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E. 22: "Faith, Food & Finding Strength” with Celia Navarrette
45 Plays2 months ago
In this heartwarming and powerful episode of Oh, There You Are, I sit down with the amazing Celia Navarrette—a wife, mother, grandmother, health advocate, and the beautiful soul behind Chef Inspired by Faith.
Celia’s journey took a powerful turn when, after years of serving as an infusion financial counselor helping cancer patients, she herself was diagnosed with cancer. But instead of allowing fear to win, Celia chose to fight—with faith, food, and fierce determination.
She shares: ✨ What it was like going from caregiver to patient
✨ How her love for wellness and easy cooking became a healing ministry
✨ Why joy, community, and humor are her favorite ingredients
✨ The power of faith in finding your voice during the hard stuff
Her message is one of hope, resilience, and the beauty of living with intention—especially when life throws the unexpected your way. Whether you're walking through a storm or cheering someone else on, Celia’s story is a reminder: you can rise stronger, love deeper, and nourish your body and soul in the process.
🧡 Tune in now for a dose of encouragement and some delicious inspiration!
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Find Celia on IG @cheifinspiredbyfaith and Facebook @celia.navarrette.35
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Transcript
Introduction to 'Oh There You Are'
00:00:00
Speaker
Hey friend, I'm so glad you're here. Welcome to oh There You Are. This is the podcast for anyone who's ready to step out of the shadows of self-doubt and into the life they've always dreamed of.
00:00:13
Speaker
I'm your host, Danielle, a wife, mom, and registered nurse who spent way too long believing my voice didn't matter. But guess what? It does, and does yours.
00:00:25
Speaker
If you've been holding back, waiting for the perfect moment, or telling yourself you're not enough, this is your reminder you are more than enough. You've always been enough.
00:00:36
Speaker
Everything you need is already inside you. In this space, we're going to push past fear, stop hitting snooze on life, and start going after what we really want. Each week, I'll bring you solo episodes and interviews with people who had the courage to go first so that you can go next.
00:00:55
Speaker
So grab your favorite drink, settle in, and let's go. And hey, don't forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode because we're just getting started. And remember, you're not late.
00:01:08
Speaker
You're right on time. And I can't wait to see where this journey takes us.
Sylvia's Inspirational Journey
00:01:16
Speaker
Hey friend, welcome back to oh There You Are. Today i have the honor of speaking with someone whose journey is truly inspiring. Sylvia Navarrete is a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and a self-taught chef and passionate healthcare care advocate.
00:01:33
Speaker
As an infusion financial counselor, she has spent years helping cancer patients navigate the complexities of their medical benefits. but little did she know that she would one day face a cancer diagnosis of her own.
00:01:47
Speaker
Through faith, resilience, and a deep commitment to wellness, Cecilia transformed her journey into a mission to inspire others, a story of hope and resilience.
Cecilia's Cancer Diagnosis and Impact
00:01:57
Speaker
She is the creator of Chef Inspired by Faith, where she shares easy, healthy recipes that nourish both the body and soul, all in under 30 minutes.
00:02:08
Speaker
With a heart for community and a love for humor and a passion for helping others, Cecilia reminds us that even in life's toughest moments, we can find purpose, strength, and joy.
00:02:21
Speaker
I'm excited for you to hear her story today. So please, why don't you pull up a chair and come get to know the heart of our friend, the incredible, the inspiring Cecilia.
00:02:32
Speaker
Welcome. Hello. Thank you so much, Danielle, for this. wonderful opportunity on the invitation to this episode. I find it most fascinating that we met on Instagram.
00:02:44
Speaker
And I'll never forget the day that I started following you first. And I'm so happy to admit that. But the day that I saw this little thing coming in, and it says she's following me now, like it was the biggest thing.
00:02:57
Speaker
so thank you so much. I um appreciate this time together that we have and I want to touch a little bit on life after cancer diagnosis, the road to health and wellness.
