A year after Julio Villamil arrived in Sydney from Colombia to study English, he was handed some of the most harrowing news of his life – a rare cancer diagnosis.
Diagnosed with desmoplastic small round cell tumour, he is one of 200 people in the world known to have the illness.
But without any friends or family in the country, the 24-year-old found himself learning of the diagnosis alone.
“I came here first as a student to study English, (as) an international student. And I was here for like a year, and then I got diagnosed with a severe cancer,” Mr Villamil told NewsWire.
“When I was alone by myself, so it was so, so hard, you know, so I started like the treatment here in Australia.”
His story has touched thousands of lives, featuring on television in South America and launching a GoFundMe, which raised enough funds to bring his parents and siblings from Colombia to Sydney.
While living in palliative care at the Chris O’Brien LifeHouse, he was introduced to the HammondCare LifeStories program, which aims to honour the people living in palliative care, creating music to share their stories and celebrate their lives.
As part of the program – which first launched in 2023 and has since created more than 250 stories for patients – Mr Villamil connected with award-wining composer Stephen Rae to create a song about his life.
Mr Rae is a renowned composer, whose work has featured in Australian productions including Love My Way, Puberty Blues, Gallipoli, and Howzat.
Together, the duo created a series of touching and heartening songs to honour Julio’s life.
“Before I got this diagnosis, I was worried about so stupid things, you know, like daily things that take your peace away,” Mr Villamil said.
“Now after you get this kind of disease or illness, you stop worrying about stupid things. You start caring about what is really important for you.”
Sitting down with the award-winning composer, he was able to discuss anything and everything, from living in Colombia to the importance of not taking things for granted.
For Mr Villamil, living with cancer made him take notice of the smallest things in life; every day events and observations that would usually go unnoticed are now celebrated.
“Small things (you) appreciate, like every day, every sunlight, your father, every (kind of) food,” he said.
“I have learned to be so grateful for what I have.”
Although he’s never written music before, Mr Villamil said working with Mr Rae was an unbelievable experience.
“I never did something like that,” he said.
“Stephen is a master, I don’t know, he’s a genius.”
One of the songs, a three-minute hip-hop song dubbed What Really Matters, features Mr Villamil sharing messages of hope and love to the world.
“We’re like, missing the real idea of what is living,” he raps, the sounds of piano softly tinkling over a low-hushed beat.
“We come into this world. We live at most 100 years.
“It’s so-so small time. We need to take care of what really matters.”
Mr Rae said it was an “honour” to work alongside Mr Villamil on the song.
“It was the beginning of our conversation when I said (to Julio) why would you want to do a song?” he said.
“I can’t tell you what an incredible person he is.”
He was blown away by the 24-year-old’s spirit and determination.
“You find (the song) moving because of his voice,” he said.
“I mean, it’s just hip-hop behind it, but it’s his message that is incredibly moving.”
Mr Rae said despite Mr Villamil’s young age, his lyrics managed to convey the wisdom of someone beyond his years.
“Julio doesn’t mention his own lifespan (in the song), but he says ‘let’s make the best use of it’,” he said.
“There’s just this incredible reality and sort of power behind that … and a level of maturity that I never had.
“No one grasps that until they’re much, much older, usually.”
Despite his parents and family not speaking English, Mr Villamil said they were “so surprised” by the song.
“They don’t speak English, so they didn’t understand that much, but I explained to them” he said.
“They were so amazed as well. Like so surprised.”
Following his diagnosis, Mr Villamil has undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy, losing his hair and weighing only 40kg.
He entered remission in 2025 before suffering a seizure, where doctors discovered new tumours on his brain.
His clinician Madeleine Strach said Mr Villamil requires the drug treatment Enhertu, which costs $7000 per month and is not available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Dr Strach hopes other trial treatments will be able to extend Mr Villamil’s life.
Mr Villamil said the HammondCare LifeStories program, funded by the HammondCare Foundation, was an exceptional way to honour adults living in palliative care.
“It’s so nice because it’s something different,” he said.
“It’s nice because you can express what you feel and leave it there for all people to listen it forever.”