Every time I begin to write this story, I can never find the words to express my emotions that I have locked away. Cancer is a word that no one wants to hear, especially when you are only in your twenties. I was just like every other college student with dreams of one day walking the stage at graduation and making my family proud. I never thought in a million years I’d be diagnosed with cancer. In late September of 2011, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. To this day I still have a hard time believing my diagnosis. It’s hard to understand how someone who had always taken care of himself and his body could be sentenced to such pain and punishment.

The first month was like being stranded in thick fog where everything is a blur. I didn’t get a chance to step back and take everything in. Before I knew it…I had lost all my hair, my birthday, and Thanksgiving had passed. I went through two stages of change that affected every aspect of my life. The first stage was fear. I have never been so fearful. It was a fear of the unknown. When the smoke had cleared and the fear vanished, anger was my next stage. It was hard being sheltered from the world. I missed my friends and all the adventures we used to have. It was difficult to watch the world move forward while I was trapped.

The transition to a normal life would have been more difficult if it wasn’t for the amazing experience I had with Triumph Fitness. It was a major relief to be around people who have gone through the same journey as me. We were able to share our stories as we worked out together. I finally did not feel like I was the only one. I had others there for support. I was given the chance to release all the emotion that had been building up over the past months and begin to reveal the person I was once before. I am a stronger individual today – not just physically – but emotionally and mentally, and I have Triumph to thank for that transformation.

As a recreational cyclist, Teresa enjoyed the challenge and friendship of cycling with several local cycling clubs. Starting in her early 40’s, she set goals and soon accomplished many difficult rides, including the Sacramento Wheelmen’s Sierra Century, an annual classic that featured the beautiful back roads of Amador County. With many challenging climbs, including infamous Slug Gulch, the 2001 Sierra Century was an important milestone in Teresa’s cycling accomplishments.
In 2006, Teresa was diagnosed with breast cancer. Fortunately, it was caught early, and surgery was her first, and last, treatment. “I’ve always recovered quickly from injuries and illnesses, but I was unprepared for the emotional and physical drain. Because my diagnosis and treatment were quick and relatively simple, I didn’t think I really needed any ongoing support after surgery. But, sadly, I lost trust in my body, and became fearful of trying any exercise.” Teresa abandoned the bike and settled into a sporadic routine of walking. “I felt awful, had no appetite, and basically lost my fitness.”
Then a friend from the Wheelmen gave Teresa a Triumph Fitness brochure she had picked up at a cycling event. “I couldn’t believe something like this was available. I’ve always been intimidated by gyms; but here was an opportunity to be in a small group of cancer survivors, led by a personal trainer who had specialized knowledge about our physical limitations. And it was FREE! I signed up immediately. From the moment I started the program, I knew I was in a safe place and on the road to recovering my flexibility, fitness, and most importantly, my confidence. The Triumph Fitness Program pointed me in the right direction, and gave me the tools and courage to take the first step.”
Teresa recently returned to cycling. She accomplished her first goal by participating in the 2011 LIVESTRONG Challenge cycling event in Davis, California as part of Team Triumph, which helped raise funds for programs like Triumph Fitness.