00:03:10
Speaker
Yes, we're really looking forward to you hearing and sharing your heart with us. And please, wherever you'd like to jump in, do so. Absolutely. My role is helping cancer patients understand their benefits as it applies to the cost.
00:03:24
Speaker
And it is ah journey that I enjoy. i love it infuses my soul, my cancer patients, always have something positive to say no matter what they're going through.
00:03:36
Speaker
And I have some very sick patients on my, it my you know, on my DAR, it's called the DAR, but my caseload is big. i find that my patients are getting younger and younger, 20 and 30 and 40, and that just breaks my heart.
00:03:54
Speaker
But at any age, it's not a good diagnosis. And I like to ask this question. It's my thoughts for thoughts. What if facing a life-altering diagnosis could lead you to discover your true strength and purpose?
00:04:12
Speaker
And that's the journey that I was on. When I work my patients, I remember looking at the diagnosis, looking at the treatment plan.
The Role of Support and Faith
00:04:20
Speaker
I could do an estimate for millions of dollars a year, um look at insurance and what it's going to cost. And I remember looking at the diagnosis, talking with the physician, talking with the nurse's And, you know, I'd get off the account and I'd say, thank goodness that's not me. Thank goodness that's not me.
00:04:42
Speaker
And suddenly, it was me. So my journey from being a health care provider to becoming a patient, I like to call the diagnosis experience.
00:04:58
Speaker
And I like to say, do not ignore your what your body is telling you. And so for me, I was working on this particular day. i don't have any GI issues and i felt a little bit of indigestion.
00:05:10
Speaker
And so I ignored it. And I thought, you know, I'm just going to eat light that day. Told my husband, you i'm a little bit of discomfort. Uh, by the end of the day, he said, let's go to yeah ER. he says, no, let me take a shower and see how I feel.
00:05:26
Speaker
ah took a shower, sat down after work and it just wouldn't go away. It felt like heartburn. So we go to the emergency room. And of course, because of my wonderful young age, they did an EKG. They did some CT scan, a lot of labs. And, um,
00:05:44
Speaker
We're just sitting there thinking, you know, maybe I'll get a Mylanta or a little GI cocktail and I get to go home. Doctor comes in and he says, good news, it's not your heart.
00:05:55
Speaker
I thought, well, no, it's not my heart. I know it's not my heart. ah Good news is maybe I'll get that GI cocktail, you know, and I'll get to go home. And he said, we're a little concerned about your left kidney and we're going to keep you overnight.
00:06:09
Speaker
And my heart sunk and I thought, My left kidney. Okay, I came in with a little bit of indigestion. Yeah. Did an EKG and a cardiac workup. And so the next day, i saw an oncologist, an endocrinologist.
00:06:26
Speaker
I saw a cardiologist, just to give me the all clear for some more testing. And I saw all the specialists. And it turns out that the diagnosis, the official diagnosis was clear cell renal carcinoma left kidney grade one and I just about crumbled and I felt like what and I remember that it's important to have like a support group and a support system my wonderful husband by my side my sons are grown
00:07:06
Speaker
live out of state and my siblings. So I call my siblings first and I can't even talk. I'm choked up. I can't even, I hear their voice, hand the phone to my husband and he tells them what's going on.
00:07:22
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Then when it's time to call my sons, I wanted everybody to hear my voice. I wanted them to know that I know from my strong faith that I'm going to be okay.
00:07:33
Speaker
So I crumbled with my siblings, but with my sons, I was all of a sudden this mama bear, strong. And I want you to know this is the diagnosis and this is what's going to happen.
00:07:44
Speaker
And I'm strong for them. They're grown young men. They're not little boys. It's not like they're always your little boys. I'm so strong for them. And I said, I know that I know that I'm going to be fine.
00:07:57
Speaker
These are the things that I have to do in order to do that. So we had a lot of appointments and a lot of visits with specialists. and my non of negotiable non-negotiables are faith in Christ, my husband, my sons, my grandchildren, my siblings, my local Arizona family, that's where I live,
00:08:20
Speaker
my dear friends, and I like to call them my quarry of people, why I'm here today, they are my support team. So it's a quarry. It's like when you go to a quarry and you mine things, right? That's, those are my, that's my support system.
