Finding Love After Hardship: Sofia Vergara, 51, Spends Holidays With New Boyfriend Just Months After Divorce

Vergara was previously married to actor Joe Manganiello, 46, for seven years. However, Manganiello filed for divorce over the summer citing irreconcilable differences, news which was publicized in a joint statement released by the the former couple.

Now, she’s living it up and enjoying life with her new man by her side, something she seemed proud to share with her fans.

Vergara shared a selfie on her Instagram story over the weekend, during a small holiday dinner party, which revealed Dr. Saliman sitting with a few others at a well-decorated table, according to The U.S. Sun, which reshared the photo.

Wearing a silky green outfit, gold jewelry, and a straight hairstyle, Vergara smiled at the camera showing herself and the four other guests sitting at the table behind her.

We’re delighted to see Vergara spending time with her new boyfriend on such a special holiday and according an insider who spoke with the Daily Mail, the couple are doing well.

A source told the Daily Mail last month, “Sofia has moved on from Joe and would be happy to never see him again. Her relationship with Justin has made her never look back.

“Justin is absolutely charming, and handsome, and has an incredible job. He isn’t an actor and is very confident and she is eating it all up.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sofia Vergara (@sofiavergara)

Vergara, a mom of one, has been spotted out with the surgeon on multiple occasions over the past few months, often out on a date night in California. They were first seen publicly together back in October, when they went out to an Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills.

At the time, a source told People, that the America’s Got Talent judge is “dating and having fun.”

The insider explained, “She is enjoying life. She seems positive and full of energy. Sofia has been handling the divorce well. It wasn’t an easy decision, but she is doing great now.”

Additionally, it’s been reported that Dr. Saliman, a dad of two, has also been through a divorce. According to the U.S. Sun, Dr. Saliman’s former wife Bree Turner filed for divorce against the surgeon back in 2018, after 10 years of marriage due to irreconcilable differences.

Sophia Vergara’s Cancer Journey

Sophia Vergara’s cancer journey began when she discovered a lump in her neck by chance back in 2000.

Her family has a history of thyroid cancer, which affects how your body uses blood sugar, so she had taken her son to get checked out early for diabetes.

RELATED: Actresses Cobie Smulders, Sofia Vergara, & Vanessa Bayer All Had Cancer Before 30; Part of Growing Trend In Young Adults

“While we were there, the doctor wanted to check me, too, and he found a lump in my neck,” Vergara said in an interview with Health.

Vergara had no symptoms at the time and questioned having to undergo surgery but she went through with it, followed by iodine radiation treatment, and was glad she did.

“When you go through something like this, it’s hard, but you learn a lot from it,” she said. “Your priorities change. You don’t sweat the small stuff. And it had a good ending.”

She had to take a pill every day. “It controls your body’s metabolism and gives you the levels that you need. An unregulated thyroid can lead to problems with your weight, hair loss, and other things, so they give me a blood test every three months to see where my level is,” she said.

“Actually, I feel very lucky. In a lot of women, the cancer isn’t found until around menopause, and by then its too late.”

The Latin bombshell, who has always had a charitable side to her, has since helped build a cancer center in her hometown of Barranquilla.

What Is Thyroid Cancer?

According to the National Cancer Institute, “Thyroid cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the thyroid gland,” which is a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck.

Signs of thyroid cancer include a swelling or lump in the neck. There are tests to examine the thyroid and neck in order to diagnose thyroid cancer, along with blood tests. Thyroid nodules, unusual growths in the thyroid gland, are common but usually are not cancer.

Feeling for lumps in your neck (or breasts, or anywhere else in your body) is always a good idea, along with getting routine checkups at the doctor’s office.

How to be Resilient in the Face of Adversity

Vergara has been with hardship amid her cancer battle and divorce, however, the actress strives to maintain a positive outlook and make the most of her time through charity work and being a mom of one.

Resilience is an important trait to have in the face of adversity such as cancer, divorce, or a major life change.

WATCH: Resilience: Staying Positive Despite Adversity

SurvivorNet spotlighted this important cancer-fighting trait in the film “Resilience,” which is streaming on SurvivorNet. It follows the lives of three athletes who are living with a health challenge yet overcame adversity.

You can build resilience the way you build muscle through patience and steady exercise of the skill. Here are some lessons taken from the film.

