Widower discovers wife’s breast cancer on her birthday: ‘She did everything she could’

Widower discovers wife’s breast cancer on her birthday: ‘She did everything she could’


William Freitas participated in the Breast Cancer Run and Walk in honor of Camila Dotto




On his birthday, June 20, 2022, the life of public servant William Freitas experienced a turning point. After the family lunch to celebrate the appointment, his wife, Camila Dotto, decided to go to the laboratory for a test and received the dreaded diagnosis: breast cancer.

“He cried a lot, searched on Google, contacted the doctor and started treatment,” he recalls. And it was for Camila that William ran the 62nd edition of the Run and Walk against Breast Cancer, last Sunday, the 12th, in an event promoted by the IBCC (Brazilian Institute for Cancer Control), to raise awareness and prevent breast cancer.

The wife intended to run, received a kit in 2023, but was too weak to participate. Camila died on July 24, 2024, just over two years after discovering the disease, at the age of 36.

Throughout the treatment, William and Camila wanted to include their daughter Sofia, now 8 years old. And it was up to the father and daughter to cut the mother’s hair during chemotherapy. “We have always been transparent. She participated in the entire process whenever possible, and in a more light-hearted way. We did [corte de cabelo] a joyful moment, with music, always together.”

“Sofia is the one who gives me strength, in this first year we spent everything together: the commemorative dates, the parties and the eighth birthday. Sofia wanted a party, the theme was Ana Castela, but I didn’t want to do a photographic retrospective because I knew it would have an emotional impact. Sofia insisted. On the day of the party there is a photo of us, hand in hand, with tears flowing and a photo of her mother in the background. It’s Sofia who motivates. every day,” says William.

Treatment

According to the public official, the wife did everything she could: mastectomy and chemotherapy. After the sessions were over, the family went on a cruise to celebrate. In 2023, they managed to realize their dream of visiting Disneyland.

“We rented a stroller so Camila could go around the parks and it was such a great experience that we decided to come back with the whole family, we created a Whatsapp group and the idea was to come back this year, in 2025,” she recalls. “After his passing the group was a bit quiet, but we reactivated ourselves and went on the road wearing a t-shirt in his honor,” he says.

During this time, running was an outlet for William. “We couldn’t go out much, I had to take care of Sofia, the house and the run. Today I ran in honor of my wife and I intend to run every year.”

Source: Terra

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