Becca Solodon

Rebecca Solodon sat in a wire chair outside the Natural Cafe in Old Town Goleta.The sky didn't quite threaten rain, but would get around to it soon, and on Hollister Avenue, big rigs groaned and rattled past, making it hard to hear much else.

Solodon spoke softly, and bounced her left leg up and down from time to time as she talked.She's a small girl, and she wore a white cardigan and dark, baggy pants with lots of buckles on them, and collected her hair beneath a floppy, light gray knit hat.She has a small stud through one nostril.

When the subject turned to her favorite musical artists, her face lit up with a wide smile.And she's already achieved some success with her own music - the dream of millions of American teens.At 17, she's already gotten the attention and friendship of some prominent Los Angeles record producers, and opened for Mariah Carey last year at Carey's Arlington Theatre concert.

You'd never know that, not two years ago, Solodon had cancer, and required amputation of part of her left leg in order to survive.

Solodon has been singing as long as she can remember, and playing piano since she was 4.When she got to Dos Pueblos High School, she auditioned for and was accepted into the a cappella choir, and in her sophomore year, she joined the school's vaunted jazz choir.She traveled to Europe, singing in jazz festivals in Amsterdam, Switzerland, France and other places, with the choir that year; France was her favorite country, though she thought Switzerland was the most beautiful.

Throughout the year, she had been suffering pain in her foot - it got so bad, a couple of times, that she had to use crutches.

"We went to a ton of different doctors," she said.
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Solodon received the diagnosis on Aug. 1, 2003.

"It was kind of a shock," Solodon said.
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While receiving treatment in Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Rebecca received a visit from Nikki Simon, the executive director of the Teddy Bears for Cancer Foundation.
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Eventually, word reached Carey, and Solodon sang the song for the Arlington audience before Carey went on stage.
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Solodon's cancer is in remission now.She's a volunteer with the Hugs for Cubs, the organization set up by Santa Barbara Foresters manager Bill Pintard, with whom she visits kids in the hospital.And she's now a spokesperson for Teddy Bears for Cancer; her duties include fundraising and attending functions, where she shares her story.Last week, she attended the Black Tie and Blue Jeans Gala in Beverly Hills, emceed by Garry Shandling with musical guest Chris Isaak.

As for music: Although she misses the DP Jazz Choir, she attends songwriting classes at Santa Barbara City College. (She will receive her high school diploma in June.) She has written eight or 10 songs, which she records in her bedroom, using several sophisticated keyboards and her computer's built-in microphone.

Becca Solodon - Read her Story.
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Becca Solodon- Read Her Story
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Becca Solodon

I would like to tell you a true story currently occurring in your own backyard in Santa Barbara, California.It is a story of courage, hope, sadness, triumph, and the ability to overcome life-threatening obstacles through family, friends, strangers, and passing along assistance and hope to others.

You may have read about her in the paper, or heard her sing when she opened for Mariah Carey at the Arlington theatre in Santa Barbara in 2003.If not, allow me to introduce Rebecca Solodon, who goes by Becca.Becca is not your typical girl.She is one of the most amazing and bravest girls I have ever met.She is a beautiful seventeen year-old girl who enjoyed volleyball, jogging, surfing, boogie boarding, and many other activities until her left foot began to ache.Becca was only fifteen when her primary care doctor took an x-ray and was perplexed to find that she had no broken bones.She then was referred to a physical therapist for approximately six months.Therapy did not seem to help, and her pain continued to increase.At the request of her parents, an MRI was performed, and a small soft tissue mass the size of a marble was found in her left foot.She was referred to UCLA for further treatment.Becca and her family were assured not to worry.Things looked promising.Shortly after the biopsy on August 1st, Becca and her family received a phone call that changed their lives forever.The tumor was malignant.It was a rare and VERY aggressive form of cancer called Soft Tissue Synovial Sarcoma.If left untreated, it would be fatal.If treated locally, it had a ninety percent reoccurrence rate and would eventually travel to the lung, at which point it would be too advanced to treat.The only way to save Becca,s life was to have extensive chemotherapy and amputate.On October 31st, 2003, Becca underwent surgery and her leg was amputated just below the knee.

