In 2020, Ngozi Onwuchekwa seemed to have it all – a loving husband, a thriving career in marketing, and at just 42 years old, her whole bright future ahead of her. But in an instant, her world was turned upside down with a shocking stage 3 cancer diagnosis that threatened not just her health but her dreams of one day starting a family.
Yet nearly three grueling years later, Ngozi is emerging not just as a survivor but as a beacon of hope and empowerment for others facing formidable health challenges. This is the story of her unrelenting grit on the journey from patient to champion.
A Rare and Aggressive Opponent
The foe Ngozi found herself up against in 2020 was no small threat – she was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, one of the rarest and most aggressive forms of cancer. Found in the soft tissue of her pelvis, the disease threatened to ravage her body in a matter of months.
“It was a complete and utter shock,” Ngozi recalled. “I always prided myself on being relatively healthy. So this felt like it came out of nowhere.”
The brutal months that followed the diagnosis put Ngozi through a physical and emotional ringer. Intensive chemotherapy left her emaciated and bedridden, while painful side effects like bleeding and the loss of taste, smell, and appetite tormented her daily. The debilitating symptoms were made even more isolating by the fact that Ngozi battled the beast called cancer largely alone during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There were so many low points,” she shared candidly. “From the feeling of isolation, the debilitating side effects, the pain and extreme discomfort. My mental health was severely affected.”
And yet, despite it all, giving up was never an option in Ngozi’s mind. She clung to her will to survive for her loving husband, siblings, nieces and nephews. She also found small but mighty ways to nourish slivers of joy and normalcy, even on the bleakest days.
“I owed it to them to fight,” Ngozi said. “A few things helped my mental health. For one, having a diary, taking on an MBA (master’s degree in digital marketing), practicing gratitude anytime something good happens…Not allowing myself to sink into a depression.”
The Fire Within
Being declared in cancer remission marked a turning point for Ngozi. Coming face-to-face with her mortality gave her a new perspective – she realized life was precious and decided not to take any day for granted.
Her brush with a life-threatening illness lit a spark within her. Ngozi felt determined to live with passion and purpose, embracing every moment to the fullest.
With this renewed lust for life, she gained the confidence to pursue long-held dreams that had once felt out of reach.
Just one year after her hard-fought recovery, 45-year-old Ngozi took an empowering step – she entered her first-ever pageant competition. Deciding to compete after facing cancer showed her growth mindset and refusal to be held back by adversity.
“I never thought I was good enough to be a pageant contestant. It seemed so far removed from my daily life,” she said. “But after seeing the Miss Universe contest on my Instagram feed, I thought, ‘Why not fill out a form and enter…what’s the worst that could happen?’”
As it turns out, something miraculous could happen. Ngozi not only found herself placing as a finalist in the Mrs. Universe competition. She also took home the event’s prestigious “Exceptional Lady” crown – a title specially designated to honor remarkable contestants who have overcome adversity. In winning, Ngozi etched her name in history books as the first cancer survivor ever to claim the honor.
“It was an out-of-body experience I will never forget,” Ngozi beamed. “To cancer patients, I say keep fighting, even when you feel like giving up…To cancer survivors, treasure every day. Go for walks, call up an old friend, and do anything and everything that brings you joy.”
Running Toward a Cure
Ngozi’s own triumph over cancer fueled her with a sense of purpose and mission to empower others battling serious health challenges. She now channels her energy into a range of mediums to share guidance, inspiration, and the message that it’s never too late to realize hidden potential.
Ngozi has committed herself to marathon running as a key way to raise money and hope in honor of the harrowing journey that cancer patients walk.
“Running was always more spiritual to me,” Ngozi said. “Every time I ran, I felt free, happy and strong. Not being able to run for years due to being sick was debilitating…therefore, running to raise money for the cancer charity Sarcoma UK felt right.”
In addition to fundraising athlete efforts, Ngozi is also hard at work authoring a book about her cancer ordeal in hopes that her story can offer patients and survivors fresh advice and emotional support.
She has, in recent years, also stepped comfortably into the public eye as a motivational speaker, proudly sharing details of her medical and emotional hurdles at forums focused on discussing stories of human resilience.
The Key to Forward Motion
As both a survivor and champion for others locked in their own crucibles, Ngozi often fields questions about how she keeps moving forward with seemingly boundless optimism and courage even amidst ongoing adversity.
Her remedy, she says, lies in self-care and maintaining perspective.
“Being in remission has many challenges. There are ongoing tests, scans, hospital visits…and the fear of cancer returning. It is a minefield,” Ngozi acknowledged. “However, I get through it by surrounding myself with happy, caring people and through exercise.”
She also chooses to focus her energy only on passions and purposes that keep her spirit creatively nourished.
“I make sure that whatever I take on, be it work or play, fuels my creative spirit, nurtures my soul, and helps others,” she explained.
It’s precisely this mindset focused on living meaningfully, fully, and fearlessly that Ngozi strives to impart to the countless struggling souls she now counsels in her ever-expanding role as patient champion.
“Be kind to yourself and remember that being challenged in life is inevitable, but being defeated is optional,” she often reminds fellows in the trenches. “Building your mental strength will help you develop the resilience needed to overcome adversity.”
At just 45 years old, Ngozi Onwuchekwa has already lived the wisdom of an aged sage and the passion of youth burning brightly all at once. For those just starting their own journeys battling monumental health challenges, her story stands as a testament that the most exceptional human courage, strength, and renewal often blossom in the darkest storms.
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