00:08:38
Speaker
And there were times where I felt overwhelmed. I'd go to bed, say my prayers, and then we'd wake up, my husband and I. I'd go to work. I'd walk to work because I work at home.
00:08:52
Speaker
And I'm in this surreal place. And i only on twice, two occasions, did my husband come in check to see how i was doing. And I was in my little chair, and I turned around in the office chair.
00:09:06
Speaker
And he said, are you okay? And I started to cry. And I said, I'm not. I have cancer. And we cried together. and um he said, can I pray with you? And I said, yes, but could you please call? And I have an aunt here.
00:09:22
Speaker
She lives about 30 minutes away. Can you please call her? i need her to come and pray. And he's looking at me like, I'm right here and I can pray for you. And I like,
00:09:33
Speaker
I feel like i need the big guns to come. And that was just one of many journeys. We did have to um see a surgeon. And
00:09:47
Speaker
this is really important to me. So i want I want to emphasize that it's okay to get a second opinion. It's okay to find a physician that has a good bedside manner.
00:10:02
Speaker
um It's okay to surround yourself with a team of experts. So an oncologist that I met had the kindest oh spirit and just walked in with such hope, right? That's what an oncologist should do tell you the truth, but give you hope.
00:10:22
Speaker
And i I love advocating for that. I love telling people, you have a choice, right? you don't have to go with the one that doesn't feel right for you. So I saw a surgeon. He's really, really good. But the front office was just terrible.
00:10:38
Speaker
um It's not going to bode with me because I'm goingnna have to see them for appointments after surgery. um So that was on Valentine's Day 2023. We left. He told us what had to happen.
00:10:50
Speaker
He said it's got to come out. And the way he described the surgery for that kidney to come out was like an episode of Dr. Paul when he's castrating a llama.
00:11:03
Speaker
He is describing how he's going to take out my kidney. And it's just like when Dr. Paul was doing a castration. Oh, my goodness. like Anyway, the drive on Valentine's Day from his office to our reservation was about an hour.
00:11:21
Speaker
And my husband and I were talking, but it was silent in the car. And it was like, we're talking, but it's silent. Get to the restaurant. We're in the foyer. We put our name. We had a reservation, but you have to give them your name.
00:11:35
Speaker
And while we're waiting, there's a couple there. And this couple... are taking selfies. So I said, would you like us to take your picture? And they said, sure. So we took their phone, and we took their picture.
00:11:46
Speaker
They said, would you like us to take yours? Yes, fine. They call our name, we get seated. We sit down and um the server is happy. It's Valentine's day. She's got love in the air.
00:11:59
Speaker
And she says to us, um are you having a good day? And my husband says, no, not really. I don't even know why we're here other than it's Valentine's and we had a reservation and we have to eat. And she said, well, you're here now and we're going to make sure that you have a good dinner.
00:12:18
Speaker
So she leaves the couple that we met in the foyer, got seated ah across from us. And um I looked at my husband and i said, there's that couple again.
00:12:29
Speaker
And so five or six, seven minutes later, they look over and she says, hi, neighbor. And looked up and said, hi. Hi. And um she said, would you like us to take your picture at your table? Sure. Why not? Give her my phone. She takes her picture.
00:12:43
Speaker
Would you like me to do the same for you? We do. The waitress comes or the server comes and she says, Hey, looks like you're having a great party. Let me take your picture. And we looked at each other said, okay, we don't know each other, but go ahead take our picture.
00:12:58
Speaker
So she took our picture and my husband looked at him and he said, you know, you look really familiar to me. And he goes, You look familiar to me too. Now, we had just moved to Arizona. They had just moved to Arizona.
00:13:10
Speaker
And they actually met the two men a breakfast eatery a month before. And with another friend, it was like retired guys day out.
00:13:22
Speaker
And they struck up a conversation. They were in the same profession. And that's how they met. But they didn't meet like just so like girls, you know, let me have your number. Let's connect.