I had the pleasure of meeting Becca, her family, and friends while she was undergoing chemotherapy treatments at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.The positive attitude of this girl and her family was amazing.They were laughing and teasing each other like any other normal family.The feeling in the hospital room that day was like nothing I had ever experienced before.The more I talked to them, the more amazed I became.They had an energy that just made you smile and want to be around them; it was a feeling of purity, and it inspired me.I learned that day that Becca also had an amazing voice and loved to sing.Through a series of events and private donations, Westlake Studio, based in Los Angles, provided Becca with a recording studio and the opportunity to record the song ,Simon,, originally performed and recorded by Life House.This was the song she had sung for a talent show at her high school.To everyone,s surprise and amazement, including Becca and her mother,s, Becca could sing.In fact, she was so good that when Mariah Carey heard her sing the finished copy she recorded, she invited Becca to open for her at her concert in Santa Barbara.

The most amazing part of this story is that all of this happened the week before her surgery.The same day Becca went to the doctor to finalize her surgery, she went for her very first voice lesson.The week before her surgery, instead of thinking about losing her leg, she went to a recording studio, recorded her very first song, and was invited to open for Mariah Carey.The night before her surgery, she stayed at a Santa Monica Hotel with her family, and was introduced to an associate who works with Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.He was so impressed with her that he spoke of future opportunities for them to work together.Instead of being scared of what was about to happen to her the next morning, she sat in the hallway of her hotel room on the floor, called all of her friends and family, and said, ,Hey, guess what?, Talk about courage; this girl,s got it.

Throughout Becca,s ordeal she has been quoted saying such things as ,So I,ve lost my hair, but who cares?It,s just hair.I just figure it,s not worth it- being sad or anything-because it doesn,t get you anywhere., And ,I would like to be known as a voice that rises up out of adversity to inspire and encourage other people who are struggling with everyday life and the challenges it presents.I hope to become an example of how determination and positive attitude can open a new world of opportunity to anyone who dares to dream, This all coming from a girl who,s life has been changed forever, and all before her seventeenth birthday.

Becca is now finished with her cancer treatments and will need regular CAT scans for the next five years.She has been fitted with a prosthetic leg.Her family anticipates a wonderful, cancer-free life for their daughter.

Becca is such an inspiration that she is now a spokesperson for the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation.She is living proof that cancer is not always a death sentence, and that there still is life after diagnosis.She has a story that she is passing on to people of all ages, especially children and teens that have gone through, or are currently going through, the same thing she did.There is so much to be said about how one looks at life.A terrible thing can either kill your soul without taking your life, or you can overcome the obstacles that stand in your way and come out of it stronger and more alive then you ever thought possible.Becca,s voice helps give people hope and something to believe in.

These are the first things you notice about Becca Solodon.

She's every inch a teenager.She loves Lucky Jeans and funky T-shirts and bright-colored, designer sweat jackets.She likes hip-hop.She wants to be a rock star.

But in endless other ways, she seems far older than 18.She has battled cancer.She volunteers to help other cancer-stricken kids.She wears a prosthetic leg, though you'd never know it if she didn't tell you.

Despite all that, she still sees the world as her oyster.

Today, Becca is a spokeswoman for the local Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, which provides financial aid to area families of children with cancer.
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Becca is a regular at Family Fun Days and other events, serving up her characteristic enthusiasm.

It's not often you find someone who says she found life in the face of death.But it's not often you meet someone like Becca, who two years ago lost her lower left leg to a rare, aggressive cancer called soft-tissue synovial sarcoma.

But she insists that what she won in the process -- strength, hope and a belief in her future -- are irreplaceable.

"I've gained so much knowledge about myself," Becca said."I used to be so shy I couldn't even order pizza over the phone.Now I'm speaking and singing for people, visiting kids, telling my story.I've grown a lot as a person.And I wouldn't take back anything."

The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation was in its infancy when Becca met Ms. Simon, then a volunteer on the pediatrics ward at Cottage Hospital.
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Becca was the first real recipient of the selflessness that comes naturally to Ms. Simon and lies at the heart of her foundation.
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Within weeks, Becca was in an L.A. recording studio laying down vocal tracks for Mariah Carey's producers.They told Ms. Carey about Becca, and shortly after her amputation surgery, Becca opened Ms. Carey's December 2003 show at the Arlington Theatre.
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Since then, Becca has performed at Disneyland and opened for the Bacon Brothers and the Commodores.She is working on her first full-length record with the same producers.
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After Becca lost all her hair I thought, 'You know what?I'm never gonna have another bad hair day the rest of my life.' I'm just grateful I have hair to move from one side to the other."

