Balancing Classes and Cancer with the help of Fresno State Students

FRESNO, Calif. – Inside Valley Children’s Hospital, a Fresno State student is taking on coursework and cancer.

Rosa Maria Meza is pursuing a degree in Ag Education and is a member of Sigma Alpha, a professional agricultural sorority that promotes scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship.

Last fall, doctors told Meza her Ewing’s sarcoma had returned.

“It was around October whenever I came for one of my routine scans that they saw something abnormal and then they kind of went from there,” Meza said.

Doctors found a recurrence of Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer that affects fewer than 1,000 people per year, according to The Mayo Clinic.

Rosa Maria Meza

The Caruthers native was first diagnosed with the cancer in the summer of 2014. This relapse meant that Meza would undergo chemotherapy while still submitting her schoolwork online.

Meza’s mother Rosa Elena Zaragoza travels from their home in Caruthers to the hospital to visit her daughter. Her husband, Rosa Maria’s father, works in the small agricultural town.

“The first time she became depressed,” Zaragoza says. “We were all depressed. And with thanks to God, it’s helped us unite. In terms of funds, a bit low but we prefer health over money.”

Economically, things have become tight for the family, which is why Sigma Alpha and other sororities and fraternities put together a “Walk for Rosemary.”

Sigma Alpha organized the 5K walk to help the family pay for Rosa Maria’s medical bills. Dozens of people participated in the walk.

“I think we’re just really grateful that us as a sisterhood, through Sigma Alpha, we were able to help one of our own sisters,” says Dani Knight, one of the Sigma Alpha sisters who helped make the walk a reality.

Meza is thankful for the help she received from students at Fresno State.

“It felt very heartwarming to see so many people out there to support,” Meza says. “And they were willing to take the time out of their day to put something together like that and be there on a weekend.”

Meza and the family have set up a GoFundMe page to help with some of the medical expenses.