(Courtesy photo)
By ARABELLA SERRATA
editor@sbnewspaper.com
Two-time breast cancer survivor Sylvia Fortuin was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, where she found a loving husband and started a family. She has been married for 33 years and has been fighting cancer for 10. Fortuin was first diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and faced it again in 2019.
Before her cancer, Fortuin and her husband worked together to run a restaurant. She also ran a spa. The couple ran the restaurant for about 18 years until Fortuin was diagnosed. The first incident occurred when Fortuin felt a lump “the size of a marble” in her right breast. She immediately went to a doctor, and it was then confirmed to be breast cancer.
“I remember when the doctor came in to tell me… just his demeanor, his look, I knew he was going to tell me I had cancer,” said Fortuin.
Cancer had a hard impact on Fortuin and her family. The couple shuttered the restaurant due to financial issues in 2019 after Fortuin’s second diagnosis.
“It was horrible, it changes the way you look, the way you feel,” said Fortuin.
Fortuin described the physical changes cancer causes, including the loss of hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. Fortunately, Fortuin had support from her husband. “He was with me the whole time,” said Fortuin.
After her second battle, Fortuin became a realtor, giving her a new wind of confidence and reinstalling her mental fortitude. Her husband now teaches culinary and hospitality at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Fortuin is now especially careful with the foods she eats and takes daily medication. She is yet declared cancer-free, and was told her cancer was a mutated version of her previous one.
Even with these hurdles, Fortuin never slowed down. She has built a community of support for those who also struggled with breast cancer. She has started a fashion show with Debi Lou Modeling Academy called the “Breast Cancer Awareness Fashion Show,” where she chooses 10 women and gives them a full makeover and lunch. The fashion show is held for their family and friends.
“I remember the first time I did it, I was very nervous,” Fortuin continued, “But the experience made me realize I could do this.”
The fashion show built a network of support for the women who participated. The participants joined a group chat and stayed long after the show ended. Currently, the group encompasses over 20 individuals.
“We all help each other out, pray for each other, wish everyone the best,” said Fortuin, who stressed that no one in this group is alone in their journey.
Recently, Fortuin partook in and won the 2024 South Texas Senior Queen Pageant.
“I never thought about being in pageants. I did it for fun and just happened to win… If I can do it, anybody can,” said Fortuin, who used her winnings to encourage others with stories similar to her’s.
Debi Lou Modeling Academy is dedicated to teaching their students pageant skills that can be applied to life. For more information, visit their website at debiloumodelingacademy.com.
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