Dana Campos Azofeifa
Costa Rica
Sometimes the game of life will offer you a bad play, but just like football, it’s all about how you rebound. For Dana, 2020 would prove to be the most challenging year of her life.
Like the rest of the world, Covid had rocked her daily routine. She was doing her best to keep up with her schoolwork and she enjoyed spending time with her family. However, she missed her friends and teammates from Sello Femenino, the all-girl national champion football team. Soon, the fear of Covid would take a backseat to some devastating news. At just 14 years old, doctors discovered a massive tumor in her abdomen. Dana had cancer and would require emergency surgery.
During her months’ long recovery, Dana dreamed about getting back on the field. Her family was pleasantly surprised to witness the resilience of Dana’s mind, spirit and body. One day, on her birthday, her father took her for a walk to the neighborhood plaza where she was met by all of her teammates who were thrilled to sing her “happy birthday.” Dana considers this her favorite memory; proving that the game of football goes way beyond the wins we accomplish on the field.
Today, Dana is cancer free and looking towards a bright future “A positive mind and visualization are the keys to realizing your dreams”.
