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Mama is steadily getting better and stronger each day. Thank you so much for your prayers! Everything is a miracle! Thank you for all your love and support.

Mama shares an update about her health!

💖 18 days without oxygen support and Pneumonia-free

💖 Religiously exercising to gain back her mobility

💖 She is also taking her oral chemo again. Hopefully soon she will continue with chemo injections (if she is able to ride a car na)

Thank you so much again!

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Healed for Pneumonia, currently battling with UTI, but overall doing well!

February 4, 2024

Hello friends! I know that I’ve been updating less frequently lately, but I also know you continue to keep us in your prayers. Thank you all so so much!

As mentioned during my last update, Mom had another Pneumonia infection. After over a month of medication, I’m very happy to report that she got healed from it. During the last leg of her infection, her veins couldn’t take anymore intravenous medications so the doctor shifted to an oral antibiotic, albeit very expensive and also has side effects like bleeding. The doctor said that it was quite a risk because for other patients, they experience incontrollable bleeding so Mom was in strict monitoring here at home. Thank God, the side effects weren’t so adverse! We were able to work around it and praise God, she is doing so well now (respiratory system-wise).

I am happy to report that today (Feb 4) we removed her oxygen support for several hours and she seems very stable! You guys! This is a first in a loooong time! 🥹🥹🥹

She still is dealing with Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), though, which needs to be dealt with before she can resume with her chemo meds. UTI is quite common for patients who are using a urinary catheter for a long time. Currently, the home care the doctor is managing it.

She is making good enough progress with her physical therapy as well. She is now bed-bound (able to stand up to sit on a wheel chair, commode or any chair when assisted) instead of bedridden (confined in the bed). Next goal is to be able to transfer from wheelchair to the car so she can receive her chemo injections when her immune system allows! Hopefully, she will also be able to walk soon, God willing!

I can say that Mom has very significant improvements in her overall health and wellbeing. She has a renewed zest for life and prays to God that He gives her a few more years. 🙏🏽

Thank you for always keeping us in your thoughts and prayers! May God bless you a hundredfold.

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Generally doing okay but now with another Pneumonia infection

January 11, 2024

First of all, to be able to welcome this new year with my Mom is a miracle in itself. There were countless moments in 2023 where we thought it would be the end of her but she proved that she really is a fighter! God is gracious and sends miracle after miracle.

Mom is fully aware of this daily miracle she’s given. And she’s very grateful for it. During one of our daily prayer times during this Christmas season, she was in tears in her thanksgiving and praises to the Lord. We would like to thank you for endless support, prayers and concern. Thank you so much for fighting this battle with us!

For roughly 2 weeks after my Mom’s operation and a Pneumonia medication on the first week of December, Mom was very stable and was Pneumonia-free. Perhaps the most stable she’s been in a while. We were very happy. We were able to observe Christmas quietly here at home.

However, not for long because before the year ended Mom caught another Pneumonia infection. This is her 8th cycle of Pneumonia since June 2023. You could say she’s quite frustrated and sad about it. So here we go again back to the IV antibiotic cycle— sourcing out the meds, the frequent injections and dislodges, the round-the-clock medications and whatnot.

We had to go to the hospital for a quick xray and for that we needed to ride an ambulance because Mom is still not able to stand and ride the car. We’re lucky there’s an ambulance we can arrange and we made sure we would come early in the morning so there are less people in the hospital.

We’re on her 2nd week of medication and she has improved a lot. I’m also happy to report that besides the stubborn Pneumonia, mama is doing well overall. Her mobility has improved. She has regular PT sessions and she exercises (in her bed). She’s still bed-bound as of the moment. But able to sit down 2 times a day in a bed-side commode.

