Koa

Introduce yourself

Hi! I’m Mona, otherwise known as Koa. I was able to attend Camp 40 in Maui. 

Personal story

My personal cancer story actually started before I was diagnosed. I was 33 years old when I was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer, but amazingly enough, this was not my 1st face with cancer. When I was 16 years old, I held my dad's hand when he took his last breath, a life cut short due to cancer. That moment changed me forever. I can proudly say that I am a survivor! I also happen to be an Oncology Nurse. 

When I was diagnosed, I had 3 small kids and a lot of life ahead of me. I am now 5 years after my diagnosis. I am a survivor. Although I am no longer "fighting" the cancer, the wounds and scars left from my battle are ever so real. They are reminders of the fight that I won that some are not as fortunate to prevail. 

At work, I am reminded every day of my journey and how I got here.

There is a lot of growth that has to happen to be able to look someone in the eyes who is in the beginning, middle, or end of their fight, and just be there in the moment with them. And also to look at yourself, your new self, after cancer, after chemo, after radiation, after surgery! 

I had a passion for Oncology ever since the experience I had with my own dad. I can now relate with my patients on a level that most others cannot. I can honestly say that I am still learning how to be my ‘new me’, and best me, after cancer. I hope I never stop growing with that. 

PK also gave me the opportunity to be one who could ask questions and need help. I learned things about myself that I didn’t even know I needed to learn! Before cancer, I was the person who was 1st in line to help others. I was not used to being the one needing the help. 

But PK allowed me a safe space to receive help in a way that you can’t get anywhere else. To be able to be vulnerable and have it not construed as weak. To learn new skills with others who were also learning with you. To share the struggle of the moment. 

There is a lot about my cancer journey that I felt I couldn’t share, that others couldn’t relate, but that was never the case with PK. 

Healing comes in so many different ways. Being able to be outside on a surfboard, which I had never done before, gave me a strength. And being surrounded by people who authentically supported and cared for me helped me overcome the walls I had built a wall around my emotions. To be able to be as vulnerable as we were, and to trust the safety of the ones we were vulnerable with, really helped me work through emotions that I didn’t know were hiding under my armor. 

Power name story

My power name, Koa, means Brave or Warrior. This is also the name of my youngest son. 

I’ve always been the one to run into the storm head on, and that was never more true as it was with my cancer journey. 

But I came to learn that winning the fight with cancer was like fighting a war: I couldn’t do it by myself. 

We were all warriors, we all had times of bravery, and times we needed others to help hold us up. And in the end, we won, together.

A fun fact about you

A fun fact about me is that as a kid, I was afraid that something would happen to my right hand (my dominant hand) so I learned to write with my left hand. Yeah, I’m old enough to have wanted to be sure I could still communicate with written word!

Talk about your involvement with Project Koru

Currently, I do my best to make it to Campfire and Hangouts on Sunday evenings. I am also working on being able to help out with camps in the future through Farman Fellows.

Why did you choose to be a leader? What does being a leader mean to you? 

I am an Oncology Charge Nurse for my day job. I help facilitate care for others who are in all stages of their cancer treatment. Being in leadership is not about the power but about being in a position where you can help facilitate care, advocate for change, and be a place of encouragement for staff and patients.

What does empowerment mean to you and how does it show up in your life? 

Empowerment for me is having the support we need to do what is needed, what is right, and what is helpful. At work, our supervisor empowers the staff to speak up when change is needed. We empower our patient’s to speak up and advocate for their needs. I even work on empowering my kids to take care of their needs and speak up to help others. 

What does being part of the Ohana mean to you? 

Being part of this Ohana gives me a place to be with people who can personally relate to what I’ve been through that most in my life cannot. 

We can all read a book on survivorship and how to help others going through the cancer process, but to have a space where you don’t have to explain, simplify, edit your words to spare others’ emotions is so important. 

Cancer is not an easy thing to discuss. This Ohana gives us a place where we can just be us, 100% pure and authentic. 

What advice would you give to new survivors?

Two things: one, listen to your body and don’t push beyond your physical, mental, or psychological limits. Two, learn to graciously receive help from others. 

I know these are easier for some, but it’s always important to practice consciously. It is important to remember this at camp too! It can be hard to not be able to do things that you were once able to do, whether physically, emotionally, or psychologically. 

But PK is a safe place to start looking at that, learning from each other, teaching each other, learning to be comfortable with the new and the unknown. It is also a nice, easy way, to start letting people genuinely help you.