My name is Sandra Albornoz, a Colombian living in Homestead, Florida,  and mother of two beautiful children who have been my inspiration. I am a writer with a published book, and journalist by profession, additionally, I have dedicated myself to giving lectures in personal growth, specializing in Mandalas. Recently I discovered my artistic vein.

I love to draw animals, faces and other things, and I like to create mandalas in the pointillism technique.  For this I use acrylics, a series of specialized tools to make points, and inspiration comes to me in the least expected moments.  Once I see the design internally, I start to work on it dot by dot, and this can take hours or days, depending on the complexity. Additionally I have the gift of interpretation of mandalas.

This technique requires a high degree of concentration, and for me it has become my healing therapy, since being so focused, I forget the pain and any other type of problem. It gives me so much joy and happiness, it has been a Blessing.

I was diagnosed with a practically unknown cancer called Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP) in 2015 and my life changed drastically. I went from being a very active and productive woman, to experiencing a series of very difficult situations, including extreme pain, an inability to digest food properly, or even have the simple freedom to move my body.

As many know, uncertainty is the reality that many of us with cancer face on a daily basis; but perhaps even more with this rare type of cancer: only 1 in 500,000 people are diagnosed with PMP and few doctors know about it, much less how to treat it.

I have done my best to deal with five surgeries. I lost more than 7 organs, have 17 scars and lived with an ileostomy bag that my body rejected. I was exposed to chemotherapy at very high temperatures (HIPEC),  and my intestine was paralyzed for several months. Finally in recovery and feeling a little better and hopeful, tests at the beginning of 2017 showed that the cancer metastasized, moving from the peritoneum to both lungs, resulting in my fourth and fifth robotic operations.

Even in a country so large, far from a lot of my loved ones, I have never truly been alone. I have felt the presence of God in every moment and a network of family and friends have taken care of me every step of the way.

When at last I thought that everything was in the past, in December 2017 new nodules were found in my body. Doctors agree that it is imperative to start chemotherapy to potentially stop the continuous spread of the cancer and if the nodules grow, I will have to repeat a high-risk surgery.

Given the circumstances, after exhaustive research, talking to doctors and experts, and listening to testimonies from people I have come to know, I have found a complementary medical treatment that is vital for me.

I know that dealing with chemotherapy while my body is weak is a very high risk. That is why I want to get as strong as possible, and this treatment, which includes specialized tests, medicines and different types of natural supplements, a specific and vegetarian diet, and an appropriate lifestyle, has been a challenge and a blessing. Only time will show where my life is heading, for now I try to embrace every moment. My last scan showed that there are four tumors, and the treatment to be followed will be established shortly.

I understood that the purpose of  Cancer is to help others in their emotional growth, which is why I created an interactive group called Loving Drops where we help each other on a day-to-day basis.