When Heidi Onda received her stage 3 inoperable lung cancer diagnosis in 2018, doctors gave her just four to six months to live. The lifelong health enthusiast was stunned. She had no known risk factors and had never smoked. But today, Onda is not only cancer-free since 2020, she's also become a passionate advocate helping save countless lives across Colorado.

The turning point came when Onda's son, an environmental engineer, asked a crucial question that would change everything: what was the radon level in her home? Onda had never heard of radon, but testing revealed the shocking truth. The home where she'd lived for 20 years had radon levels twice as high as the EPA's actionable threshold.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas with no color, odor, or taste that seeps into buildings through foundation cracks and small openings. It forms when uranium breaks down in soil, rocks, and water, then travels into homes through the water table. According to the American Cancer Society, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

The discovery was devastating, but it also gave Onda the knowledge to fight back. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation, had her home mitigated, and installed permanent radon detectors. Her determination paid off beautifully. Since achieving remission in 2020, Onda has witnessed two of her children get married and welcomed two grandchildren, with another on the way.

Now Onda is turning her personal triumph into a community mission. She shares her story to encourage Colorado families to test their homes, emphasizing that prevention is simple and affordable. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment offers free radon test kits, and the Pueblo County Department of Health is also distributing free kits this month.

David Wright, an environmental specialist with 20 years of experience in radon mitigation, explains that Colorado Springs to Pueblo residents face over an 80% chance of having elevated radon levels. The good news? Testing takes just 48 hours with a simple at-home kit, and long-term monitors cost around $100. If dangerous levels are detected, professional mitigation systems can effectively push radon outside the home.

Wright recommends testing now, as radon levels typically peak in January when reduced atmospheric pressure draws more of the gas into homes. The EPA advises testing every couple of years since radon levels fluctuate.

Why This Inspires

Onda's journey from a devastating diagnosis to vibrant health and advocacy embodies the power of knowledge and prevention. Her message is simple yet profound: "Test, don't guess, fix if necessary so you can have a long life and spend it with the people that you love doing the things that you love."

What makes Onda's story particularly inspiring is how she transformed personal tragedy into purposeful action. Rather than simply celebrating her own survival, she's dedicating herself to ensuring other families never experience what she went through. Her refrain, "Had I known, I would have done this 20 years prior," serves as both a cautionary tale and a hopeful reminder that simple steps can save lives.

The return on investment, as Onda puts it, is priceless: more weddings to attend, more grandchildren to hold, more precious moments with loved ones. Her story proves that awareness, action, and advocacy can turn even the darkest diagnosis into a beacon of hope for entire communities.