To describe Sarah DiBartolomeo's year as difficult would be a massive understatement, but the Hamilton cancer survivor says she now knows how to live life.
Suffering from breathing difficulties, DiBartolomeo went to see the doctor on the day after her 29th birthday in February. She thought it may be asthma, but a tumour was found on her lung and DiBartolomeo was diagnosed with leukemia.
"I remember it was almost like all of that fear of the unknown had finally come to an end," she says. "I didn't know how it was going to affect me and my body, and my family and my husband. All of those elements came crashing down at once."
DiBartolomeo grabbed a camera and began to record her journey with daily videos. The videos show her ups and downs. She shows large clumps of hair falling out. She records a hairdresser shaving her head. She expresses her fear, explaining that she wants people to see her as a fighter, but that it is tough when she never wants to get out of her pajamas. She also speaks to the camera about how she is staying positive. She says one of the goals in making the video is to educate others so there is less of a fear of the unknown and to show other cancer patients how to look on the bright side.
DiBartolomeo's positive spin didn't go unnoticed.
"It was very difficult for her at first, but she decided to make it a journey of inspiration and hope and try to use her treatment as an opportunity to educate others about what people who have cancer go through," says her friend Donny Zaidi, who nominated her for a Toyota WishMaker gift. "She went through incredible adversity this year and through it she has just become an inspiration to so many people I think she deserves a great gift."
For 24 days leading up to Christmas, the Ontario Toyota Dealers Association (OTDA) is granting 24 wishes. DiBartolomeo is one of those recipients. Other recipients include a foster parent to 30 children receiving new furniture for her home and a palliative care nurse, who recently lost everything in a fire, receiving much of what she lost from boots to bedding.
"Here is an individual who is going through this incredible hardship and instead of retreating she chose to go public and educate others, says Andy Caletti, president of the OTDA, about DiBartolomeo. "Let them know they are not alone. She is someone who is already paying it forward."
And that, says Caletti, is the point of the campaign.
"We decided to celebrate in a way that helps us give back in what allowed us to be here 50 years," says Caletti. "We wanted to pay it forward for those who were a crucial part in our success."
The campaign is similar to what WestJet has done this year and last, but Caletti says a lot of companies are looking at social responsibility and how they can give back.
OTDA has stacked shipping crates in the Liberty Village neighbourhood of Toronto and deserving recipients stand in front of the crate as it opens to reveal their gift.
"They don't know what is hiding behind the door," says Caletti. "There is a bit of shock and awe because it takes them a few seconds to figure out what is sitting in front of them. The people we have met are just incredible individuals."
"We went up on the scissor lift and the lady from Toyota said, 'We appreciate what you tell your story. All of the equipment was borrowed so what they (your friends) wanted to do was get you your own equipment. Apple laptop, new camera," DiBartolomeo says. "It's been pretty amazing."
DiBartolomeo was told she was cancer-free in October and she is busy putting new video and photography equipment to work.
"The one thing I always wanted to do when I was off sick was a photo shoot, but we didn't have the money to do it," says DiBartolomeo. "Because there is something so beautiful about a bald woman." she says. She wants to create a calendar of the images to raise money for cancer charities. She also hopes to help others document their journeys.
"When I had a bad day it was really bad, but that makes you learn to appreciate the good days," she says. "At 29, I was able to learn how to live my life."
Like us on Facebook
Add us to your circles.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter.