I didn’t know how to fix it.
At first, the oncologist reassured me that my cancer had been caught early and that surgery would be simple. But as more tests came back, the reality shifted. A second, more aggressive cancer was found in my right breast—already at stage one. I was in disbelief. I felt fine. No pain, no fatigue, no signs of illness. I stared at the doctor and asked, “Are you sure? How can I have cancer in both breasts and feel so good?”
The doctor looked at me and simply said, “Isabel, you have cancer.”
At that moment, I made a decision. “Take my breasts off,” I told the doctor. “I don’t want to risk this spreading to my lungs or anywhere else in my body.” I thought about all the years my body had served me, the purpose my breasts had already fulfilled. “They nourished my daughter when she was a baby. I don’t need them anymore. I just want to live.”
When I was told about the possibility of breast reconstruction, I was surprised. I had assumed I would live without breasts for the rest of my life. But my doctors assured me that reconstruction was an option. That’s when I met Dr. Kurtovic and Dr. Mahabir, two surgeons who would change my life.
My mastectomy and reconstruction took place on the same day. By that evening, I was home, surrounded by the love and care of my daughter and son-in-law. My recovery wasn’t easy, but I wasn’t alone. My daughter became my caretaker, gently helping me bathe, eat, and make every follow-up appointment. My son-in-law cared for me as if I were his own mother, stepping in without hesitation. They even took time off work to ensure I had everything I needed. The physical pain faded after a few days, but the emotional weight of it all lingered. Seeing my daughter suffer was the hardest part. “I would have taken all the pain in the world if it meant she didn’t have to feel any.”
Without insurance, I knew that reconstruction might never have been an option for me. But then, something extraordinary happened—Reblossom entered my life.
They appeared like angels.
“They came to me in my most vulnerable moment and said, ‘Come, we will help you. Everything will be fine.’”
If not for Reblossom, I would have been left without breasts. I would have been left only with the memory of what once was. Instead, thanks to their generosity, I look in the mirror today and feel whole.
I never expected to find people who would care for me without even knowing me. They saved me.
If I ever meet another woman going through this, I will tell her, there are angels in this world, and they are called Reblossom.
To anyone facing this journey, I want you to know: have faith. You are not alone. There are good people who will help you. There is always hope.
