“How could this be? I’m healthy and young.” Teresa Rico had not been feeling well for a while, but her January 2015 diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer at age 55 left her shocked, and at first angry. “I never even took off work for a headache. I didn’t smoke. I worked so hard all of my life. Why me?” Her faith was tested further through the process of routine testing, therapies and sometimes painful procedures. Through these experiences Teresa remained upbeat in spirit, leaning on her steadfast relationship with God as her foundation. “God is my provider, my strength, my husband and my doctor. “He is my everything.”
Rooted on the Coast Through Family
Teresa’s roots run deep on the coastside. Her family immigrated to America from Mexico and settled on the coast when she was just 5 years old. As a young woman she worked at the Nurseryman’s exchange for years, was married, and ultimately had to raise her 4 children as a divorced single parent. She moved to Palo Alto for work opportunities, but came home after her youngest son began to thrive from having spent time at a very special place. When Teresa put her 4th child, Allen in the Surf’s Up Club at Mariners, she began to think about coming back to the coastside. “He was so happy, and truly thrived there. I liked the worship, the messages, and the ministries. It made sense to come back to the coast.” Teresa was fortunate to be close to her family and shares her life in an apartment just below her parents in a building they own.
An Unexpected Gift of Peace and Comfort
One night during one of Teresa’s many overnight stays at Stanford Hospital, Teresa was surrounded by her visiting family after having just gone through a painful procedure to drain the fluid from her lungs. Compelled to ask a cousin to play some Christian music, Teresa closed her eyes to rest. She soon began to feel covered in a blanket of tranquility, witnessing a bright light that gave her an immense feeling of peace. When she opened her eyes, Teresa’s family and the medical staff told her that all her vitals had “flat lined.” They thought they lost her. But Teresa was reassured, feeling a burden had been lifted she said to her daughter, “Ivette, if this was a little taste of Heaven, I’m going to be okay.”
Enjoying the Blessings Through the Grace of God
Teresa’s grateful for the many blessings and experiences since her initial diagnosis. Among them, all three of her adult children are now attending Mariners Church growing closer to God in their own walks of faith. Her daughter Brenda, a social worker for the Puente Program in Pescadero now attends Mariners (it helped to have the constant nudgings of her young child who attends the daycare), and her other daughter Ivette made the change to Mariners Church because of her mom. Ivette now works with Mariners, helping to better connect the church to the Hispanic coastside community. With Teresa’s son Jimmy, a gentle nudging and a desire to learn more about Christ has evolved through his mom’s illness, and he always encourages Teresa to stay positive. Teresa has made many new friends at Mariners and through her involvement with the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation which included attending their walk/run events.. “Amazing people pray for me!” Teresa’s blessings include more travel, visiting new regions of Mexico that she has never been to. She says, “A plan for Hawaii is next!”
New Therapies Deliver Health and Hope
Teresa’s had many cancer therapies, some proved better than others, but her latest treatment has produced remarkable results. In September of 2016 she began Immunotherapy and by November 2016 her cancer scan was so low (from 1500 to 50) that doctors were in disbelief. Teresa continues to seek out new treatments and is hoping to be part of an upcoming clinical trial at UC Davis that offers promise. But it’s her spirit, her faith and purpose in family that keep her going. “Three of my children are grown but I still have a teenager that I worry about. I want more time with him.“ She said that her experience with Christ in the hospital helped ease her worries and fears. “It’s hard to imagine leaving all of my family, but I know where I’m going.”
By Marina Scofield, Volunteer Storyteller
