CHICAGO (WLS) — Flower-covered floats take to the streets for the annual Rose Parade Wednesday. It is a tradition on New Year’s Day.
A cancer survivor from the Chicago area sat on one of the floats.
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“You have to be as positive as possible even when things aren’t going well,” said colorectal cancer survivor Jose Santos. “Just think things will get better.”
There was a message of optimism and hope heading into the new year, from someone who knows firsthand what it means to never give up.
Santos is from Chicago and was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2022 after suffering from ulcerative colitis, which causes severe inflammation of the colon, for 16 years. He sought treatment at City of Hope Cancer Center Chicago.
When you have hope, there is always the prospect of good things happening. There is always light on the other side of the tunnel. I think that for every evil there is always something good.
Jose Santos, cancer survivor
“Of course you hear the C-word and you think, ‘Am I going to die? Am I going to get through this?’” Santos said.
Santos was treated by City of Hope Chicago medical oncologist Dr. Laura Farrington, a woman he describes as his angel.
“Hope is what keeps us going, it helps us get through,” said Dr. Farrington. “Cancer by definition grows and spreads and stage 3 meant the disease almost spread elsewhere in the body. His treatment included chemotherapy, chemo with radiation, surgery. He got everything.”
But despite all this, Dr. Farrington that Santos never gave up and is now cancer-free.
The two got to share an uplifting message of perseverance with millions of people on Wednesday as they rode on the City of Hope float during the Rose Parade before the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, a surreal moment for Jose.
“I never thought I would be in the spotlight,” Santos said. “When you’re living with cancer, all you think about is, ‘How am I going to survive and move on to the next day?’”
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“You can get through this and it can be better in the end,” said Dr. Farrington.
As the new year begins, Santos has a message for those preparing for their own battles, whatever the struggle or challenge may be.
“If you have hope, there is always a prospect of good things happening,” Santos said. “There is always light on the other side of the tunnel. I think for every bad there is always some good.”
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