“I was constantly exhausted, my body aching, and I thought I was simply experiencing burnout.” Sonja Walker
LOCAL SURVIVOR OF RARE CANCER SHARES STORY
EDITOR’s NOTE: August is Appendix Cancer Awareness Month. In 2008, Sonja Walker — today a Blackstone resident –walked into a hospital emergency room, hoping to find out what was causing pain on her right side. She expected a quick diagnosis and release from the hospital, but that was not to be.
Sonja was eventually diagnosed with appendix cancer and given one year to live. The cancer-riddled mucin — a jellylike substance in the appendix — had spread among the organs of her abdominal cavity. With help of a friend, Sonja learned about Dr. Armando Sardi of Baltimore’s Mercy Medical Center. Dr. Sardi was successfully treating appendix and other abdominal cancers with a procedure known as CRS/HIPEC (Cytoreductive Surgery/ Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy). This is her story:
by Sonja Walker
God always has a plan that’s greater than we can understand.
Before 2009, I looked forward to each day, eager to care for my beautiful children. When they were young, I promised myself they would only know of the sacrifices I made for them through the stories I’d share. I worked tirelessly to give them the life I thought they deserved.
At the time, I was a police lieutenant, working long hours of overtime, and attending college online. I was constantly exhausted, my body aching, and I thought I was simply experiencing burnout. Little did I know I was facing a health challenge that would become the second most traumatic event of my life.
Odd Encounter
I remember the day vividly. I was assigned to oversee an elderly mental health patient at the hospital, preparing to transport her to a different facility. While we were there, she was being screened to ensure there were no health issues preventing her from being admitted for behavioral care. I got called back to work before I could even close the police car door.
Frustrated, I walked back inside the hospital. But when I saw the sweet smile of the elderly lady, all my frustration vanished. As we spoke, she shared something with me that I would never forget. She said, “I had a brother. I miss him. He died of appendix cancer, just like you have.”
At first, I was taken aback, and I asked her to repeat herself. She didn’t, but her words stayed with me and prompted me to seek medical help for the rightsided pain and low fever I had been experiencing for weeks.
Foot Of Intestines Removed
On the day before Thanksgiving 2008, I went to the hospital, assuming my symptoms were minor and that I’d be quickly cleared to go home and start preparing dinner. What began as a routine visit turned into a much longer ordeal, and by evening, the doctor delivered news I wasn’t prepared for. He told me I had to undergo emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix. After the surgery, he informed me, “I removed your appendix along with a foot of your intestines due to a ruptured tumor of unknown origin. The tumor has been sent to the pathologist.” I spent days in pain, unsure of what was happening to my body. Once I was discharged, I did my own research on appendix tumors, finding multiple mentions of “appendix cancer” and a “jelly-like” substance. At first, I thought I was overreact-
ing, but when I went for a follow up visit, the doctor simply said, “You’re fine. We’ll monitor you with CAT scans because of the jelly-like substance.”
Second Opinion
But I wasn’t satisfied. I reached-out to a friend, and together, we found a specialist, Dr. Armando Sardi. After reviewing my medical records, Dr. Sardi’s office scheduled an appointment. Once there, I was hit by the devastating news, “You have appendix cancer. Your prognosis is a one-year survival expectancy. You’ll need to undergo Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS), the most aggressive surgery, combined with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) to eliminate any remaining cancer cells. The surgery was brutal. I was cut open from my chest to my pelvis, and my organs were carefully searched for any tumors, which were then removed. My body was filled with four liters of chemotherapy during the procedure. I was hooked up to countless machines, including a heart monitor, as I battled serious complications.
Tragedy Out Of Nowhere
As I slowly recovered, I walked the halls of the hospital, passing rooms where patients had already passed away. Some days, I wondered, “Why am I still here?” I felt like I had somehow cheated death. Before my surgery, I had prepared
my oldest son for the possibility that I might not return.
Little did I know it wouldn’t be me who left. Ten months later, still recovering from my own battle, I lost my son in a tragic boating accident. The grief was unbearable, and the trauma led to yet another surgery shortly after his funeral.
Grateful To God
I have faced so much hardship in my life—more than I can express—but through it all, I never lost my faith in God. I came close to death, but my belief in Him never wavered. I remembered what Dr. Sardi had said: I needed faith to survive. It took years for me to understand why I had to endure such pain and loss, but eventually, I realized: I was broken, but I was reborn. I was born in July 1970, but I was reborn in October 2010 when God allowed me to survive a rare cancer that, at the time, three percent of people in the world develop—and even fewer survive. After 15 years of treatment, I was released from care in April 2024, a milestone that I celebrate with deep gratitude. I also owe much thanks to my family and friends, whose unwavering support has helped me through this long journey and in my healing as a grieving mother. I dedicate this story to my children — Donte (my son, may he rest in peace), Kay (daughter), Mya (daughter), Elijah (nephew), Omarii (godson), Olahni (granddaughter), Mahzi (grandson), and Charlie (granddaughter) — and to all those fighting for survivorship. To learn more about the CRS/HIPEC procedure, go to Abdominal Cancers Alliance.
Sonja today is 55 and has lived in Blackstone since 2020. The NJ native was living in Rice when she was first diagosed. She’s a graduate of Prince Edward County High School, Walden University with a Masters Degree in Psychology, Public Administration, and Social Change; and Strayer University with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a Concentration in Legal Studies. She’s a former FASTC contractor who works today as a part-time content engineer.
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