Cancer survivor celebrates Mother’s Day, says ‘it’s another year that God has blessed me with’

Lori Medina (center) with her daughter Celeste was honored by the Norco freshman team in March. (Photo courtesy Shanna Tully, Norco softball; additional photos Medina family)

Mother’s Day may have come a little early for Corona resident Lori Medina, who has been battling cancer since 2012. She is the wife of Northwood High School plant supervisor Ernie Medina.

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On Tuesday, March 3, members of the Norco High freshman softball team rallied behind Lori Medina, dedicating the game to her. It turned out to be the final game of the season, which ended when the coronavirus pandemic struck and spring sports were cancelled. The team won 23-3 and the Medina’s daughter, 14-year-old Celeste, hit a home run to make it even more special.

“One of the parents, Shanna (Tully), got the girls together and they all had ribbons on their hair with the color that reflected the cancer that I have,” Lori Medina said Saturday. “When I showed up, they played in my honor, so it was a good game, they won, and then after that, we took pictures.”

“They dedicated the game to Lori, without knowing this was going to be their last game for their freshman season,” Ernie Medina said.

This Mother’s Day, the Medina family will be together to honor the person they love and respect.

“She is the foundation of our family, the rock,” said Ernie Medina.

Lori Medina said she looks forward to spending time with her husband and their children, Celeste and 9-year-old son Jaycob on Mother’s Day, although the coronavirus pandemic has made planning a specific activity on the day a challenge.

“It’s a blessing because it’s another year that God has blessed me with,” she said.

She said her two children are “the main focus of my life and one of the reasons why I fight as hard as I do. I love my husband, but they’re the reasons why I fight. Chemo days were never easy, some were good and some were bad, but I always knew I had to get up and stand on my feet and do what I had to do as a mother. To me being a mother was more important than the fight I was in.”

Lori Medina was first diagnosed with cancer in 2012.

“It actually started as cervical cancer in 2012, I had two surgeries and then in 2013, I did radiation and chemo and then in 2014, it metastasized into my lungs,” she said.

She said that with numerous chemotherapy treatments and other treatments, her condition has improved. She told doctors she didn’t want to continue with chemotherapy and they provided an alternative.

“Im on a new treatment for the last two years, so there are two spots that are in my right lung,” Medina said. “My last scan showed it was improving so now I’m just waiting for the results on this scan (taken Friday).”

“I’m a woman of faith, so that’s the first thing I hold on to. The doctor tells me, ‘when you first came to me, you only had six to eight months to live, but I didn’t tell you that because I didn’t want to discourage you.’

“My doctors think very positive and very encouraging and always thinking about what treatment is better for me.”

She has also received support from family and friends.

“Just the outpouring and support that I’ve had from Ernie’s school at Northwood, family, friends, my immediate family and softball, everyone has become like a family,” she said. “Everybody has been so supportive and made this journey a lot easier because if we need help with getting Celeste to a softball game or anything parents are always more than happy and willing to help.”

She’s also established a non-profit group that helps other cancer victims and provides care packages for those who need to have chemotheraphy.

“They give out tote bags and I received one years ago and in the tote bag has a comfort blanket and a couple of things we just don’t think of taking to chemo such as tissues, hand lotion, so I now I offer that to anyone who has to (get treatments).”

Lori Medina also offers encouraging words.

“I Just tell them this is my journey and if I’m able to survive it four or five times, so are you,” she said. “I always try and look at the positive side of things regardless of how bad the situation is.”

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com