"Faith in the extraordinary happening"
By Jessica Wong
Riding the rollercoaster of life for nearly two and a half years now. On the sunny days, Patrice Aminati has the strength to be the spouse, parent, and entrepreneur she once was before her cancer diagnosis in March 2023.
"On those days, I'm brimming with optimism and energy, springing back into action, attacking new challenges. I can juggle my distance learning in psychology and live a semi-normal life," partner to TV star Daniel Aminati ( alias "taff") confides in an interview.
A radiant grin hangs on her lips. "Then everything feels possible again, hope rekindles, optimism sparks plans for tomorrow. For the day we conquer this beast. I'm still young, I have my whole life ahead of me. I refuse to wave goodbye to anything or anyone. Life is too precious, my daughter is my driving force to fight on and stretch every ounce of life I can."
Seven months post-childbirth, Aminati received her grim prognosis
Seven months following the birth of her cherished child ("She was still nursing"), Patrice Aminati was faced with the terrifying diagnosis of metastatic malignant melanoma: the deadliest form of skin cancer. "I was immediately hospitalized. My initial reaction wasn't 'Oh God, how dreadful.' Instead, I thought: 'I have a load of laundry piled up, I have a baby at home. This doesn't align with my life in the slightest.' There's no opportune moment for cancer to strike.
The couple shares an emotional look, she continues: "At first, we didn't take the diagnosis too seriously. I was aware of the topic through our family and have a genetic disposition. My grandfather had black skin cancer, my mother has and had multiple white skin cancers in various forms. I figured it was just a mole on my neck that would be excised, and then everything would be alright. That's what I believed and trusted. I was ignorant of the severity of the diagnostics, that the cancer had already invaded my body."
The doctor initially offered false reassurance
The dark spot on Patrice Aminati's neck had been present for years. "It swelled during my pregnancy." She booked an appointment with her doctor, who assured her to await postpartum. "I was too swamped with the newborn to attend." The spot continued to grow. "Like a grape."
The neckline of her blouse brushed against it. "It started to itch, bleed, and become speckled. My mother urged me to see the doctor. He extracted a sample, but his worried expression revealed the gravity of the situation. My lymph nodes were already compromised. The cancer had spread throughout my body. I received tablet treatment that proved ineffective. Then I was infused with therapies bearing brutal side effects. I realized I was dealing with something more grave than I thought."
Aminati commits to a path of hope
Now, the youthful lady with long, golden locks and captivating smile is in hospice care. Incurable cancer, she resides in the twilight zone. Daniel Aminati has scaled back his presenting gigs to focus on his immediate family, providing unwavering support to his spouse.
"We opted for hope over despair," he reflects. "Even in the face of this formidable adversary, I still envision a miracle and never lose faith. The fear that I may lose my beloved engulfs and often immobilizes me. Then I regain control, find solace in meditation, exercise, or prayer. In the blackest moments, it helps to remember there's still light at the end of the tunnel."
In the midst of her health-and-wellness battle with metastatic malignant melanoma, a life-threatening form of skin cancer, Patrice Aminati remains determined and hopeful, seeking solace in various mental-health practices during her hospice care.
Despite the incurability of her cancer, partner Daniel Aminati stands by her side, drawing encouragement from their shared commitment to hope over despair, and visualizing a medical-condition miracle as they continue the fight.
In the pursuit of health-and-wellness and well-being in the face of cancer, Patrice Aminati explores alternative treatments, including the potential use of CBD, a compound known for its therapeutic properties, particularly in managing symptoms and reducing side effects from traditional treatments.