00:13:34
Speaker
this is guys. So now we're at the restaurant. He goes, that's where I met you. They invited us to the table. We sat down with them. And she says to us, we heard that you're having like a bad day. And so we proceed to tell them we saw a surgeon, my left kidney has cancer, and I have to have it removed.
00:13:54
Speaker
And Without even a flash, the husband says, you have no idea who you're sitting with. My wife is a prayer warrior, and we are going to commit to pray for you through the surgery and after.
00:14:09
Speaker
That was in 2023. Not only did we become friends, strangers, unaware, that's what the Bible says, or angels. They did. They text. They called.
00:14:19
Speaker
We met. They've been in our home. We've been in their home. And we have a friendship together. with strangers. Four hours later, we're driving home and it's as if a weight had been lifted.
00:14:32
Speaker
um Those are those places where I just want your listeners to know, never discount an encounter that could be life-changing, that could fill your soul with goodness.
00:14:49
Speaker
And we felt like God just gave us a divine appointment and that he gave us friends in Arizona. It turns out our names are similar, his and my husband's.
00:14:59
Speaker
It turns out that their love story is almost identical to ours. Their profession, the men, are almost the same. And that's a divine appointment. It's just
Surgery, Recovery, and Gratitude
00:15:11
Speaker
one of those things that We took pictures. I cherish that picture.
00:15:15
Speaker
ah touch base with them frequently. It's an amazing journey when you start opening yourself up. I think I said something today about... Welcome. That was the word for the day. Welcome. It's like when I walk into room and I see someone by themselves, I want to go introduce myself.
00:15:31
Speaker
I want to welcome them. I want them to feel a hug, right? Because you can walk into a room full of people, even people you know, and if you're by yourself and no one's talking to you, that's a little awkward.
00:15:44
Speaker
So I'm finding those people and I'm going over and I want to say hi. I want to introduce myself. And even if you're introverted, all of a sudden there's a little smile, right? So yeah you can gauge people that way. And that's the ah the beauty of taking something so serious as a cancer diagnosis and watching God's hand do something completely amazing through the journey. Yeah.
00:16:13
Speaker
Because I was clear go ahead as just saying, because you're so open, right? Your heart, even though you were hurting, you were still open. And people can feel that. Like, there's a sense of, like, I don't know, like, I just want like getting to know you. Like, I just feel like I've known you forever. You're just very comforting.
00:16:31
Speaker
And like that word welcoming fits so well. with you. And i mean, i don't know you, but I've called, I've yeah called, but like sent you messages and I've cried. Like you're a stranger on the internet, right?
00:16:44
Speaker
And one day i just felt comfortable enough that I had something on my chest and I needed to share. And who do I reach out to? You, because you are welcoming. And that's when the Lord sets those people up for you because you are there for others. Well, you needed somebody to be there for you. And you're coming in with that open heart And just that understanding of being present and knowing that God just uses so much for good, like that opportunity that shaped not only that night, but it sounds like it's just shaped these years that are going to continue to form.
00:17:18
Speaker
And welcoming is such a good word for you. Absolutely. um You're so right. And that's the beauty of, and after all of this and the post-op and and everything that that I went through,
00:17:32
Speaker
It's amazing how to get ready for a surgery like that is a process and it's not easy. um I just knew that when that kidney comes out that my prayer was that the cancer would be gone.
00:17:48
Speaker
It's not welcome in my body. I was mourning the loss of the kidney. it really was. My little sister came to visit and we had a deep conversation and she said, you know, you don't have to have the surgery. And I looked at her and I thought,
00:18:01
Speaker
I don't have to have a surgery. What's she getting at? She says, you don't have to. and She said, the choice is yours. And I looked at her and i said well, I'm going to because cancer cannot live in my body. It's not welcome. It has to go.
00:18:15
Speaker
she kind of smiled. She was just waiting to hear that, right? And I said, it has to go. And there was a treatment plan. There was a post-op plan.
