Two years ahead of her cancer diagnosis, Snezana’s world had already been turned upside down. She became hospitalized with a rare form of double pneumonia. The disease manifested as simultaneous respiratory and cardiac failure. This health crisis would change her life and their lives forever. Though her recovery began quickly, the struggle was just beginning. When Snezana was suddenly given a cancer diagnosis, her whole world reversed. Although previous tests had indicated stage 1 or 2, she found out that she, in fact, had stage 4 metastatic cancer, a diagnosis that would set her resilience to the ultimate challenge.
In May 2023, Snezana got the best news ever—she was in remission! Captured by an onlooker, this amazing moment was a testament to her power and the deep roots of support from her friends. Throughout her struggle, Noeline, Helen & Millie—lovingly referred to as Aunty—were there for her. They provided untiring emotional and practical support in what must have been the most unspeakably traumatic period.
The path to remission started with a colonoscopy, which was suggested after Snezana had been through worrisome results about a month before. She had booked that same trip to Italy for 2020 with her husband, Dave, and her daughter, Emma. With the knowledge that she would need surgery—and a lot of recovery time—she decided to put the vacation on hold in order to focus on her health.
Snezana’s initial surgery, for removal of the tumor, was expected to take six hours but instead took ten hours after complications set in. During the complicated four-hour surgery, the surgeon removed about 40 percent of Snezana’s sigmoid colon. On top of that, he had to remove a fourth of her liver. While the surgery was a major turning point in her war on cancer, it was the starting point for her comprehensive treatment journey.
Over the next few months, Snezana battled through 12 rounds of chemotherapy. There were days when excruciating pain and severe fatigue made life completely intolerable. She thought she was nearly three quarters of the way through her treatment. Then, she developed bilateral pulmonary emboli from the closure of blood vessels in her lungs, further delaying and complicating her recovery. Even through these disappointments, Snezana was not deterred and continued to battle against the disease.
She’d had an MRI just before her original surgery to confirm bumps that had appeared on earlier scans of her liver. The findings were shocking, revealing a worse situation than we even guessed. This unforeseen diagnosis changed her perspective on life and propelled her further to defeat her disease.
During this difficult process, the friendship with her fellow musicians grew stronger. With extended family living still in Croatia, Noeline, Helen and Millie turned into a key support system for Snezana. They cheered one another’s small victories and reminded one another that no one should go through dark times alone. Their presence was a powerful reminder that family is not always related by blood.
Snezana’s journey through treatment was challenging in many aspects, there were specific instances that truly challenged her not just physically, but mentally as well. Not only did she enjoy those hikes, she learned how to emotionally endure living with cancer while experiencing the hope that comes with recovery. Being in a network of support was key. Her friends leaders became advocates, standing vigil around her during hospital visits, during treatment sessions.
For Snezana, her medical journey arrived at an important inflection point on May 19. She got the amazing news that she was in remission! This recent announcement opened a new and wonderful chapter in her life. It also opened the door to a new one bursting with potential. Now, she keeps a close eye on her health and is due for three-month follow-up checks. Nonetheless, she welcomes this new chapter with hopefulness and appreciation.
