Luis Barguez of Parrish said his mom, Braden Woods Vivian Quinones-Solano, spends most of her time trying to bring joy to others.
If they find that joy, it ultimately brings joy to Quinones-Solano. He tells his friends, it s what makes her special.
After she was diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma on May 11, 2020, the joy appeared ready to run out. I had something that looked like a small pimple in my earlobe, Quinones-Solano said. I had gone to a dermatologist. I had a very aggressive form of skin cancer. The survival rate was 18 to 25 months.
Although Quinones-Solano, the vice president of community relations for SunCoast Blood Bank in Lakewood Ranch, said she would fight to the end of life, she also was prepared for the worst.