A personal reflection

There’s always some bad news at some point. There was a time I still get rattled but I cope better with it now. During the Christmas season, I reflected on the Holy Family and the many surprises that happened when Jesus was born. How they could have started to prepare for His coming, perhaps curating their humble home in Nazareth, not knowing Mary and Joseph would have to travel 70-90 miles to Bethlehem, where she would give birth in a stable! And just when they probably would’ve thought about the comforts of home, the angel then tells Joseph to bring his family to Egypt and stay there indefinitely. Blow after blow, surprise after surprise, and it’s not necessarily pleasant.

In the many surprises that happens in our life surrounding my Mom’s diagnosis, I think of Mary and Joseph’s radical acceptance, submission and humility. They said YES to every moment.

Often times now, I just pause for a while, breathe and find my way to accept each moment for what it is. I thought of this when we were at the ambulance, while I had to make so many (!!) arrangements to make a simple x-ray appointment happen. If Mary and Joseph could say YES, I can learn from their example and proactively respond with my own YES as well. Oh may God always give me the grace!

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Update 18: Mom is doing great post-operation

Dec 21, 2023

Reflecting on today’s Gospel, I can’t help but be grateful to all of you who, like Mary, went out of her way to visit and gift Elizabeth with her service and her presence. These past months have been very difficult but you helped us carry through this time. For all of your prayers, your concern and care, you financial support and fundraising efforts, your presence, friendship, every act of service and every help that you have extended to me and my Mom, we are deeply grateful. We see Jesus in all of you! And His presence is evident in you.

As for my Mom, it’s been quite a while since I last updated. Mom had a surgery early December to address her Fistula In Ano. It could’ve been easily addressed if not for her immune-compromised state but given that, a surgical intervention has to be performed or it’s going to get worse. The first miracle was that she allowed to be brought back to the hospital again, even if she expressed prior her stern resistance on the idea of ever being admitted. She was also in good spirits during her entire stay at the hospital.

We had some hiccups, of course, just like the night before the operation, our helper who stays the night with us suddenly experienced hyperventilation and had to be brought to the ER! It was such a high intensity situation for us. Suddenly I (Aiana) had 2 patients! But help was near and after some medical intervention, she was also discharged.

The surgery

The surgeon mentioned that is the worst case of Fistula she’s ever handled. She also cautioned that the healing won’t be quick for her. But we are blessed that with the help of our daytime caregiver (Darwin) and our helper at night (Anne), Mom is able to receive her regular wound care routine. As of this moment, the wound is healing very slowly but surely.

There’s still an IV attached to her because every now and then IV meds are being ordered by the home care doctor. Otherwise, she is able to take her oral medications, albeit so many. She’s also still Oxygen dependent but the saturation is slowly being tapered down so that she doesn’t become dependent to it.

Perhaps, this is our Christmas miracle. I can say that my Mom has significantly improved since her ICU admission. She’s still bed bound but her regular physical therapy has helped her sustain sitting positions, and hopefully soon she will be able to sit on a wheelchair. She’s still has her urinary catheter too which is being replaced every 2 weeks. I could say we’re at yellow alert right now (yellow, orange, red alerts help me classify the gravity of our situation). We’re still alert for some emergencies but we’re able to pace ourselves and breathe a little bit more now.

God’s provision going before us

We also experienced God’s provision in the hospital. A few weeks before the operation, a cousin who works at the congress said she could try to look for a medical grant for Mom. She was able to find one worth Php 50,000 but she said it might take 2-4 weeks to process. We were also going to figure out how to allocate it since at that time since Mom does not want to be admitted to the hospital again. But God truly goes before us. He saw that Mom would need an operation and the medical grant was released just in time for us to use (and be deducted from the bill) upon discharge! Talk about the God of order and provision!

What to do in the land of exile

I felt like giving a bit of an update about me also because many of you are concerned. I would take off from one of the most famous bible passage Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

If we really look at the context of this passage, Jeremiah was prophesying to those exiled in Babylon that the state of captivity will still last 70 years!! But what does he tell them? He instructs in Jeremiah 29:4 and onwards “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce…” in other words, in the land of exile, life still continues! Live it!