Now sporting a full head of curly brown locks, Becca works part time at Ms. Simon's tiny Eastside office, where the two behave like sisters.
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Her days fighting cancer seem distant at times, Becca said, but she keeps them close to her heart in a way she never expected.

"After I was done with chemo, I didn't want to have anything to do with cancer," she said.
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Nikki Simon, left, executive director of the local Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, shares a hug with Becca Solodon.

Becca Solodon, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation spokesperson and part-time assistant. Becca's positive attitude in the face of adversity has been an inspiration. "Visiting kids in treatment at Cottage Hospital is one of the best experiences I have ever had," she says, describing her work with the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation. "Their smiles are priceless."

In addition to her role at Teddy Bear, Becca works with the American Cancer Society, Hugs for Cubs with the Santa Barbara Foresters baseball team, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. A song she recorded for Make-A-Wish was such a hit that the foundation featured her story in the form of a doll, which is sold across America. She has become a motivational force, speaking and singing in the media and one-on-one with children, hospital volunteers, and community activists.

Becca is currently working with professional producers and songwriters in Los Angeles who are mentoring her on her first album project. She graduated high school in June 2005, and is enrolled at Santa Barbara City College as a music major.

Learn more about Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation spokesperson Becca Solodon by visiting www.beccasolodon.com

These are the first things you notice about Becca Solodon.

She's every inch a teenager. She loves Lucky Jeans and funky T-shirts and bright-colored, designer sweat jackets. She likes hip-hop. She wants to be a rock star.

But in endless other ways, she seems far older than 18. She has battled cancer. She volunteers to help other cancer-stricken kids. She wears a prosthetic leg, though you'd never know it if she didn't tell you.

Despite all that, she still sees the world as her oyster.

Today, Becca is a spokeswoman for the local Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, which provides financial aid to area families of children with cancer.
...
Becca is a regular at Family Fun Days and other events, serving up her characteristic enthusiasm.

It's not often you find someone who says she found life in the face of death. But it's not often you meet someone like Becca, who two years ago lost her lower left leg to a rare, aggressive cancer called soft-tissue synovial sarcoma.

But she insists that what she won in the process -- strength, hope and a belief in her future -- are irreplaceable.

"I've gained so much knowledge about myself," Becca said. "I used to be so shy I couldn't even order pizza over the phone. Now I'm speaking and singing for people, visiting kids, telling my story. I've grown a lot as a person. And I wouldn't take back anything."

The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation was in its infancy when Becca met Ms. Simon, then a volunteer on the pediatrics ward at Cottage Hospital.
...
Becca was the first real recipient of the selflessness that comes naturally to Ms. Simon and lies at the heart of her foundation.
...
Within weeks, Becca was in an L.A. recording studio laying down vocal tracks for Mariah Carey's producers.
...
They told Ms. Carey about Becca, and shortly after her amputation surgery, Becca opened Ms. Carey's December 2003 show at the Arlington Theatre.
...
Since then, Becca has performed at Disneyland and opened for the Bacon Brothers and the Commodores. She is working on her first full-length record with the same producers.
...
After Becca lost all her hair I thought, 'You know what? I'm never gonna have another bad hair day the rest of my life.' I'm just grateful I have hair to move from one side to the other."

Now sporting a full head of curly brown locks, Becca works part time at Ms. Simon's tiny Eastside office, where the two behave like sisters.
...
Ms. Simon looks at Becca with pride in her eyes, almost as if she could cry -- until Becca says something to make her laugh instead.
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Her days fighting cancer seem distant at times, Becca said, but she keeps them close to her heart in a way she never expected.

"After I was done with chemo, I didn't want to have anything to do with cancer," she said.
...
Nikki Simon, left, executive director of the local Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, shares a hug with Becca Solodon.

Becca Solodon, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation spokesperson and part-time assistant.Becca's positive attitude in the face of adversity has been an inspiration."Visiting kids in treatment at Cottage Hospital is one of the best experiences I have ever had," she says, describing her work with the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation."Their smiles are priceless."

In addition to her role at Teddy Bear, Becca works with the American Cancer Society, Hugs for Cubs with the Santa Barbara Foresters baseball team, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.A song she recorded for Make-A-Wish was such a hit that the foundation featured her story in the form of a doll, which is sold across America.She has become a motivational force, speaking and singing in the media and one-on-one with children, hospital volunteers, and community activists.

