her bones and, in the words of her oncologist, this was now what she was ‘going to die from.’
“I decided to change my fear to curiosity. Fear paralyses you while curiosity demands action.”
Zelda, whose name translates as ‘warrior,’ fights hard every day against battle fatigue. Now 17 years on from diagnosis and her positivity and ‘never say die’ attitude, continues to astound and inspire everyone she meets.
She said:“Even my oncologist doesn't know how I’ve managed to defy the odds. I believe it’s multifactorial. Staying busy, having a vision, exercising never giving up, having fun and, importantly, reframing it into something positive.
“I decided to change my fear to curiosity. It was a big change for me. Fear paralyses you while curiosity demands action. So I decided to be curious about the cancer, what effect it has on me, what I can or can't do. I accept that, in the meantime, I am a little bit more vulnerable.
“I don't actually believe in the saying, ‘what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.’ I believe ‘what doesn't kill you makes you more vulnerable.’ You are more aware of the things that can go wrong. Before I thought I was invincible and nothing could happen to me. I didn't even think about it. But now I know the body is both very vulnerable and very strong at the same time.
“I have always been blessed with optimism and a short memory of pain. I do get tired sometimes but South Africans are used to pushing through, it is in our history.”
The toughest bout in Zelda’s cancer battle was still to be fought when, in spring last year, a scan revealed a tumour in her brain. Suddenly she was facing the bitter reality that she could not outrun this vicious disease forever.
In typical warrior spirit, she refused to accept the prognosis of at least two consultants who warned of an 80% chance of the surgery leaving her paralysed down her right side, and instead went in search of another opinion.
In June last year, she underwent 11-hour brain surgery to remove the tumour. Despite the operation being deemed a success, it brought one devastating and unexpected consequence – it had robbed her of her speech.
She recalls:“I wouldn't have had it done if I’d known how hard it would be, not being able to communicate. I regretted it at the time. It wasn’t just my speech that was lost but my whole identity and my whole way of being. I was completely shocked. I was wondering, who am I without being able to talk?”
Once again adopting the defiant warrior spirit, Zelda threw herself into months of therapy to regain her speech and, just a few weeks ago, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when she bravely took up an invitation to do a reading at a friend’s wedding.
Nor has it stopped her from continuing with her passion project - a podcast encourage by Catherine Williamson – and inspired by her cancer story in the hope of instilling hope and positivity in others. Each episode of ‘Zelda, Princess Warrior’ hears from experts in the fields of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing – all factors Zelda credits in her journey to, not just survive, but thrive.
Longer term, she continues on with the immunotherapy treatment which, at least for now, is managing to keep the cancer under control. Her mission today is ‘simply’ to stay alive in three-month segments - the time between the dreaded scans and her oncology appointments.
But never one to sit still, she has just returned from her latest adventure - a 500km cycling trip over the Alps between Basel and Milan on her foldable bike with her partner Frank by her side, even roughing it along the way with a spot of wild camping! She has raised £1k so far for Cancer Research UK.
Between times, as our warrior faces down the next chapter, she continues to draw even more strength from the army of support around her, including her two sons Benedict and Alexander, now 25 and 24.
She said: “My advice to anyone newly diagnosed with cancer is gather around all your friends and let them carry you. Do not try and be strong. Be positive and be questioning. You also need good friends who challenge you. One needs sympathy but one also needs tough love. Give credit to your emotions and get through to the next moment.
“One can see my cancer journey as battling for life. I don't see it like that. I am not afraid to die. I am reluctant to miss anything. But life carries on and you must miss something somewhere. During my cancer journey I just live the best I can.”
WHAT CATHERINE SAYS: “When Zelda recorded her first podcast and my second ever, my natural exuberance and rookie nerves were quelled by the intensity and the enormity of her wisdom and sheer vitality. After the episode was loaded up on Spotify it just rippled out all over the globe being listened to in 38 countries over 5 continents. I credit her with establishing Gobsmacked! - I got the podcasting bug then so did she. In so doing she continues to uplift inform and inspire many others through this medium.”
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You can follow Catherine Williamson’s Gobsmacked podcast at
https://gobsmacked.me/ The book accompanying her podcast is available to purchase
LIVE24-SEVEN.COM
ENTERTAINMENT CATHERINE WI L L IAMSON
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