Whether it’s the hydrangeas and roses thriving in her garden or her restored health after cancer treatment, Elisa Razo of Santa Maria is quick to give credit to those who deserve it most.
“We don’t take credit for this. I thank God that I didn’t die. I want to give credit to the family that protects you, your friends who are your family when, like me, you don’t have your own children and family here. And it is His blessing that we have this care here, these people at Mission Hope who show comprehensive care, who offer classes, and doctors and nurses who explain everything so well. Thank God we have all of this here,” Razo said.
Elisa shared with her late husband Fred Razo a love of life, adventure and travel, qualities that brought them together in the early 1990s. Together they traveled throughout their native Mexico and settled in his hometown, where he completed a career in the aerospace industry and lived a quiet life in retirement.
Until his death in 2017, he always encouraged his wife to speak only her beautiful native language with him. This practice improved his language skills but hindered her English acquisition. Although Razo now speaks passable English, Mission Hope’s bilingual staff were key to her understanding of important medical information and technical details.
“The wraparound care they provided was a blessing, from the classes they offered – art, support services, nutrition – to the volunteers, doctors and nurses who could explain everything,” she said.
Elisa Razo was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer during her annual mammogram in late November.
Randy de la Pena, Contributor
Razo’s annual mammogram in late November revealed stage one breast cancer.
“I do a mammogram every year. Everything was always fine. But in November something came back and they knew it was cancer,” Razo said.
Biopsies of two small tumors were positive and in the first week of December, treatment planning began under the direction of Dr. Colleen O’Kelly Priddy.
“It was very quick. I was surprised. They explained everything to me. The doctor recommended surgery as soon as possible, but it was December, a holiday season. I thought they would wait. The next possible appointment was the next day,” Razo said.
They sent her to the hospital where they did all the pre-operative tests. She had surgery the next morning at 6 a.m. The nodes were removed and the lymph nodes in her left arm were examined. She thought it was over.
Over the holidays she developed painful fluid buildup. After three visits to have the material removed with a syringe, she was referred to Dr. Kevin Kim and Dr. Benjamin Wilkinson, who explained that the tumors were very small, but the cancer was very aggressive.
“They recommended 16 rounds of chemotherapy and 12 radiation treatments to kill the tumor,” Razo recalled.
The treatment was accompanied by pain and hair loss.
“When you take your hair off, the change is very powerful. Your face really changes. The whole world wants you to have hair,” Razo said.
Since Razo was initially unaware of Mission Hope’s $200 donation for wigs, she got two herself.
“I always wanted to try a different color. I love my wig! And people told me they liked my haircut and that I looked so different. The doctor said I looked like a different person. People didn’t recognize me because of the honey-colored hair and the hairstyle,” Razo said.
The treatments are complete and her body is on the mend and her baby soft hair is coming back.
“I feel better now, you know? It’s back and I’m working in the garden and on the trees in the yard. I’m going to classes at Mission Hope, physical therapy three days a week with John (Malinowski), the pool at Hancock (College), the farmers market,” Razo said.
Since she had no family in the country, she was grateful for her friends who not only provided her with moral support but also provided her with transportation to and from appointments.
“Life changes, and cancer is a very hard thing that changes everything. Your emotions. You change physically. I’m grateful that I had so much security when I was going through something so difficult while other people are dying and suffering,” Razo said.
When she was feeling bad, she would look around and see patients who were worse off than her, who had small children to care for and she didn’t, and they would help her put things in perspective.
“I’ve always talked to friends and people and observed others. At first I asked, ‘Why me?’ but now I don’t ask why anymore. It’s nobody’s fault. So we are faithful to His strength. We are grateful for this place. And see that I have more because I appreciate everything more. I don’t want anything,” Razo said.
Her focus is on healing and relationships.
“All that matters is that we are better. Nothing else is important. If we are not healthy, we have nothing. I live happily every day and I know that the most important thing is family and friends because they understand the situation. They support you. They hug you,” said Razo.
