Camilo Villegas gets emotional describing 20-month-old daughter’s cancer battle

Story initially revealed in June 2020

Camilo Villegas stated he had a “actually dangerous feeling” the week of The Honda Traditional on the finish of February 2020.

He was in his residence gymnasium, understanding, when his 20-month-old daughter, Mia, got here in. The four-time PGA Tour winner described his daughter as a “little monkey” when she comes within the gymnasium to spend time together with her dad. On that day, although, Mia wasn’t appearing like her regular self.

Mia was additionally crying louder than regular. The Villegases thought that Mia is perhaps teething. That didn’t transform the case.

After taking Mia to the pediatrician, going by myriad checks and scans, their docs instructed them Mia has cancerous tumors in her mind and on her backbone. She’s now in her second spherical of chemo after going by surgical procedure.

Villegas detailed his daughter’s journey on Wednesday at TPC Sawgrass, the place he is getting ready to compete within the Korn Ferry Problem, the primary occasion within the return of the Korn Ferry Tour. He wasn’t positive he ought to play.

“I do not know if my instincts are to come back play this week. It has been bizarre,” he stated. “I do not know the place my thoughts is. I do know the place my coronary heart is.”

Villegas stated he was satisfied by his spouse, who instructed he compete this week.

“I really like golf, and my spouse needed me to come back right here and swing the membership, get my thoughts away,” he stated. “She has been actually robust by all the state of affairs.”

The Colombia native made clear he wasn’t sharing his story in hopes of garnering “sympathy,” however that the universe would possibly present some constructive ideas and emotions for his daughter.

“If anyone desires to consider her, simply take into consideration her taking part in, rising and doing all the conventional issues a child does, and I am positive we’ll get there,” stated Villegas, tearing up as he spoke.

He stays hopeful Mia will get by this.

“She’s in ache, however she retains preventing. She retains inspiring us,” he stated. “We’ll be there for her, and hopefully like I’ve had the possibility to have fun some golf tournaments, we are able to have fun when she’s clear.”