A woman who beat terminal cancer twice and survived a near-fatal car crash has revealed how she now lives life to the fullest after cheating death.
When Aria started having painful flare-ups under her right arm, she thought a typical infection had set in — but these were actually mini-tumors.
The Los Angeles native was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a blood cancer, and underwent 16 brutal surgeries and multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
After getting everything safe, she was diagnosed with brain cancer during a routine checkup. Defying the odds, she once again went into remission and, in an effort to celebrate, Aria, 28, took a road trip to see her best friend — and was in a near-fatal car accident.
CEO of cheating death: Aria beat terminal cancer twice and survived a near-fatal car accident
The Los Angeles resident was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a blood cancer, and underwent 16 brutal surgeries and multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy
“I had my skull detached from my spine and my occipital bone was broken into pieces,” she told NeedToKnow.co.uk.
“I had broken all my ribs on my right side, initially had no sight or speech, and had ripped open both my colon and lower intestine, causing internal bleeding.
“I passed out in the driver’s seat from lack of oxygen and a climbing altitude, even though I had the 80 mph speed limit.
“I had crossed all lanes, including the oncoming lanes, and was found grinding under my steering wheel and stopped breathing.”
Aria was found unconscious by a member of the highway patrol and soon she was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery to reattach her skull to her spine before it was too late.
Thankfully, her life was saved for the third time, but she still had a long road to recovery.
She said, “I had to learn to walk and talk again, and yet I am working on things.
“I follow a comprehensive diet to heal my internal organ injuries and eat only simple foods in a step-by-step testing process.
“Of course my journey has been filled with immense pain and frustration, but it has given me a new deeper sense of gratitude that has helped me get through it.”
After getting everything safe, she was diagnosed with brain cancer during a routine checkup
Defying all odds, she once again went into remission and, in an effort to celebrate, Aria, 28, took a road trip to see her best friend – and was in a near-fatal car accident
The impact had detached her skull from her spine and broken her occipital bone into pieces
Now, as a result of her triple confrontation with death, she has learned to stop waiting for things to happen and instead go after the things she wants.
Aria added, “I worry a lot less about what others think of me because we really don’t have time.
“A lot of friends and family have left my life and it has made me much more valuable with who and where I put my energy.
“I learned to drive again, but being a passenger with other people is hard and I don’t like to ride with people I don’t know.
“My nerve overwhelm is still constant and painful in large social settings and I have to be careful about exercise, in addition to using special pillows.
“I still mourn the loss of those years, but I am much happier than before and happy to be the person I am today.
“I couldn’t have controlled anything that happened to me and I also know that if something else were to happen now I have the resources to overcome it.
“All of this has been necessary and transformative.
“I’ve overcome near-death three times and it really showed me that everything can change in a split second.”