34
Hello my name is Jemmabella Cabral. My friends like to call me, “Jemma”, “Bella”, or I am most popularly known as “Jem.” Welcome to my website, IAMJEM.com. What is IAMJEM.com? JEM stands for Just Extremely Motivated. I am a mother of a nine year old boy, a career woman, entrepreneur, hard worker, volunteer for the American Cancer Society and Imerman Angels. Then last, but not least I am a two time cancer survivor of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma!
In 2002, I was officially diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Stage 3, on July 24th which was also my father’s birthday. At the time I had not know what Lymphoma was. So, to make matters worse it was my own mother, a nurse, who had to tell me the three words parents should never have to say to their children, “You have cancer...” After going undiagnosed and living with an unknown illness, I was more than thrilled to know there was a reason, but not that excited it was cancer. Six months came and went, and I did my best to live my life with the disease rather than view myself as someone who suffered from it. By the following year the cancer went into remission. Life was normal again...for now. Four months later while aimlessly scratching my neck, I found a lump. I called my mom, and then the doctors and that same week had the lump removed and a biopsy. I was diagnosed with Reoccurrence of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Mother’s Day weekend...what a gift...
The following month on my 24th birthday, I began chemotherapy treatments for what would be the beginning process for an Autologus Stem Cell transplant. This was a procedure where I was my own donor and recipient of my stem cells. On August 18th, my oncologist’s birthday, the transplant part of the procedure had started and by August 31st, the day before my son’s birthday, I was released from the hospital. I have been in remission since October of 2003. As they say, “The rest is history...”
In 2004, when I was 25 years old, I was introduced to the American Cancer Society and its signature event, Relay For Life. I have contributed my time and efforts in many positions and facets of the organization. Last year, in honor of the 25th Anniversary of Relay For Life, I dedicated my summer to attending 25+ events in honor and in memory of 25 people whose lives have been touched by cancer in the last 6 years (amount of time I had been in remission). I attended a total of 30 different Relay For Life events in each of the 15 Regions in the state of Illinois, in addition to a Relay at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, a Relay event in Tacoma, Washington and a Relay event in Ontario, Canada.
As a two time cancer survivor, I have made it my personal mission to make a difference in the lives of those who have been touched by cancer. I have also made it my personal mission that people see that cancer does not have to be a death sentence. To make a difference in this world you don’t always have to do something earth shattering...you can do something as simple as walk and talk...I will walk in as many Relay For Life events as possible. I will raise as much money for the cause as possible, and I will talk to whomever is willing to listen on how we need to put an end to the deaths from this disease.
Keep in touch on how I and other JEMs out there are making a difference in the world! Check out my Blog, Pictures, and Videos. You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
