Cancer Victim Remembered

Raquel Cardiel touched many lives in the 20 years she was alive.

“When my mom told me she’d passed away, it was like the whole world fell on top of me,” said sister Erika. Erika and her mom Nancy are grieving Raquel’s death about two weeks after the cancer victim died.

“I used to be scared of death. Now I’m not because it means I’ll get to see Raquel,” said Nancy.

We first met Raquel in September during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month when the young woman opened up to ABC-7 about her life struggles. Cardiel was homeless back then and getting assistance from the Candlelighters of El Paso, a non-profit organization.

Cardiel explained she’d been diagnosed with bipolar disorder at a young age, which was only exacerbated by a battle with alcoholism. She joined Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA, while still a teenager.

“(AA) changed her life. It made her a totally different person,” said Nancy.

Once clean, cancer invaded her body. It began as a type of bone cancer but later spread to the rest of her body. Doctors had to amputate her right leg.

“The chemo just didn’t take,” said Mary Vasquez, a volunteer with the Candlelighters who often spent time with Cardiel. “She was always putting herself before others. It was difficult seeing her suffer toward the end. She was very tired.”

Cardiel died on June 15th. The Candlelighters helped arrange funeral services. Since Cardiel’s family had limited means, they could not afford a grave marker to memorialize the young woman. Now friends and family are trying to raise enough money through donations to help buy a grave marker for Cardiel at Restlawn Cemetary where she is buried. If you’d like to help, e-mail Gaby Loria at GabyL@kvia.com to get in touch with Raquel’s family.