This definitely is not my “normal”. I’ve gotten used to living outside of Iligan and I’m often traveling or going out. But even here, at my current predicament, my life still continues. The way I do that, is by living out my spirituality, thru prayer and the sacraments and the online engagement I have with my community. I also exercise; swimming three times a week in the morning. I also have a small business, a Catholic art and gift shop called Everything Heartwork, and production happens in Iligan. So while I’m here, I try to create new products and really carving time to pursue this calling! I also continue doing my part time missionary work (with Kairos Asia), which still works for my setup because of my administrative position and the Asia-wide scope of our work allows me to serve remotely.

At some point, to be honest, I also had to grieve the gone years of the lifestyle I knew. The late twenties are my prime years, I said. But my life changed at my Mom’s diagnosis. Radical acceptance did wonders to my heart, and it’s only through grace. But I also pondered upon how mothers, would give up their “prime” for their family. In a heartbeat, my Mom would give me the prime cuts of meat over our meal times or would choose to put other family members’ needs first, without a question. What a beautiful privilege to be giving up my prime for her who has given up her prime, and not just that, but her whole life and self for me! If this is the price I pay for time I could spend with my Mom, then gladly I will take it, grateful for everyday.

Thank you so much for journeying with us! We love you and we’re grateful for you.

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Prayer Intentions for Mom’s Operation on Wednesday, December 6

My Mama will be operated for Festula In Ano on December 6. Please help up us intercede for these concerns:

🙏🏽 Peace for Mom before, during and after the procedure

🙏🏽 For the anesthesia to be injected well and without complications (considering that she has a compression fractures in the spine)

🙏🏽 For guidance to the doctors (surgeon, assisting doctor, anesthesia, nurses and the like)

🙏🏽 For a safe and successful operation procedure, may it be quick and smooth

🙏🏽 For her vital signs to remain normal and stable

🙏🏽 For a quick recovery

🙏🏽 For the Festula to be totally addressed

🙏🏽 That Mom can be discharged soon

Thank you so much for your prayers!

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Update 17: Upcoming operation for Festula En Anu once stable

Dec 3, 2023

Hello everyone!

Just an update, my Mom was admitted (again) since November 27 at the Adventist Medical Center. She agreed to be admitted because of the great discomfort in her anus. She is diagnosed to have Festula En Anu and that needs to be operated to avoid infection. However she’s not cleared for the procedure because her Pneumonia (7th for the year 😢) needs to be managed.

She’s doing well overall. Eating well and in good spirits. She’s just eager to be operated to lessen the discomfort and so that she can go home immediately (she hates the hospital!). With us in the hospital is a caregiver who stays during the daytime and our helper who stays at with us at night. Our community The Light of the World continues to take care of us, providing meals for breakfast and dinner and our family members are always a call away.

Some friends are asking if we accept visitors. I guess we can accommodate visitors, yes. We encourage quicker visits, fewer people at a time, though. And preferably at these time frame: 11:30 AM- 1PM, 5-6 PM and 7-8:30 PM.

Thank you so much for your kindness!

Specific Prayer Intentions

🙏🏽 For Mom to be cleared of Pneumonia

🙏🏽 For the doctors to allow her to undergo the operation

🙏🏽 For schedule of the surgeon

🙏🏽 For a successful operation

🙏🏽 For quick recovery

🙏🏽 That we may go home very soon

🙏🏽 For provision for all needs

🙏🏽 For God’s will be done

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Quick Update & Prayer Request

Nov 26, 2023

Earlier this week, Mom just finished a round of IV antibiotics. The doctor stopped it for 2 days, however, we found out that the infection came back right after. So now the doctor is planning for another set of IV antibiotic combinations to address her new Pneumonia infections. Because of this, she’s not able to resume with her chemotherapy yet.

She experienced GI bleeding as well but the doctor said that most of it is caused by her hemorrhoids. But since her hemoglobin level is already lower than normal, she might need another round of blood transfusion soon. Good news, though, her bleeding stopped during the latter parts of the week with the help of some medicines.

