Finding Joy Through Faith and Family
For Aloma, joy isn’t found in extraordinary moments – it’s found in the everyday blessings that remind her why she keeps moving forward. Her great-grandchildren bring a smile to her face, and when sleep doesn’t come easily, she chooses to focus on the blessings in her life instead of the fears that cancer can bring.
Living with metastatic breast cancer has taught her that while she cannot control every circumstance, she can choose how she responds. Supported by her sister, Maria, her church family, and an unwavering faith, Aloma continues to approach each day with hope.
“If God brings you to something,” she said, “He will bring you through it.”
A Journey Defined by Resilience
Aloma’s cancer journey has been physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding. Following a recent scan, she learned she would begin another round of radiation while continuing her monthly treatments and medication. Between appointments, treatments, work, and the responsibilities of everyday life, there are moments when the stress feels overwhelming.
Despite multiple surgeries and ongoing treatment, Aloma refuses to let cancer define her. She continues working, even on days when treatment leaves her exhausted.
“The people I work with cannot believe I have cancer,” she shared. “Mentally, laying around would not be good for me. You have to fight your way through cancer.”
Maintaining that positive mindset has become one of the most important parts of her healing. Rather than seeing herself only as a cancer patient, Aloma chooses to focus on the life she is still living and the strength she continues to discover within herself.
Her perspective has also been shaped by the experiences of her family. Cancer has affected nearly every generation – her mother and older sister both had breast cancer, another sister battled colon cancer, her father also had colon cancer, and her brother was diagnosed with leukemia. Because of those experiences, she understands the emotional toll cancer takes, not only on the individual but on an entire family.
“When living with cancer,” Aloma explained, “if you think you’re dying, then your body believes it.” Instead, she hopes her own journey can be an example to someone else that healing, perseverance, and hope are still possible.
A Helping Hand When It Was Needed Most
Like so many Families facing cancer, Aloma’s diagnosis also brought financial hardship. The emotional and physical challenges of treatment were difficult enough, but worrying about rent and other everyday expenses added another layer of stress.
In her application for assistance, she shared, “It has been a strain. I can’t do what I used to do, and it has affected me both mentally and physically. It has been hard on my family as well. I have felt depressed, anxious, and alone at times. Dealing with cancer is difficult as it is, but having the concern of finances on top is a lot.”
Through her social worker, Aloma was connected with Bringing Hope Home. Assistance with rent and Safeway grocery gift cards helped relieve some of the financial burden she had been carrying, allowing her to focus more fully on her health.
“It helped take the burden off with paying the rent,” she said. “It’s hard to get caught up unless you can get a break.”
As she reflected on the support, Aloma became emotional.
“Every bit that Bringing Hope Home does is helpful and a blessing.”
Knowing that someone cared enough to step in during one of the most difficult seasons of her life reminded her that she wasn’t facing cancer alone.
Words of Hope
Throughout her journey, Aloma has found strength in her faith and in the community that surrounds her. She encourages others facing a cancer diagnosis to build a support system, talk with people who understand what they’re going through, and continue learning about new treatments and resources available to them.
She also believes in advocating for yourself and staying connected with others. The women in her support group regularly check in with one another, offering encouragement without judgment and reminding each other to keep going.
Her message to anyone beginning their own cancer journey is simple, but powerful:
“Be encouraged, keep the faith, and stay positive.”
Aloma’s story is a reminder that hope isn’t about pretending the journey is easy. It’s about choosing to move forward, one day at a time, trusting in the people who stand beside you and believing that even in life’s most difficult seasons, there is still joy to be found.