Irma Gonzales will never forget May 11, 2006. It was the day that changed her life forever. It was the day the doctor told her she had Stage II cancer. She did not feel bad nor did she have any symptoms other than a small lump on the right side of her neck. A CT scan confirmed what the doctor suspected. Irma had cancer of the tongue that had spread to her lymph nodes.

“My daughter was on one side of me and the doctor was on the other,” Gonzales explained. “The second he said the word cancer, I went to another world, one of selective deafness. I could see their mouths moving, but I could not and would not hear anything. My new world was silent. It was only when my daughter and I went outside did I hear sounds again.”

Her daughter told her she was going to fight and she would win. That fight was the hardest one she had ever fought and she is hoping she will never have to do that again.

She underwent several procedures before the doctors would begin treatment of chemotherapy and radiation. First they put in a port for her chemo. Then they removed all her teeth. The last thing they did was to put in a feeding tube which was the hardest for Irma to handle. She loved Big Red and realized she would not be able to enjoy it.

“My family was wonderful. They took such good care of me. I could not have done this without my son Roland, my daughter Marisol and my brother, Santos. One family member would take me to radiation treatments every week. They would alternate. I could not have made it without my support system and God.”

Because she could not work, she had no income so she moved in with her son. Roland took care of her daily needs. Marisol came to see her every day after work and helped her emotionally by loving her through her treatments. She took care of meals and medications. Santos also visited every day, encouraging her to eat. He even made special soup for her.

The treatments took their toll on her. Nausea and vomiting were a routine occurrence. Rapid weight loss happened quickly. In seven weeks she went from 215 pounds to 138 pounds. The pain and chills were never ending. There were times the pain was so severe she wanted to die, even prayed to die. She lost some of her hair due to the radiation, but that was the least of her worries. The radiation killed her saliva glands. It destroyed her thyroid also so she will be on medication the rest of her life. When she was finally able to eat and drink, everything tasted like cardboard or metal. One of the worst side effects of the treatments was the weakness she had to endure.

“I knew I had to get up out of the bed whether I felt like it or not. I would get up and work jigsaw puzzles. Some days it took all the strength I had just to get out of bed.”

Almost three years has passed since the cancer diagnosis and she sees her oncologist every three months for a check up. Irma Gonzales is a very different person now. She is a survivor, strong, determined and still beautiful.

“I do not smoke anymore,” Gonzales said. “The kind of cancer I had was caused by smoking. I still like to have fun with my friends. I am stronger and have a determination to live. My faith in God is stronger than it has ever been. I know God is with me and helped me go through this journey the last three years. I will never again take life for granted. That was one of the lessons I learned from cancer.”

Irma Gonzales is very passionate about life and helping find a cure for cancer. She would not wish cancer on her worst enemy. That is one of the reasons she is involved with Relay For Life Central Ellis County. She knows that the money her team, Twice Blessed, raises could help find a cure.

Her team will host a Cinco de Mayo Celebration to Fight Cancer on May 2, 2009 at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Broadhill Road in Waxahachie from 8:00 p.m to midnight. The Larry D Band will play. There is a $10 admission with all proceeds benefiting Relay For Life. For more information or to purchase tickets call Irma at 972-268-4299 or Mellie at 469-328-2075. A special thanks to the Knights of Columbus for donating the hall and to Larry D for donating their services.

Relay For Life Central Ellis County will be held on May 15-16 at Waxahachie High School. Everyone is encouraged to join a team, raise money and participate in the all-night event. It is worth the effort to find a cure.

Irma will be walking the survivor’s lap again this year so please attend and cheer for her and all the survivors as they walk around the track. Get involved and help find a cure for cancer so no one else has to go through what Irma had to endure.

Any cancer survivor who would like to sign up for the event is asked to contact Karen Mathiowetz at 972-483-7434 or [email protected] . To register a team contact Nancy Edwards at [email protected] or call 214-673-0046. The next team captains’ meeting is scheduled for April 16, 2009 at 6:30 at 200 Lakeview Parkway in Red Oak.