The Hope of Roses
By Íris Franco
It all began in May 2011, in the prime of life, when she discovered a hard lump in the upper quadrant of her right breast. Luzimira de Carvalho, as she was known then, 29 years old, saw her world crumble upon receiving the diagnosis: stage 2A breast cancer with intraductal invasion.
It was a shock for all of us—but even more so for her: so young, full of energy, dreams, plans, and projects. I still remember how heavy that week felt for our entire family. I was just a child at the time, but I could sense the weight that settled over my grandparents’ home, and my own.
It was hard. We all cried with the diagnosis. The fear was written on my aunt’s and grandparents’ faces. But amidst all of it, she never gave up. She showed us immense strength and filled our lives with courage.
The impact was devastating. Our family, and the country, had limited resources at the time to help someone like my beautiful aunt. But with the diagnosis came treatment. I remember she underwent two surgeries in just one month, not counting the biopsy, which, though less invasive, was also a surgical procedure.
I can't forget that final surgery. It happened around Christmas 2011. That year, Christmas felt different for all of us.
Then came January. With the New Year arrived a renewed sense of hope. We believed new and better times were ahead. But the path wasn’t easy. That month, my aunt began chemotherapy. I remember clearly: even though she showed strength through every session, the treatment was brutal, and the side effects, devastating.
I watched her lose her color, her hair, her strength. She faded a little more with each session. It was heartbreaking. I felt her sadness and fear, though she tried to hide it. She was a dedicated, kind woman who took such good care of me and my siblings – the sister who stood right beside my mother. Her physical strength diminished, but her light and resilience never faded.
We were all surprised the day we saw my aunt, still undergoing treatment, telling her story on television. Between pain and discovery, our family learned the true meaning of resilience.
I remember that even bald, my aunt Luz didn’t like scarves or wigs. She never lost her beauty or her vanity. She was the very image of self-esteem. People often speak about self-image, but I learned from an early age the value of caring for how we present ourselves, and of facing life’s challenges with dignity and grace.
A woman of faith, she inspired everyone around her. And from her strength, a vast support network was born: family, friends, and society at large. With resilience awakened, the long-awaited victory came.
My God! Where did her strength come from? Luzimira de Carvalho, today known as Resilient Light. She was diagnosed at 29. She paused her studies, her work, her life... to fight. University and career were put on hold for a year. But she fought, and she came back stronger.
I remember it like this:
At 29, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
At 30, she returned to work.
At 31, she began a new relationship.
At 32, she got engaged.
At 33, she got married.
At 35, she had her first child.
At 37, her second.
At 40, she published a book.
Today, she is one of our country’s most influential health activists. She holds three master’s degrees in areas focused on health and well-being. She is the president of the Angolan League Against Cancer, and vice-president of the Lusophone Association for the Promotion of Health Literacy in Oncology, based in Lisbon, Portugal.
Among many other accomplishments, she is the woman who gave birth to two children after a cancer diagnosis. She breastfed them both until almost two years of age, even with only one breast. She is recognized wherever she goes as a woman of impact, earning the title “Dr. of Lives.”
From the pain of diagnosis and the struggle for survival came the Rosa Esperança project. It is a project that welcomes and supports women from across the country with histories of cancer.
Today, as an adult, I am a dedicated medical student, thanks to the positive impact of my aunt’s journey of faith, struggle, and resilience. I hope one day to be a great doctor and save many lives, just as my aunt has done. Not because she is a physician, but because she is a true rose and a Resilient Light, who shines and inspires wherever she goes.
Yes! A beacon for all who fight this devastating disease. A true Rose of Hope, who has already saved countless lives through her courage and her story.
And if you ask me who Luzimira de Carvalho João is (she is now married and embracing a once-unspoken surname) I’ll simply say:
She is one of the most beautiful roses in the garden of my life.
A powerful symbol of resilience.
The source of my inspiration, as a young woman striving to overcome.
From her, I learned that life does not end with a diagnosis.
And yes, sometimes, a diagnosis, even one as frightening as cancer, can become the springboard that allows us to reframe our lives and become a light for others.
“She paused her studies, her work, her life... to fight... and she came back stronger.”
This story is reproduced from our book "Voices Without Borders: Women’s Stories of Courage and Resilience", edited and published by the Angolan publishing house É Sobre Nós Editora, and sponsored by the Africa-Europe Foundation.
