A girl who fled the US to reside in Costa Rica’s ‘blue zone’ along with her household after noticing she felt a lot more healthy when she visited amid her most cancers battle has shared among the immense advantages to residing within the Central American nation.
Kema Ward-Hopper, initially from Houston, Texas, was devastated when she was identified with breast most cancers in 2016 – simply months earlier than she was set to tie the knot in Costa Rica along with her longtime boyfriend, Nicholas.
Regardless of her being within the midst of her therapy, they nonetheless determined to undergo with the journey and jetted off to the Latin American nation to say their ‘I dos.’
And as quickly as they landed in Costa Rica, Kema observed a stark distinction in the way in which that she felt.
A girl fled the US to reside in Costa Rica’s ‘blue zone’ along with her household after noticing she felt a lot more healthy when she visited amid her most cancers battle
Kema Ward-Hopper was devastated when she was identified with breast most cancers in 2016 – simply months earlier than she have been set to tie the knot in Costa Rica along with her longtime boyfriend, Nicholas
Regardless of her being within the midst of her therapy, they determined to undergo with the journey and jetted off to the Latin American nation to say their ‘I dos’ – and she or he felt so a lot better there
The 5 locations with ‘Blue Zone’ standing: Okinawa, Japan ; Sardinia, Italy ; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece ; and Loma Linda, California in the US
Kema stated she felt extra energetic and like she was instantly ‘getting higher’ – however inside per week of returning to their residence in Texas, it was ‘dangerous once more.’
For years, she could not cease fascinated with how totally different she felt in Costa Rica – and she or he finally determined to maneuver there full-time.
Kema underwent a unilateral mastectomy and is now most cancers free. She’s seen throughout her most cancers battle along with her daughter
She has now opened up about all of the methods her and her household’s lives have improved since they left the states throughout a current interview with CNN – from her children having the ability to join with nature to the robust sense of neighborhood.
‘I felt the perfect that I had been feeling since I might been identified,’ she recalled of her first journey to Costa Rica to CNN.
‘I assumed that I used to be getting higher. Nevertheless it actually appeared prefer it was environmental, as a result of after a few week [back at home], I used to be feeling dangerous once more.
‘In order that was the primary indicator that there was one thing particular about Costa Rica.’
Kema defined that she finally underwent a unilateral mastectomy and is now most cancers free – however the household confronted extra tragedy a 12 months later when their home was destroyed by a hurricane.
Whereas on the lookout for a brand new place to reside, Kema and Nicholas could not cease fascinated with Costa Rica.
The household finally determined to maneuver to there full-time – and she or he has now opened up about all of the methods her and her household’s lives have improved since they left the states
Kema (seen along with her daughter) praised Costa Rica’s robust sense of neighborhood, explaining, ‘The locals are useful whether or not they know you or not. The neighborhood seems to be out for one another’
‘We simply felt like we needed to get again there and simply really feel good,’ Kema recalled. ‘There’s one thing energetic about being in Costa Rica.’
In 2018, the couple, together with their younger daughter, Aaralyn, packed up all their issues and formally relocated to the nation.
They settled in Pueblo Nuevo, a small city positioned within the Nicoya Peninsula that is without doubt one of the world’s few blue zones – the areas around the globe the place individuals have the longest life expectations.
She famous that the meals is more healthy and the air feels cleaner. She stated, ‘We’ve got observed that we really feel higher once we’re right here. Our cardiac well being and lung well being appears to be higher.’ One of many meals she just lately ready is pictured
Adjusting to life in Costa Rica was definitely a shock – as they weren’t used to residing ‘within the jungle.’
‘It was an journey,’ joked Kema. ‘One lengthy studying expertise.’
However the pair was instantly drawn to the nation’s easy life-style, relaxed nature, and robust sense of neighborhood.
‘I had an concept of what I assumed neighborhood was, however that was utterly obliterated once I acquired right here and skilled true neighborhood,’ she gushed.
‘The locals have been useful whether or not they knew you or not… It was superb. The neighborhood actually regarded out for one another.’
The couple – who expanded their household by welcoming son Nicolai in April 2020 – say their days now encompass ‘a lot of hikes’ and splashing round on the seaside, they usually’re particularly glad that their younger children have linked with nature.
‘My husband and I each commented that she was in a position to type of have a childhood like we had within the ’80s and ’90s – having the ability to go exterior and play exterior of the watchful eye of your mother and father,’ commented Kema.
She stated ‘households come first’ there, including, ‘I really feel like within the States, you’re feeling strain taking your younger youngster out to dinner or one thing.
![She said 'families come first' there, adding, ' They love children. And I don¿t necessarily know that I felt the same [in the US]. It¿s a very family oriented nation'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/26/19/84143723-13351243-image-a-104_1714156206897.jpg)
She stated ‘households come first’ there, including, ‘ They love youngsters. And I do not essentially know that I felt the identical [in the US]. It is a very household oriented nation’
As well as, she stated she has discovered herself much less ‘uptight’ since making the transfer, since issues really feel a lot slower-paced there than the ‘tremendous quick’ States
Kema described the Costa Rican individuals as ‘hardworking’ and far more linked to their environment. She’s pictured along with her daughter
‘Right here, in case your child needs to play and stroll across the desk, then they let you know to go away them alone and allow them to. So it is simply totally different.
‘They love youngsters. And I do not essentially know that I felt the identical [in the US]. It is a very family-oriented nation. Households undoubtedly [come] first.’
She additionally famous that the meals is more healthy and the air feels cleaner. She stated, ‘We’ve got observed that we really feel higher once we’re right here. Our cardiac well being and lung well being appears to be higher.’
As well as, she stated she has discovered herself much less ‘uptight’ since making the transfer, since issues really feel a lot slower-paced there than the ‘tremendous quick’ States.
Kema described the Costa Rican individuals as ‘hardworking’ and far more linked to their environment.
‘They reside with the land and never regardless of the land,’ she added. ‘They do not attempt to take away all the nature in order that they will exist. They only type of exist with the character. A minimum of the place we reside.’
The household don’t have any plans to return to the US, nonetheless, Kema did admit that she misses a couple of issues – prefer it being chilly round Christmas time and having the ability to order from Amazon, which is not a factor there.
‘When Christmas rolls round, typically I simply need to placed on fuzzy socks and a giant hoodie and curl up someplace cozy with a mug of scorching chocolate whereas it is chilly exterior. However that doesn’t occur [here]. It is a scorching Christmas,’ she stated.
