When doctors told her she would likely rely on an oxygen tank for the rest of her life, Ivelize Santiago felt like her world was collapsing. He thought he would no longer be able to ride a horse, run, or continue pursuing his dreams. For a moment, he was on the verge of giving up.
But he didn’t do it.
While facing aggressive lung cancer and undergoing multiple surgeries, the Puerto Rican filmmaker and writer continued working on the project that would become one of the most important of her career: The Great Alondra. She did it from a hospital bed, clinging to a conviction that went beyond her own recovery.
“I carried not only my dreams, but also those of 42 actors who believed in my production. When you carry the dreams of 42 people on your shoulders, that gives you enough strength and guts to move forward,” he recalled.
Santiago’s determination paid off. The Great Alondra received multiple awards, including two Paoli Awards, the Orlando Golden Mic Award and the award for Best Television Production of the Year 2014. Today, a cancer survivor, the artist continues to expand her career and competes in The People’s Artist, an international artistic competition associated with actor Johnny Depp, bringing her story and her creative work to a global audience.
However, the awards tell only part of the story.
The experience of facing the disease profoundly transformed his way of seeing life and creating.
“When God gives you a second chance at life, everything changes. Your perspective changes. This helped me believe in myself more and continue producing, in addition to writing stories with purpose,” he said. “The Great Lark is a story of love and passion, but after what happened to me I understood the importance of carrying positive messages.”
Santiago has dedicated much of his career to telling stories with purpose. Her projects include The Other Woman, Colores de Perdón and Calacas: Amor y Muerte. He also runs Prime Time TV in Central Florida, a platform from which he shares resources and services for the Hispanic community, in addition to promoting the work of leaders, artists and mentors.
But it was during her own battle with cancer that she discovered the true healing power of art.
“I have said it openly: cinema is my passion, but it has also been my medicine,” he expressed. “I have managed to take refuge in cinema, even heal spiritual and emotional aspects. When I am writing or producing, I disconnect from my condition. Yes, I can say it like this: cinema saved me.”
That new perspective was also captured in The Great Lark 2, the sequel he is currently developing. The production incorporates themes of inclusion, resilience and faith, as well as characters who seek to raise awareness about realities such as autism.
“It is a story to raise awareness and show that it is possible,” he said.
Despite the moments of uncertainty, Santiago never allowed cancer to write the end of his story. On the contrary, he transformed a painful experience into fuel to continue creating.
Today, when she looks back and remembers that woman who led from a hospital bed, she does not speak of suffering or defeat.
“I’m very proud that I didn’t give up,” she said. “I am proud to have gone through that experience and to have shown that it is possible.”
His story is a reminder that, even in the most adverse of times, passion, faith and determination can lead the way to a new chance at life.