• Be willing to learn. If one way doesn’t work, find a different way. If an obstacle lands in your way, build a path around it or over it.
• Spend time with people who inspire you.
• Allow yourself to grieve. Don’t push away or dismiss your frustration and sadness. Give yourself grace when your emotions run high.
• Be flexible. Understand there are multiple ways to accomplish a goal. If your original method does not work, find another.
• Lean into your community. Consider using your support group made up of your friends, colleagues, and family. Remember when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed by a problem, their support can carry you.

Enjoying Life After Cancer Like Sofia Vergara

For cancer patients, or people like Vergara who have beat cancer, finding love, or spending time with family and friends during a holiday, is a perfect way to let out emotions or to just simply enjoy life.

Finding Joy After Cancer Turns Your Life Upside-Down

Cancer doesn’t have to stop you in your tracks. In the case of Evelyn Reyes-Beato, she says she was really thrown through a loop when she was diagnosed with colon cancer.

Before her diagnosis, she was planning to go back to school – but the diagnoses completely threw her off track. “When I got cancer, I was like f*ck that, I’m not going to waste what’s left of my life going to school,” she previously told SurvivorNet.

“If I’m gonna die, I’m not gonna die at school. I’m gonna die on a beach, I’m gonna die in the Bahamas, in Paris, in Australia … somewhere, but I’m not gonna die in school.”

Eventually, Evelyn realized that she could still achieve her goals, even with cancer. She found the things that brought her joy in life – “my husband, my doggies, my brother, my family” – and kept on living for that joy. And she ended up going back to school as well.

Sometimes Bad Things Happen — Enjoying Life, Even With Cancer

Meanwhile, accepting that cancer is something that just happens, and it’s not your fault, is a big part of coming to terms with the disease. Breast cancer survivor Heather Maloney also spoke with SurvivorNet in an earlier interview, where she said that simply trying to enjoy her life, even on chemo days, made a big difference when she was facing the disease.

“Find moments of gratitude, and you will get through it,” Heather said. “Not everybody does … but we all do eventually see an ending to it. Life is hard for everybody, but I’m able to more readily and easily access a level of gratitude about being alive … I’m lucky to be alive today.”

Whether you’re a cancer patient or a cancer survivor it’s important to remember that your mental state can actually impact your success as a patient or how you live your life.

“I’m pretty good at telling what kind of patients are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease,” Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet. “And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life.”

Also, Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at Arizona Oncology, advocates for cancer warriors to prioritize their mental health. She noted that emotional well-being has been studied as a factor in patient outcomes.

“We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes,” Dr. Chase told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.

“So, working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment [and] your emotional well-being are important and can impact your survival. If that’s related to what activities you do that bring you joy, then you should try to do more of those activities.”

Family Love and Support Makes a World of Difference During Cancer Treatment

 

Support Through Cancer

Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin says having people by your side, like Vergara has throughout her life and during the holidays, during this “arduous chapter” of your life can be very beneficial.

“Studies have found consistently that loneliness is a significant risk factor for physical and mental illnesses and the trajectory of recovery,” she wrote in a column for SurvivorNet. “Therefore, it will be important that you surround yourself with individuals who care and support you throughout your treatment.”

That being said, it’s very important to know your limits on what you can handle during treatment.

“Going through treatment is a very vulnerable and emotionally exhausting experience,” she wrote. “Noticing what you have strength for and what is feeling like too much [is] extremely important to pay attention to as you navigate treatment.”

In a previous chat with SurvivorNet, psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik added that some cancer warriors may need to look beyond their existing relationships to find the support they need.

Seeking Support: Dr. Plutchik On What To Do First, Following a Cancer Diagnosis

“Some people don’t need to go outside of their family and friends circle. They feel like they have enough support there,” Dr. Plutchik said. “But for people who feel like they need a little bit more, it is important to reach out to a mental health professional.”Seeking Support: Dr. Plutchik shares the first 3 things to do after a cancer diagnosis

Dr. Plutchik said it’s best to find a mental health professional with experience aiding people undergoing cancer treatment. “Make sure that the mental health professional that you work it is reaching out, with your consent, to the rest of your team, to the oncologist, to the surgeon,” she said. “It can also be helpful to reach out to family, friends, and any other caretakers that may be involved in the person’s treatment.”

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

---