SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio mother battling a devastating diagnosis is leaning on her community to continue to stand strong.
“It’s been rough,” Anna Villarreal said. “I never saw this coming.”
In August, doctors diagnosed Villarreal, 46, with Stage 4 breast cancer. Doctors informed her that the cancer had already spread to most of her bones. Villarreal shared that her prognosis was a life expectancy of only six months to three years.
“I wouldn’t have imagined,” Villarreal said. “I didn’t think it was going to be that severe or it had already spread. But my lymph nodes had already taken it to most of my bones. It is in my sternum, collarbone, spine and pelvic bones.”
Villarreal said she’s determined to maintain hope.
“There’s a ton of people that I don’t know that have been amazing in helping,” Villarreal said. “They are there for whatever I need.”
The Thirsty Horse Dance Hall & Saloon is hosting a fundraiser for Villarreal through Wednesday. People can buy tickets for a raffle. The business said this money would help cover some of Villarreal’s medical and living expenses.
“A lot of this stuff is very costly,” Villarreal said. “Anything will help.”
As the community comes together, she wants her story to raise awareness.
“Pay attention to your body,” Villarreal said. “I wish mine could have been caught while there was still more of a chance to have some kind of remission.”
Thirsty Horse will announce winners for the raffle live on Facebook after Jan. 1.
