In the Fight Against Breast Cancer, Soraya Inspires Us Still

One cannot listen to her music without an evocation of the woman
herself, the feeling that she is somehow in the room, that her
song is sung for the listener alone. Her lyrics are simple but
profound, reflecting her life of rich and varied experience, and
her melodies are the melodies of her life: lilting, soaring,
haunting, thoughtful, sad, and finally triumphant.


When singer/songwriter Soraya passed away in 2006, the world
lost one of its most powerful advocates for breast cancer
education and prevention. She had worked for years to bring the
message of early detection to parts of the world that had not
heard it. It is unknown how many lives have been saved through
her efforts, but certainly her work will continue to affect and
inspire many generations to come.

Soraya’s professional career was filled with awards and
recognitions of her excellence. She wrote all of her own music
in two languages and was a gifted guitarist and violinist. She
was the first person to release an album in both Spanish and
English, and was a true superstar in Latin countries and among
Spanish speakers around the world.

Early in 2000, immediately following the release of her third
album, Soraya was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. Though
the disease had long carried a stigma and the resulting
tradition of silence within the Latin community, Soraya
aggressively addressed the issue with her fans, filming a video
that detailed her condition.

She well understood the implications of the diagnosis, perhaps
better than anyone. Her mother had been diagnosed with breast
cancer when Soraya was just twelve, suffered a recurrence six
years later, and finally died when Soraya was 22. Both her
grandmother and aunt had been victims of the disease, and Soraya
was already serving as the Latin Ambassador for the Susan G.
Komen for the Cure foundation.

Her personal strength and force of will was astounding. Her
diagnosis was in June, and she underwent a double mastectomy in
October. Days later, she not only walked in the Race for the
Cure event, she performed and gave a press conference.

Following her diagnosis and surgeries, she found her focus and
clarity of purpose from deep introspection. She resolved to
dedicate herself even more to carrying the message of hope to
those who had not heard it. She spoke as no one had before–in
any language–about her life as a woman after the loss of her
breasts.

In 2003, she released what many consider to be her finest album,
her fourth, titled simply ‘Soraya’. The first single ‘Casi’ (in
English: ‘Almost’) was a huge hit around the world, increasing
her ability to provide education and inspiration to women.

In 2005, after releasing her fifth (and final) album, Soraya
stood at the apex of her career. She was recognized around the
world for her musical talents, and was able to leverage her fame
to expand the reach of her message.

Her cancer returned that year, a fact that Soraya kept to
herself and her close friends for many months. She continued to
tour and deliver her message while working on a book about her
life.
She finally succumbed to the disease on May 10, 2006.

Her book, ‘SORAYA: A Life of Music, a Legacy of Hope’ is as
inspiring a work of literature as you will ever read. Though she
writes of the closeness of her family and the significance of
this terrible disease within it, her joy for living and for life
is a presence throughout. While the reader may often be brought
to tears, her message is never other than one of hope.

Today, this week, soon...listen to her music. Let it wash over
you and cleanse you with its beauty and nuance. Listen to the
lyrics in Spanish and in English and read the translations.
Appreciate the ethereal beauty of her melodies, her calm but
passionate presentation, the clarity of her perspective.

Hers is the music of the pure human soul, written by the hand of
someone with a keen understanding of her delicate and distinct
place in the world, her power and significance, her weaknesses
and strengths, her love of all the challenges of her life.

As was her wish, proceeds from her book will go to the Susan G.
Komen Race for the Cure foundation. Purchase her music and her
book here: http://www.soraya.com

About the author:
Please donate if you can to the San Diego 3 Day Walk on behalf
of Peter W. Robinson, a San Diego County business owner. He is
the author of Car Fu: Self-Defense for Car Buyers and is a
cancer survivor. Go through a link here http://www.car-fu.com
Thank you! Let's eradicate this disease in our lifetimes!

Author: Peter W. Robinson