Andrea Andrade’s husband, brother share her story following her battle with cancer

“God gives his toughest battles to his strongest warriors. That was the line she lived by. And she was the strongest person I knew, the funniest person I ever knew,” Chris Wilson said.

This sentence offered a small glimpse into what it was like to know his wife, Andrea Andrade.

“I had never felt such deep, unconditional love that could happen so quickly,” Wilson said.

Beauty queen Reedley, 35, lost her battle with colon cancer on January 16.

Sitting in front of many photos of Andrea, Wilson reflected on the short but rich time they spent together.

“We were able to live an entire life in a very short period of time. And I’m kind of happy to know that we were able to accomplish that in a very short period of time,” he said.

The two men met under unusual circumstances.

Andrea was in remission after an initial cancer diagnosis in 2017, after which doctors told her she had just six months to two years to live.

But that didn’t stop the couple from pursuing the life they both wanted.

“I mean, we were just a team and we told her I would never leave her, and I think she knew that perfectly well,” Wilson said.

And that’s exactly what they did, until 2020, when Andrea received a devastating diagnosis of stage four colon cancer.

But Andrea was a light that refused to go out.

She was the only girl among four boys. Her younger brother, Eric Andrade, told us that the inspiration he draws from his older sister only grows as her fight continues.

“She was the light of the family. And she was not only that, but she was a blue to this family. So Andy, you know, we knew how to all come together,” Eric said.

The trait that seems to define Andrea the most is resilience, and it’s a trait that her family will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

“Never let your worst times define you. Don’t let your struggles define you. Leave who you are and what you stand for in your good times, and always give back to others,” her husband said.

Although she endured one of the toughest battles anyone could face, Andrea dedicated her life to helping others.

“There was never a moment where defeat was accepted, in a way, and she fought every day that she was still in treatment, until she passed away,” Wilson said.

He told Action News that Andrea had a warrior spirit.

Beating a colon cancer diagnosis in 2018, while achieving her goal of being a beauty queen, winning five pageants and competing for the Miss California crown.

But after his second diagnosis. The 35-year-old’s goal then shifted to uplifting those around her.

“From the moment she received a new diagnosis in 2020, it almost accelerated things for her, really wanting to achieve everything she wanted to achieve in life. We started our own business. We traveled all over the world and grew our love into something everlasting,” her husband explained.

Chris and Andrea have started several businesses, including the “Not All Heroes Wear Capes” program.

“Initially, she found this young kid named Liam who had cancer, and he was going to every chemo appointment dressed as a different superhero, and she met him delivering Easter baskets to kids with cancer,” Wilson said.

This interaction has become a tradition meant to inspire children on the same journey as Andrea and make them feel like superheroes, stronger than their diagnosis.

The kids would then be taken to a Fresno Grizzlies game.

“They could come down to the field after the game and light fireworks with their magical powers…giving them a day to smile, light up and enjoy a sports game was something she was really proud of,” Wilson said.

Andrea’s generosity was particularly admired by her older brother, Junior Andrade.

“She really loved doing things for the community and not getting anything in return,” Junior said.

Chris is always amazed by his wife’s strength, saying, “It was truly such an inspiration to me to see that she could have not helped anyone and just tried to fight her own fight herself and try to feel better every day that she felt sick, but instead she took the time to care for others.”

Andrea Andrade’s funeral will take place on February 5.

Her husband, Chris Wilson, says it will be open to the community.