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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A radiant and meaningful life drew to a close far too |
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soon with the passing of Diana Maria Solis-Zavala of Austin, on |
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January 6, 2015, at the age of 35; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Solis-Zavala was born in Plainview on August 2, |
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1979, and grew up in the Fabens and El Paso areas; before her 20th |
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birthday, she was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer, and she |
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bravely endured several major surgeries and cycles of chemotherapy |
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in her campaign to halt the spread of the disease; refusing to give |
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up hope despite the grim prognosis she was given, she drew strength |
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from her loving family, whose efforts to rally support for her |
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treatment helped her to live well beyond her doctor's prediction; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The trials that Ms. Solis-Zavala faced never dimmed |
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her compassion for others; moved by the care she received from |
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nurses and medical staff, she committed herself to returning that |
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kindness by becoming a nurse; although her illness and treatment |
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regimen continued to take an exacting toll, she overcame those odds |
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to earn certification as both a vocational and registered nurse, |
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and she went on to tend to the well-being of her patients with |
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warmth and genuine empathy; and |
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WHEREAS, In search of the new experiences that an unfamiliar |
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city would offer, Ms. Solis-Zavala eventually moved to Austin; her |
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encounters with patients there motivated her to form an |
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organization centered on fostering awareness of ovarian cancer, a |
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disease that too often goes misdiagnosed or undetected until it has |
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progressed to an incurable stage; the establishment of Diana's I |
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Will Live Foundation in 2012 was the culmination of a dream for this |
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caring advocate, who traveled across the state to speak about her |
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cause and to promote education, particularly in underserved areas, |
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that could save lives; the foundation held its first major |
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fund-raiser, a 5K run in El Paso, in September 2014; and |
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WHEREAS, During her life's journey, Ms. Solis-Zavala found a |
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devoted partner in her husband, Martin Zavala, and she was |
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sustained by her faith, which provided a guiding light for her |
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throughout her many challenges; and |
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WHEREAS, Diana Solis-Zavala made it her personal creed to |
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celebrate each day and to use the limited time she had to reach out |
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to others who lacked the support with which she was so richly |
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blessed; her grace and courage were an inspiration to countless |
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people, and though her presence is gone from us now, she will live |
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on forever in the achievements she realized and in the cherished |
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memories she leaves behind; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Diana Maria |
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Solis-Zavala and extend heartfelt condolences to the members of her |
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family: to her husband, Martin Zavala; to her parents, Trinidad and |
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Ofelia Solis; to her siblings, Lourdes Holguin, Jose Solis, |
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Patricia Gonzalez, and Virginia Solis-Cera; and to all who have |
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mourned the loss of this treasured woman; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Diana Maria |
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Solis-Zavala. |