00:18:26
Speaker
There was visits because we're out of state. And every week, first it was, you know, close family members, it was then my sons individually, then it was my grandchildren coming, and every one of my siblings came at different intervals, because it took about six weeks from the time of diagnosis to get to the OR.
00:18:49
Speaker
um It really felt like that was the time for me to receive the blessing of family and friends, to receive the prayers that were going out, and to really prepare my body for what was going to happen.
00:19:02
Speaker
And on the day of surgery, it's as if I wasn't scared. It's almost as if I was lifted like a little baby in someone's arms.
00:19:13
Speaker
And everyone was phenomenal. The care was amazing and exceptional. And the team that converged on me the day of surgery,
00:19:24
Speaker
is the measure, no matter where you live, no matter what state you're in. And I appreciate you, Danielle, you tell stories about delivering babies and, um you know, watching them through the years. And that's a gift. And To be, that's why we connect.
00:19:42
Speaker
Because every one of my nurses reminded me of that's why you do what you do. and You know, telling me I had to get up the next day and walk. I'm like, are you kidding me? I just had a kidney ripped.
00:19:54
Speaker
But it's necessary and it was purposeful. came home. My two youngest were here at the time. And during that recovery process, there's a love story in there. It's my husband's and i love story.
00:20:09
Speaker
But something really special happened after this. And I want to read this. It's a journal entry. I am a journaler and you know that. I purchased your journals and I absolutely thrive on the prompts.
00:20:23
Speaker
And I've been journaling forever in a day. So that's another connection that you and I have um But in this journal, I write, I am five days post-op.
00:20:34
Speaker
I am cancer-free. I am healed, whole, loved, and cared for. i am here at Pearl, grateful for all you do for us, mostly in awe that our Lord would give me you.
00:20:48
Speaker
This is a love letter to my husband. The morning you showered me, the gentleness of your hands washing my hair, so complete with conditioner, the warm soapy water, running from head to toe, the healing that water brings, warm cleansing, I reflect back on all I modestly tried to hide, yet on this day with sweet abandon, as if I had the perfect body, I was bare before you and not a care for your eyes gazing with pure love,
00:21:24
Speaker
You saw in me beyond the flesh of an imperfection, beyond the stitches, long surgical line, post-op, a body who just went through major surgery, and yet you saw me, a bride, your wife, your love,
00:21:43
Speaker
In this forever changing moment, I knew that God's love for me is complete.
Launching 'Chef Inspired by Faith'
00:21:49
Speaker
No other man on earth has ever loved me so purely as you.
00:21:56
Speaker
No man, you are my beloved. And that was years of feeling like I needed to lose so much weight to be loved. I needed to do this to have special life.
00:22:10
Speaker
person come into my life and love me the way I deserve to be loved. All those things. And here we fast forward and have the cancer diagnosis, have the beautiful husband by my side, who by the way is not my first husband. So um there is something perfect about waiting on God for his best for you. And it's never too late to feel like Like my body was perfect in his eyes. I watched him helping me shower. Of course, it was on a shower chair.
00:22:44
Speaker
But that is something special. And it's deserving of mentioning here. After that, there was the birth in 2024 of Chef Inspired by Faith.
00:22:56
Speaker
And it's my journey to make sure that I'm eating better, healthy, and well. I gave my remaining kidney a name. Her name is Cocoa. i love you When I go have lab work done, I'm going on almost 18 months of controlled blood sugars, controlled liver enzymes, controlled, you know, the CMP, the complete metabolic panel is completely normal.
00:23:23
Speaker
I adapted a gut health regimen that works for me, and you have one too, and yes, I'm rooting for you because you've got this. And um the recipes are easy. They're simple. They're minimal ingredients, and they give me the optimum of what I need while I'm feeding my meat and potatoes guy because he really loves his meat and potatoes.
00:23:44
Speaker
And I am so excited to be on social media. That's how we met. Chef Inspired by Faith is because I'm a self-taught chef and it's not technical and it's easy and it's good on the budget and it's for a party of two.
