A Place to Achor: Journalism, Cancer, and Rewriting Mi Vida is an autobiography written by Estela Casas. In her autobiography, Casas gives the reader the opportunity to see inside her life, focusing on her work as a journalist and her journey with cancer. As a news anchor in El Paso, TX, Casas was a constant presence in the homes of her viewers. She was a trusted voice, helping viewers through tragic and trying times, eventually learning, that with her own personal life changing news, she would have to trust others as well as reinvent herself.
Casas’ story is one of courage under fire. She is taken by surprise with the diagnosis of thyroid and bilateral breast cancer. She was used to being the one who reported on the news, keeping her life private but everything changed. Quickly, she became the news and her life was no longer private. Casas decided to open herself up to her viewers, who became both her reason to live and her motivation to change who she was and how she saw herself.
As a journalist, you are privy to many behind-the-scenes circumstances. You pick and choose how and what to report, in order for viewers to make informed decisions. However, when your life becomes the news, it’s even harder to strip away your bias and beliefs. Fear, vulnerability, and faith become a constant. You hardly recognize who you’ve become, unsure if this new version of you can go back to how things were. This is what Casas vividly depicts in her story. “Faith or fear” becomes her mantra, she musters her courage and embraces the uncomfortable, all in the hopes of advocating for others to be their own health care advocates. Casas’ wish, other than being alive, is to enjoy her life with her children and watch them grow, to know that her story pushed others to practice self-care, to take an interest in their physical well-being, and to question the power of faith during turbulent times.
During all of these trials, Casas became very aware of just how much she needed her viewers. Casas’ decision to let the viewers into her private bubble was one that surprised even her, yet there was never really any doubt about the fact that this is how she had to experience it all. The viewers needed to know what was going on and Casas needed to share, but most importantly, she needed her viewers’ support. With each chapter of the book, each turn of the page, the reader is drawn into the shared experience. When Casas is faced with a challenge, feels free, embraces her looks changing, and starts rediscovering her faith in God, we are there right with her.
“Casas’ wish, other than being alive, is to enjoy her life with her children and watch them grow, to know that her story pushed others to practice self-care, to take an interest in their physical well-being, and to question the power of faith during turbulent times. ”
The book resonated with me, as my life seemed to mirror some of Estela’s experiences: an orphan, a mother, Latinx, a journalist, and a survivor, not of cancer but a number of near-catastrophic brain bleeds that required emergency brain surgery. Our stories are not the same exactly, but I was able to empathize with Casas and her journey. The book is a story of a life and of a death. The death of old self to a newer thriving ever changing better version of herself. I am certain you will find a nugget of wisdom or two in Casas’ journey. You will laugh, cry, become fearful and hopeful, while also finding yourself in Casas’ journey. I loved this book and I think you will too.
Estela Casas is a first-generation El Pasoan, mother, cancer thriver, and philanthropist. She is a former English and Spanish language news anchor and journalist who used her platform to not only report the news, but find ways to make a difference in her community. Estela founded the Stand with Estela Casas Cancer Foundation to help increase awareness about breast cancer and raise money to help uninsured women on their cancer journeys.
In her 37 years as a prime-time television news anchor, Estela has highlighted issues of education and health for underserved communities. She eventually found herself the subject of her own reporting, bringing her loyal viewers with her as she shared personal stories about her chemotherapy treatments and surgeries. As a two-time cancer survivor, Estela aims to show women that they too can successfully wage the war against any challenge—not just cancer. Estela firmly believes that her strong faith and love of family, friends, and strangers helped transform her into a better version of herself.
Angela “Angie” Ybarra is a senior student enrolled in the Nontraditional Degree Program (NDP) at Northeastern Illinois University. She hopes to work as a grant writer to assist local nonprofit organizations that address the issues of gentrification within Chicago's NorthWest side and help them find funding for their work. Angie loves to give her audience the opportunity to formulate their own views by presenting the facts or points of interest with the hope to move her audience into action.
“Journalism is what maintains democracy. It’s the force for progressive social change.” —Andrew Vachss, Author
