茄子直播

Remembering 茄子直播's Precilla Veigas

Close-up photo of Precilla with her daughter
(photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

University of Toronto alumna Precilla Veigas died on Tuesday, surrounded by her family.

Veigas was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2015 and given six months to live. Determined to achieve her childhood dream of earning a PhD, she pushed ahead with her studies.

Last May, just weeks after successfully defending her thesis, Veigas received her PhD in a private degree presentation ceremony, surrounded by family, friends and colleagues. Doctors had warned she might not live long enough to attend the June convocation ceremonies.

鈥淪he wanted to do all this for her daughter,鈥 said Associate Professor Vasundara Venkateswaran, a graduate co-ordinator at the and a mentor to Veigas.

Veigas was a wonderful mother and a great role model for her fellow students, Venkateswaran said. 

鈥淪he would say, 'I need to show the world that you can fight and do things no matter what.' I think she really proved it. What she has tried to show us is that it's important for people to not just identify their dreams, but much more important for them to follow their dreams.鈥 

Veigas had said she was determined to leave a legacy for Jadyn, the teenage daughter she described as 鈥渢he purpose of my life鈥 in an interview with CBC last spring.

鈥淲e both encourage each other,鈥 Veigas said. 鈥淚 want to set an example for her so that she will achieve something down the line, maybe find the cure for cancer, you never know.鈥

Venkateswaran said Veigas was trying to teach her daughter to be strong and 鈥渇ight in any adverse situation, not be a quitter.鈥 

Last spring, Veigas made time for reporters curious to know what would motivate someone with terminal cancer to continue working on her research, even taking time out from treatment to defend her dissertation. She shared details of her childhood 鈥 one of seven children, her father died when she was 11. Her mother impressed upon her the importance of education.

鈥淪he always used to say, 'If you study, it will take you places and it is the asset that no one can snatch from you,'鈥 Veigas said.

Colleagues at 茄子直播 raised the possiblity of medical leave, Veigas told the Toronto Star, but she was determined to continue her work.

鈥淚 said no, I鈥檓 not going to do that, I want to finish it,鈥 Veigas said. 鈥淒ifficulties come in life, you can鈥檛 turn away from them. You have to face them.鈥

鈥淧recilla was clearly an extraordinary person. Accomplishing all that she did and sharing her story with our community 鈥 that was a generous and inspiring gift to all of us,鈥 said Professor Trevor Young, dean of the Faculty of Medicine. 鈥淥ur thoughts and sympathy are with her family, and we wish them all the very best.鈥

Venkateswaran said Veigas remained focused on her work and her daughter even as her health deteriorated.

鈥淲hat she's left behind is not just her name, but a name that she's earned at the university,鈥 Venkateswaran said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 such a great soul, such a spectacular lady.鈥 

photo of Precilla and Jadyn walking on the beach

(photo of Jadyn and Precilla courtesy of Precilla Veigas)

The family has requested that donations in memory of Veigas be directed to . 

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