00:23:59
Speaker
But I can multiply that recipe and during spring and summer and early fall, We run a mini Airbnb in our home for family and friends.
00:24:11
Speaker
um They get to stay for free and I get to lavish joyful hospitality of them. So Danielle, I know we're going to meet someday, but if you're ever Arizona, you've got a place.
00:24:21
Speaker
I'm going to lavish you with joyful hospitality and some good food. That's good for you. I should have just hopped on down when I was over in Vegas, right? Yes. Yes.
00:24:33
Speaker
And so I want to, I want to, I want to, end with that no matter what remember these C's the letter C Christ, Circumstance, Community, Celia, Chef Inspired by Faith and I want to answer the question what if facing life altering diagnosis could lead you to discover your true strength and purpose for me it deepened my faith
00:25:08
Speaker
I discovered that I am in bloom and it's a higher calling to serve with a purpose that shines so bright I just can't stop.
Episode Wrap-Up and Listener Engagement
00:25:16
Speaker
And in bloom is where the garden grows.
00:25:20
Speaker
There's weeding, there's watering, there's feeding and listening to the needs of others. And I want to personally thank you for doing what you're doing. I feel like you're a beacon.
00:25:34
Speaker
of light through voice for the gifts you create to enhance life and always that our stories resonate with a resounding and always glory to God.
00:25:49
Speaker
ah You're so good. He is so good. yes he is. Yes. Thank you. You made this like the most easiest thing. Like you just come and just sharing your heart. And that's really what I just want this platform to be is a safe place for others who are like, I have something I want to share.
00:26:09
Speaker
And ah so much of like what I've done and done out here, I feel and my growth and just the encouragement I get comes from you. And um so much of it, like I feel like i do I do know you. I know you say we're going to meet in person, and I really hope that happens someday because it will.
00:26:28
Speaker
It will. like I just met Jaina right the other week. So having that opportunity, it is going to happen. and i just People just need to know you. So just keep asking people, how can you pray for them? right And just being you and your smile, your warm, your welcoming,
00:26:47
Speaker
And it's an honor. So I'm just really grateful that you chose, you know, the to take some time to come out here and just share to give other people the courage. And yeah Thank you so much. And I have to really shout out you and Dana just met, but the two of you together and your accounts are just spectacular.
00:27:08
Speaker
It's something really, really special. And I just enjoy thoroughly every day. It's like a morning picnic. cannot say that enough but the two of you together and the fact that you just met in Las Vegas is just the dynamic of a partnership a collaboration and of a friendship that is resounding like everyone needs to just tune in and get a little bit of of the two of you because it's something really really special and to expand
00:27:40
Speaker
through podcast. I exponentially bless this place and you and your voice because those episodes are something pretty special.
00:27:51
Speaker
Look forward to continue to watching you grow and to see what you're going to create next. um And I will include your handle down inside the show notes. And, you know, the people can come and get your little recipe guide that is absolutely beautiful. And just so many good things. Yes, so people can come and find you and follow your journey and just.
00:28:13
Speaker
just keep showing up and being you and being that welcoming face and that person. you, Danielle. You need to say no. So you're so welcome. Thank you. you Have a wonderful evening.
00:28:25
Speaker
Thank you. You too. And then until next time, guys, thanks so much for hanging out with me today on Oh, There You Are. Remember, everything you need to step into your power is already inside of you.
00:28:39
Speaker
So keep going, friend. You've got this. If today's episode inspired you, don't forget to subscribe so you never miss a new one. And I'd love to connect with you over on Instagram.
00:28:50
Speaker
Find me at itsdanielle.thats.me. Drop say hi let me know what resonated with you, or just share your journey. And before you go, I've got something special for you.
00:29:02
Speaker
I'm offering a free seven-day journal to help you start tapping into your potential and build that mindset shift. It's designed to guide you through the steps of unlocking your power.
00:29:12
Speaker
You can grab it in the show notes below. Let's take this journey together. All right, friend, go make it happen. And remember, you're not late. You're right on time.