Lina and Tony Esqueda planned for patrons of Green Chile Cantina to be able to walk into the restaurant and be served new-style Mexican food by the two of them — but life has had other plans.
Just days before Green Chile opened its doors for the first time in August, Lina Esqueda was given some scary news: She was diagnosed with stage three follicular helper T-cell lymphoma.
Lina Esqueda discovered a lump around her shoulder about two months before the restaurant opened, and after two ultrasounds, two biopsies, a CT scan and a PET scan, she was officially given the diagnosis. This cancer primarily affects the lymph nodes in the body, causing swelling and growth of the lymph nodes to occur. Fever, body aches or fatigue are also common symptoms with the cancer, according to an article from the National Institutes of Health.
“This entire process has been extremely tough,” said Lina Esqueda. “Everyone only gets to see me when I’m finally feeling good.”
Due to her illness and weakened immune system, Lina Esqueda can’t be inside the restaurant and around so many people, even though that is all she wants to do. That’s one of the worst parts of her diagnosis, she said, that she “can’t be there and be the face of my business — meeting, greeting and being a part of our first days.”
“It is very difficult to balance,” said Lina Esqueda. “I only have so many good days every three weeks.”
Lina Esqueda has chemotherapy treatments about every three weeks; those make her feel extremely sick and fatigued and limit her ability to participate in the everyday duties of the restaurant. Those weeks when she has chemo, she must also take a slew of medications and shots.
By the second week, she is still sore and tired but manages to help out over the phone and online, Lina Esqueda said. Once the third week arrives, she tries to get as much done at the restaurant as she can, like paying bills, signing documents and directing certain cleaning…
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