For most, the teenage years are defined by a search for identity, but for Fallbrook resident Della Howarth, they were defined by a fight for survival. Howarth, now in her 70s, recently shared her lifelong journey of resilience, beginning with a devastating diagnosis at age 13 that would lead to decades of medical challenges and a unique outlook on the "joy of life."The odyssey began with a diagnosis of fibrosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. "It started when I was a kid, and I had cancer at age 13," Howarth said. "I was diagnosed with a tumor. At first, they weren't sure it was malignant, but it turned out to be."Over the next seven years, Howarth underwent seven major surgeries. The cancer returned three times, eventually necessitating a severe amputation. At age 14, s