Becca is currently working with professional producers and songwriters in Los Angeles who are mentoring her on her first album project.She graduated high school in June 2005, and is enrolled at Santa Barbara City College as a music major.

Learn more about Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation spokesperson Becca Solodon by visiting www.beccasolodon.com

These are the first things you notice about Becca Solodon.She's every inch a teenager.She loves Lucky Jeans and funky T-shirts and bright-colored, designer sweat jackets.She likes hip-hop.She wants to be a rock star.But in endless other ways, she seems far older than 18.She has battled cancer.She volunteers to help other cancer-stricken kids.She wears a prosthetic leg, though you'd never know it if she didn't tell you.Despite all that, she still sees the world as her oyster.Today, Becca is a spokeswoman for the local Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, which provides financial aid to area families of children with cancer.
...
Becca is a regular at Family Fun Days and other events, serving up her characteristic enthusiasm.It's not often you find someone who says she found life in the face of death.But it's not often you meet someone like Becca, who two years ago lost her lower left leg to a rare, aggressive cancer called soft-tissue synovial sarcoma.But she insists that what she won in the process -- strength, hope and a belief in her future -- are irreplaceable."I've gained so much knowledge about myself," Becca said."I used to be so shy I couldn't even order pizza over the phone.Now I'm speaking and singing for people, visiting kids, telling my story.I've grown a lot as a person.And I wouldn't take back anything."The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation was in its infancy when Becca met Ms. Simon, then a volunteer on the pediatrics ward at Cottage Hospital.
...
Becca was the first real recipient of the selflessness that comes naturally to Ms. Simon and lies at the heart of her foundation.
...
Within weeks, Becca was in an L.A. recording studio laying down vocal tracks for Mariah Carey's producers.
...
They told Ms. Carey about Becca, and shortly after her amputation surgery, Becca opened Ms. Carey's December 2003 show at the Arlington Theatre.
...
Since then, Becca has performed at Disneyland and opened for the Bacon Brothers and the Commodores.She is working on her first full-length record with the same producers.
...
After Becca lost all her hair I thought, 'You know what?I'm never gonna have another bad hair day the rest of my life.' I'm just grateful I have hair to move from one side to the other."Now sporting a full head of curly brown locks, Becca works part time at Ms. Simon's tiny Eastside office, where the two behave like sisters.
...
Her days fighting cancer seem distant at times, Becca said, but she keeps them close to her heart in a way she never expected."After I was done with chemo, I didn't want to have anything to do with cancer," she said.
...
Nikki Simon, left, executive director of the local Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, shares a hug with Becca Solodon.

Becca has an amazing story of courage, joy, and triumph.At the tender age of 16, a small tumor was found in Becca's foot and she was diagnosed with Soft Tissue Sarcoma Synovia, a very aggressive and rare form of cancer.A mid-calf amputation and intense chemotherapy were required in order to save her life.Just one week prior to that surgery, Becca made her first recording in Los Angeles, and six weeks afterward opened for pop star legend Mariah Carey in Santa Barbara, California.
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Becca Solodon is a spokesperson for The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization aiding assistance to Santa Barbara families with children in cancer treatment.She has also been involved in supporting the local chapter of The Make-A-Wish Foundation.The Make-A-Wish Foundation granted Becca's wish for a Taylor guitar and also included tons of accessories along with a certificate for a recording session.Becca chose to use that session to record a song called Take My Hand that she and Ronnie King wrote for the foundation.

The song made it to their National office, where the invitation came to perform live at the Make-A-Wish 25th Anniversary Celebration and National Convention in Disneyland!The following week, Becca was in the recording studio again with David T. Clydesdale (who won 5 grammys and 10 dove awards) and Jeff Lams (produced 100's of albums) as they rearranged and added a 30 piece children's choir and 4 professional background vocalists to enhance the song.
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Becca was asked to use this new rendition to open the Hope-n-Harmony show at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.Sinbad hosted the event and Becca actually opened for The Bacon Brothers and The Commodores!She received a standing ovation at both performances.
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Becca is currently working with Ronnie King and Damion Young, both professional producers and songwriters in the Los Angeles area.
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Becca graduated high school in June, 2005, and is currently enrolled in Santa Barbara City College as a music major.
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Copyright © > Becca Solodon.