When Yolanda Cervantes walked into the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, it marked a major milestone in the saga of her return to health and wellness.
Over a six-year span, Cervantes navigated a series of illnesses and health complications including cancer, a blood clot and a collapsed lung, to name a few. Emerging from it all in 2025, she was inspired to tackle a goal she had long dreamed about – completing a pilgrimage to the world’s most visited shrine to the Virgin Mary, a walk of more than 200 miles.
Through her own grit and determination and the support of her ThedaCare team, Cervantes realized her dream this past August.
It was a challenging feat, filled with physical and mental hurdles, she recalled.
“I said I would not let go of God’s hand,” she said. “When I felt tired or in pain, I offered it all to God.”
Support also came in the form of Stacy Budde and the team at ThedaCare Physical Therapy-Wautoma. Budde, a Physical Therapist, oversaw Cervantes’ therapy. She said Cervantes first came into the clinic in April 2025 with several issues and expressed a desire to embark on a pilgrimage. Budde knew much work lay ahead.
The pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City is the most visited Catholic pilgrimage site in the world. It draws more than 20 million visitors annually. It centers on the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary imprinted on Saint Juan Diego’s cloak in 1531.
“Yolanda did tell us she wanted to do this walk,” Budde said. “That was ambitious. We had so many other things to work on first so we kept that a little further down on our list of priorities.”
Yolanda Cervantes survived six years of being treated for serious illnesses and health complications. After that, she tackled a life-long goal – a 200-mile walking pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. She realized her dream through her own grit and determination and a little help from ThedaCare.
Two Cancers and 17 Surgeries
Cervantes, of Wautoma, received her first breast cancer diagnosis in 2019. She underwent surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Later, complications led to more health problems, including a collapsed lung.
“I grew weaker and weaker and then finally returned to the hospital,” she said. “I was then diagnosed with a blood clot in my lung. I was so weak at that time I could not even perform my activities of daily living without assistance.”
Cervantes found herself facing breast cancer treatment a second time. In total, she underwent 17 surgeries for the cancer and related issues. The surgeries included a double mastectomy and removal of her ovaries and uterus.
Through all her health challenges, Cervantes tried to remain strong. She continued working and taking care of her family – husband, Guadalupe, and sons Erick, Alexander and Jonathan. They supported her as well.
“My loved ones helped me through the surgeries, COVID-19, flu, infections, allergies, depression, anemia, blood transfusions, chemotherapy and radiation,” she said. “Even with their support and my faith in God, I often felt overwhelmed. Many days, all I could do was cry.”
After years of setbacks and suffering, Cervantes received the news she’d been hoping and praying for: She was cancer-free.
“It was not easy, but God was giving me another opportunity,” Cervantes said. “I take it as a miracle.”
A Goal is Born
With the pain Cervantes felt throughout her illness, sleep was often difficult. One fitful night in early 2025, she decided to make a long-held wish a reality: She would do the Lady of Guadalupe pilgrimage.
“I had wanted to do the pilgrimage since I was little,” Cervantes said. “I wanted to arrive walking and put my intentions into the Virgin’s hands.”
That’s when she connected with Budde and the team at ThedaCare Physical Therapy-Wautoma. Initial work focused largely on improving Cervantes’ flexibility so she could more easily perform activities of daily living.
“One of the first things I noticed when she came in was how tight she was,” Budde said. “Through her illnesses and treatments, her body had become rigid, leading to pain.”
Early goals included walking up and down stairs and working on the ability to tolerate standing and walking for longer periods of time.
Strength and Stamina
After Budde created the treatment plan, Physical Therapist Assistant Jessica Braun worked to implement it with Cervantes.
“When I first met Yolanda, she came in with a smile on her face,” Braun said. “It’s always a good day when you see a patient and they greet you with a smile.”
Braun worked with Cervantes on stretching exercises designed to help decrease her pain. Strength training followed and then walking, as well as a home exercise program.
“Getting better often relies on a person’s willingness to do the work,” Braun said. “Yolanda is definitely somebody who put in the time and the effort toward getting better.”
Five minutes on the treadmill at the beginning progressed to walking for an hour with ease by the time Budde and Braun discharged Cervantes.
“The last time I saw her and she told me how much she was able to walk, I knew she was going to be able to reach her ultimate goal of walking,” Budde said. “We were happy for her and so proud of her.”
Yolanda Cervantes completed a walking pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in late 2025. She prepared for her journey with support from ThedaCare Physical Therapy-Wautoma. “I will be forever grateful for their knowledge, encouragement, listening and for pushing me to be my best,” she said.
Walk of a Lifetime
The Lady of Guadalupe Pilgrimage took place in August 2025. Cervantes had put in the work to reach her goal and was prepared.
Throughout the course of the eight-day walk, Cervantes’ group of pilgrims logged more than 200 miles. They walked day and night. The longest day called for a 33-mile trek. The high-elevation pilgrimage brought steep inclines and temperatures that exceeded 100 degrees.
“The tiredness and pain of long walks were heavy,” Cervantes said. “Sometimes while walking on the asphalt, the sun was very hot. We walked downhill, uphill, over stones and on sand. Once, we climbed a mountain. It was hard to breathe.”
Cervantes said the walk was beautiful and joyous, even with the challenges. It included singing, dancing and lots of praise. Cervantes supported her fellow pilgrims through techniques she’d learned in physical therapy.
“Every time we rested, I had the opportunity to lie on the floor and do my stretches,” she said. “I taught my companions suffering from cramps to do the same.”
Yolanda Cervantes was treated for breast cancer, twice. When her doctors told her she was cancer-free, she decided to embark on a religious pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. “I had wanted to do the pilgrimage since I was little,” she said. “I wanted to arrive walking and put my intentions into the Virgin’s hands.”
Realizing a Dream
After years of trials and tribulations, months of training and days of walking, Cervantes finally reached her goal.
“The best part is arriving before the Virgin of Tepeyac, knowing you arrived walking before her,” she said. “And a miracle happened: My husband and my youngest son were waiting for me. When I arrived, they had a sign welcoming me. Then my other children surprised me with food. We all ate together. It’s a moment I will never forget.”
Cervantes said she’s grateful for her family and for the gift of life. She enjoys the shaded area her husband built for her plants. She wants to learn to play the guitar and volunteer more at church. She’ll soon welcome her first grandchild.
Cervantes also said she’s thankful for the therapy team who helped her achieve her goal.
“I was so proud and I was only able to reach this goal because of the staff at ThedaCare Wautoma Physical Therapy,” she said. “I will be forever grateful for their knowledge, encouragement, listening and for pushing me to be my best.”
To schedule an appointment with the ThedaCare Therapy Services team, log in to MyThedaCare and select Schedule an Appointment, Specialty Providers.
Click here for an in-depth look at Yolanda Cervantes’ story. Click the subtitles option for translation from Spanish to English.
