Cancer awareness month: A story of hope for Cedarville students

By Rachel Schuck

“[Cancer] showed me that I need God, and not just to heal me, but I need God to live. I need God to live fully.”

At seven years old, Gabriela Sierra was diagnosed with stage-two Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of lymphatic cancer typically found in young children. 

Sierra, a freshman Psychology major from the Dominican Republic, faced drastic changes following her diagnosis. In the span of two months, she could no longer attend school, go to church or spend time with people outside of her family. 

“I would see how everything was falling apart: my friendships, my health, what I considered stability and a stable family life,” Sierra said. “Everything fell apart in the span of two months.”

Sierra experienced the side effects of Hodgkin’s lymphoma — swollen limbs and fevers — and the painful ramifications of cancer treatment. Surgery, eight months of chemotherapy and three months of radiation treatment left her suffering with hair loss, sleeplessness and fatigue. Receiving injections and steroids to boost her immune system, Sierra endured muscle pain and weight gain.

“My childhood, it’s something no child should go through,” Sierra said. “I feel like [cancer] took a little bit of my childhood away because I was aware of all these [painful] things.”

As she dealt with the effects, Sierra struggled with feelings of inferiority.

“I knew I was different. I knew everybody knew my story, I knew I was just like this little weird child with short hair,” Sierra said. “I remember people discussing in front of me whether I was a boy or girl.”

Sierra also experienced gut-wrenching guilt as she watched her parents sacrifice for her daily. While her dad struggled to open a restaurant, he drove her back and forth to the hospital. While her mom juggled home life and a job, she supported Sierra tirelessly. 

“When my mom was home, my dad wasn’t. When my dad was home, my mom wasn’t,” Sierra said. “And I remember realizing what a hard time they were having, and like remembering my dad staying up to 4 am in the morning googling hospitals for me. I felt very guilty that I was making their lives miserable.”

When Sierra was eleven years old, her grandmother, who also had been battling the disease, tragically passed away. Her grandmother’s loss broke her heart.

“I think for the first time I was genuinely upset with God. Why? My grandma died, I almost died. Like, why? I think that bothered me more than me being sick,” Sierra said. “I felt that was like my rock bottom moment in my life.”

Even in the midst of her grief and pain, Sierra was able to witness God’s abundant goodness as her family grew closer.

“We had more real conversations and we were more intentional in our time with each other,” Sierra said.

Through her pain, God also drew Sierra closer to him. During nights of sleeplessness, she laid awake talking to God for hours.

“That was just like my little time with the Lord,” Sierra said. “And now every time I can’t sleep at night, I wake up so we can have a little date at 2 a.m.”

Through moments of heartache and uncertainty, the Lord taught Sierra to trust in him as well as depend on his faithfulness. 

“He had everything under control and that was the best reassurance that anybody could have,” Sierra said.

After her grandmother’s death, Sierra expressed her love for the Lord to others, even in her grief. Today, she recognizes her ability to show God’s love through her loss.

“I lost my grandma to cancer, and I still love God and he’s still good,” Sierra said. “You know, that’s a testimony.”

Throughout Sierra’s struggle with cancer, Christ enabled her to shine his light.

“I’ve been a real witness of God’s faithfulness in the midst of trials, and what a better way to witness to other people that God is good in the midst of trial and being able to stand here and tell you I did not die from cancer,” Sierra said.

Despite the hardship she faced, Sierra approaches her cancer journey with a heart of joy. She realizes that Christ has made “beauty from ashes” throughout her story.

“When my health was ashes, he made beauty out of that,” Sierra said. “When I lost people I loved, that was ashes, and he showed me how he’s enough and that he’s in control and he loves me. No matter if I would have died, he still would have brought beauty from those ashes too.”

Resting in the Lord’s joy, Sierra embraces the pain she endured and relies on God.

“I have a wonderful life, and I don’t deserve such a wonderful life, and that’s God being too good and giving me amazing friendships and giving me this wonderful opportunity of college and just giving me the opportunity to know him, like, that’s God bringing beauty from someone who doesn’t deserve that,” Sierra said.

Sierra offers hope for those struggling with cancer, following the struggles she has endured.

“I won’t tell you that you’ll be okay,” said Sierra. “But I can tell you that even so God is good, and he brings beauty from ashes.”

Rachel Schuck is a freshman Professional Writing and Information Design student. She loves to play the piano, get coffee with friends, and take walks in the sunshine.