Today we’d like to introduce you to Bianca Maderal.
Bianca, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I opened Fight Like a Kid in July of 2016 when I learned I was diagnosed with stage three brain cancer. In December of 2015 I had a first-time seizure during school, right in the beginning of my senior year at Coral Reef Senior High. I was rushed to the hospital to run millions of tests and unfortunately the doctors were unable to find the cause of the shadows they found in my brain. Leading them to perform a craniotomy biopsy where I was diagnosed with stage three multifocal anaplastic astrocytoma.
My specific form of brain cancer is extremely rare and most commonly seen in people ages 30-50 years old. I was only 18 when I was diagnosed. My tumors require aggressive treatment and it has been a long, gruesome battle. In February of 2016, I packed up my life in Miami, Florida and moved to Baltimore, Maryland for 8 weeks- where I began my initial treatment of chemotherapy and radiation at Johns Hopkins Memorial Hospital. Now in 2018 I continue my fight against cancer and am being seen by both my doctors in Duke in North Carolina and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami where I live with my supportive family.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
Being diagnosed with cancer has inspired me to open my very own nonprofit organization for other teenagers and kids, like myself, battling for our lives. My mission is to put a smile on the faces of those fighting the fight by providing help and inspire hope through nonprofit, dedication, education, and support. Some kids wish to be a cowboy, a princess, to be a chef, or a farmer. Other kids wish for a cure, so they can grow up! Sometimes, real superheroes live in the hearts of small children fighting big battles.
One thing I would say to another cancer patient and their family is, my favorite quote from Winnie the Pooh, “There is something you must always remember: you are braver than you believe, smarter than you think, and stronger than you seem,”—because only the bravest and strongest of warriors were given this battle. Cancer is a comma, not a period. Battling cancer has changed my life. I would not be the person I am today without undergoing this beast. In my eyes, it’s cancer’s turn to be afraid. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about cancer. I want to inspire people. I want someone to look at me a say, “because of you I didn’t give up.”
What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
Only 4% of U.S. federal funding is solely dedicated to childhood cancer research when cancer is the #1 cause of death in kids. Pediatric cancer claims the lives of more children than all other childhood diseases combined. Approximately 40 kids are diagnosed with cancer every day and in the last 20 years only 4 cancer treatments have been specifically developed and approved for children. Two-thirds of childhood cancer patients will have long lasting chronic conditions from treatment. It’s time to be bold and go gold all year round not just in the month of September for the children fighting for their lives so they can grow up.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Website: www.fightinglikeakid.org
Email: [email protected]
Facebook Page: Fight Like a Kid
Instagram: @fight_like_akid
Twitter: @fight_like_akid
YouTube: Fight Like a Kid
Contact Info:
- Address: 8111 SW 203rd Street
Cutler Bay, FL 33189 - Website: https://www.fightinglikeakid.org
- Phone: 7862772342
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fight_like_akid/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fightinglikeakid/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/fight_like_akid
Image Credit:
Bibis Smiles
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