Cindy De La Rosa - Winter 2004

I’m Cindy De La Rosa. I’ve been a CCA kid for 13 years and enjoyed every bit of it. For my mom and me, CCA gives us chance to travel and lets us meet some pretty cool families.

I was born with cystichygroma. This is when a person has cystic tumors in their lymphoid system. I use to have a trach and a G-tube. I have had several operations and injections to decrease the tumors. I now have very few tumors, but I have a lot of scar tissue.

I’m an 18-year-old Wisconsin girl and a senior in high school. I graduate on June 10, and I’m counting the days. I’m not sure what I want to do with my future. Art is one of the biggest passions I have. I want to go to the University of Wisconsin Whitewater and become an art metals teacher for high school students. I plan to go to tech school and become a business major while I think about my future.

My mom is my best friend and I love her to death. She has always been there for me through thick and thin. My family is the best part of my life, even if they are a little crazy. I love all of them so much and thank God everyday for them. They are true friends, and I appreciate them very much.

I have many hobbies.  Dance is my biggest passion in life. I have been dancing for fifteen years. Art metals and sculpture are new hobbies. I fell in love with art when I first walked through the doors of my high school art department. Art and dance help me get away from problems in life. I also love to hang out with my friends, go to school sporting events, watch movies and TV, listen to music and go shopping.

I have thought about what life would be like if I didn’t have tumors. I realized I wouldn’t like it. I would have never gotten adopted and I wouldn’t have a wonderful mother, friends or family.

I like being me. I’ve never really had a problem with people making fun of me, but then I have never let anyone make fun of me. I’ve always stuck up for myself, or my friends and family stuck up for me.

For me, beauty goes two ways…inside and out. I would rather be beautiful on the inside. And never let anyone tell you that you aren’t special! Everyone is special in some way and everyone makes a difference. Just be yourself and people will like you even more.

If you would like to share your story with CCA, please send an email to Annie Reeves at areeves@ccakids.com. If your story is chosen, with your permission, we will edit and publish it in the CCA newsletter, on the Web site or use it for public awareness programs. Not all stories will be selected.

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