“Day by Day” – an inspiring song written by 17-year-old Sofie Tabesh, born from the shock of a cancer diagnosis at 15, which rocked her world and tested her spirit. This simple yet powerful reflection of her journey came to life while riding her sister’s horse, deep in thought, just after emerging from the “Covid cocoon” that had kept her home the year before. “Eve
Months of unexplained illness—fever, a persistent cough, a sore throat that wouldn’t go away—had Sofie visiting urgent care multiple times, with no answers. There were mislaid lab samples, moments of hope that quickly turned to dead ends, and a growing sense of being unheard. But when an urgent care nurse suggested they try Loma Linda’s Emergency Room, Sofie’s mom, Michelle, insisted on one final attempt for answers.
What came next changed everything. After hours of poking, prodding, and chest x-rays, the doctor delivered the news that still feels unreal to Sofie: “Have you heard of lymphoma?” When he asked Michelle if she wanted to tell Sofie or if he should, the moment felt like a dream. Sofie recalls a time, a few months earlier, when she had noticed a lump on her neck. For just a fleeting second, she wondered, “What if I have cancer?” But that thought felt too distant, too impossible to hold onto.
A bright and lively girl, Sofie has always been full of joy. From as early as she could remember, music was in her heart. She’d serenade her family with her singing, and following in her big brother’s footsteps, she learned to play the guitar. The youngest of four, Sofie was a star in her own right. At 12, she began taking voice lessons with Rhonda Parrish, discovering a love for singing that would eventually define her future. When she went to support a friend at a local performance at The Merc, she knew without a doubt that performing for crowds was her calling. Her first solo at the Rock the Oaks event confirmed it—no nerves, just the music and the moment.
As she performed around town, Sofie’s energy and talent became well-known. In August of 2021, she was asked to sing the National Anthem at the Annual “Celebration of Life” Golf Tournament for Michelle’s Place, a fundraising event to raise funds for those impacted by cancer. It was supposed to be the year of her dreams—one of music, friends, and growth. But in November of that year, everything changed.
“Lymphoma!” Michelle cried into the phone as the doctor confirmed Sofie’s diagnosis. Sofie’s dad rushed to the hospital, but neither parent could fully grasp what was happening. Sofie was transferred to the Loma Linda Main Campus by ambulance, quarantined for four agonizing days of tests, biopsies, and waiting. The official diagnosis came: Stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and treatment had to begin immediately. It was devastating. Sofie’s parents insisted on taking her home for the night to process everything together, and the silence in the car spoke volumes. Sofie remembers thinking, “This can’t be real. How can this be happening?”
When they arrived at home, family, friends, and neighbors had gathered to transform Sofie’s room into a sanctuary of support—cleaning, decorating, and doing her laundry in an effort to lift her spirits. But in the quiet of the night, after everyone had left, Sofie began to feel the weight of it all. She could see the fear on their faces, and that fear became a burden she couldn’t escape. “I tried to hide how terrified I was,” she said. “Because everyone else was so scared for me.”
The treatments that followed were grueling—surgery, chemo sessions lasting five to six hours at a time, for months on end. It felt like stepping into another world—one disorienting and filled with uncertainty. “I don’t remember much of it,” Sofie reflected. “Maybe it was the medicine, or how unreal it all seemed.” But through it all, her parents were there, swapping shifts to sit by her side, as the Covid restrictions would allow.
The hardest part for Sofie was the idea of losing her hair. “I’m gonna be bald,” she said, breaking down in front of her family. And as her hair began to fall out in patches, she decided to shave it all off. “It felt like a loss of identity—something so physical and visible.” Her aunt and dad joined her in this act of solidarity. “It meant so much to me,” Sofie said. “To have that support.” And though her mom wanted to shave her head too, Sofie gently asked her not to. It wasn’t just the physical changes that were difficult; it was the emotional weight of the entire journey.
Soon after, a visit to Michelle’s Place helped Sofie find the perfect wig. For her mom, Michelle, it was a turning point. “I didn’t know how to help her,” Michelle admitted. “I was stuck in my own fear but having Michelle’s Place there for us… made all the difference.”
Finally, on April 21st, 2022, after five and a half months of treatments, Sofie rang the bell to mark her last day of chemotherapy. It was a moment of triumph, a turning point in her battle. REMISSION! Since that day, Sofie has poured her heart into her music, performing locally and traveling to Nashville to write and record songs, releasing 3 singles in 2024 alone. She’s become a beacon of hope, using her voice to inspire others who are walking their own difficult paths.
Reflecting on her journey, Sofie now sees it as a blessing in disguise. “We are a much closer family now,” she said. “We’ve learned to appreciate life, love, and family in a way I can’t fully describe.” During her testing, doctors discovered a congenital heart defect—a bi-cuspid aortic valve (BAV)—and because it was genetic, Sofie’s family was able to catch it early in both her and her sister, ensuring they can monitor and manage it.
Through it all, Sofie met others who were battling cancer, and their stories became part of her own. “Once I was diagnosed, I started meeting other people with cancer all around me,” she said. She was able to offer support to others, even helping a girl from school who was also diagnosed with lymphoma. “I want to focus on making a difference in people’s lives through my music,” Sofie said. “I want them to feel what I feel and relate to my music and this journey.”
Sofie’s journey has been one of heartbreak and healing, but it has also been a testament to the power of love, community, and the unwavering support of family and friends. As she continues to share her music and her story, her advice to other young people facing cancer is simple but powerful: “Even in your darkest and scariest times, you are not alone. Take it all in stride and live ‘Day by Day.’”
For more information or to listen to Sofie’s music now, go to: https://sofietabeshofficial.com/home
Shanda Brennan, MSW, CSW, LCSW: No One Should Face Cancer Alone
Shanda Brennan, MSW, CSW, LCSW, co-founder and CEO of Triple Moon Psychotherapy Collective and Director of Behavioral Health explains in more detail the importance of this program. “The psychosocial and psychiatric impact that a cancer burden brings to an individual and their support partners is often immense and can result in a substantial impact on mental health and wellbeing. This also means the long-term impacts of a cancer diagnosis on mental health are being more often realized with upwards of 35% of patients reporting symptoms of depression and/or anxiety post-diagnosis. Mental health during and post-treatment is less prioritized than treating the disease itself due to many influences, including access to care. Here at Michelle’s Place, we are pleased to be breaking down these barriers and offering no-cost mental health services to our clients, their families, and their support network, provided by licensed therapists and supervised graduate-level interns. Through the expansion of our mental health services, we have built upon our mission that “No one should face cancer alone.”
This program is being made possible through grant funding from the Fallbrook Regional Health District, Kaiser Permanente Foundation, Supervisor Chuck Washington and the Inland Empire Community Foundation, Seraphim Fund.
For more information on Michelle’s Place Cancer Resource Center visit www.michellesplace.org or call 951-699-5455.
