Teresa Arredondo — Sharing Her Ocular Melanoma Journey of Strength and Hope
Teresa Arredondo, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, has always been the undeniable heart of her family. Born and raised in Mexico, Teresa’s life has been deeply rooted in faith, tradition and love. Her children describe her as humble, strong and full of grace— a woman whose kindness and devotion to others have shaped generations of her family. In October 2010, Teresa’s world changed when she was diagnosed with ocular melanoma (OM), a rare and aggressive form of cancer impacting approximately 2,000 people in the US annually. Often silent and difficult to detect, OM can progress before symptoms appear, making early diagnosis rare. The news was devastating, yet from the very beginning, Teresa refused to surrender to fear or despair. Instead, she chose faith.
Teresa responded to her diagnosis with unwavering determination. She embraced a new way of living — shifting to a completely vegan lifestyle, studying natural healing methods and committing herself to both medical treatment and prayer. Working closely with her doctors at UCLA, she fought tirelessly, and by the summer of 2016, she had overcome the disease. Her recovery was a triumph of discipline, hope and unshakeable belief.
In late 2017, Teresa faced another heartbreaking setback when the melanoma metastasized to her liver. Once again, she fought back with courage and resilience. After a long and difficult battle, she entered remission a second time. But when new tumors later appeared throughout her body, she began another round of immunotherapy and joined a clinical trial. The treatments were grueling, yet her spirit remained unbreakable.
Today, at 79 years old, Teresa continues her fight — and her doctors are witnessing what they Teresa Arredondo Ocular Melanoma Thriver call a miracle. Her tumors are shrinking, some have disappeared completely, and her overall response defies medical explanation. To those who know her, her progress is nothing short of divine grace at work.
Teresa is not yet cancer-free, but she is “faith-full.” For 15 years, she has faced cancer with courage, prayer and trust in God’s plan for her life. Through every trial, she has chosen hope and perseverance, inspiring all who love her. Her children and grandchildren call her living proof that miracles still walk this earth — a testament to the power of faith, family and the human spirit.