Lately a big source of discomfort is her hemorrhoids. It’s causing so much pain, even sometimes preventing her from resting, so we’re praying (and doing what we can) so that it will be addressed soon.

For some good news, Mom’s appetite continues to be great! She’s eating more rice and vegetables and soup as well. Her bed sore is also already 90% healed because she can already move on her own and she changes her bed position from time to time. She’s able to sit down with her hospital bed reclined now but still unable to stand. She has physical therapy twice a week and that helps her a lot.

Thank you so much for keeping Mom in your prayers. Here are some specific prayer requests.

Prayer Request

🙏🏽 For her hemorrhoids to be addressed soon so that it will no longer cause her discomfort and pain.

🙏🏽 For her new Pneumonia infection to be healed.

🙏🏽 That we can arrange her hemodialysis and chemotherapy soon.

🙏🏽 For continued state of peace and grace for my Mom and the members of the family.

🙏🏽 For guidance for the doctors and caregivers.

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Update 16: Managing an infection & occasional bleeding, otherwise all good

November 18, 2023

Hello everyone!

The title for this update says it all. My mom is currently nursing an infection, Pneumonia (AGAIN!) and in her first week of taking IV antibiotics. The infectious disease specialist urged us to bring her back to the hospital, of which she sorely rejected. She would sign a waiver, she said, and sternly ordered us never to bring back to the hospital. At this point, we respect her wishes and we will try our very best to manage her medical needs at home.

Occasionally, she also has gastrointestinal bleeding. We are very careful about this as her hemoglobin level is not that stable as well. She has medicines to manage the bleeding and a weekly injection to hopefully increase her hemoglobin.

Recently, she has a struggle in defecating, causing her stomach to hurt so much that she couldn’t sleep well at night and she is mostly agitated during the day. But just today (Nov 18) it has significantly improved and her bowel movement normalized.

Otherwise, all good. Let’s highlight on the good news, shall we?

She is quite stable, I would say. Her blood pressure is on the stable side at 110/80 or 100/70 usually. This is so much better compared to her previous blood pressure that would drop to 90/70 or 80/60.

She also has physical therapy sessions at home, twice a week. This caused her to significantly improve as well. This week, she was able to sit down for the first time after a long time. PRAISE THE LORD!

In the coming week, we hope that she can finally resume her chemotherapy, if she’s able to sit down in the wheelchair and ride in the car, and if her infection is stable enough.

She’s also very happy with her coloring book and occasionally checking her phone for messages. She’s very grateful for life and loving every bit of it!

Thanks so much for your prayers. 🙏🏽

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Quick Update (Update #15)

November 12, 2023

Today, an ICU nurse came to:

1) Remove her Central Line or Central Venous Catheter (which was inserted in her neck) because it’s no longer working.

2) A new IV line in her arm is inserted. This will probably work for 2-4 days so a new one will have to be inserted after that. She needs this because she’s on another round of IV antibiotics because of her Pneumonia.

3) Change her urine catheter.

4) And the mostly awaited, to remove her NGT (nasogastric tube) because she can now swallow food (soft diet) and drink medicines.

Praise the Lord!

She’s also glued to her adult coloring book. Making art daily is one activity she thoroughly enjoys.

Prayer Request

🙏🏽 Healing from Pneumonia and other infections.

🙏🏽 That her medical needs be accommodated here at home.

🙏🏽 That she will be able to resume chemotherapy.

🙏🏽 Grace, peace, joy everyday.

🙏🏽 For provision for all the needs.

🙏🏽 For God’s will to be done!

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Update #14: Updates- the good, the bad, the in-between

November 11, 2023

I am writing this as I sneaked myself in her hospital bed. My Mom is home, she is happy and her well-being is doing so much better. Oh what a gift to be alive! Everyday is a gift I relish with her.

There’s both bad and good news. Let’s first address the elephant in the room, so we can end on a high note later!

Bad news

My Mom is experiencing another infection. Pneumonia is here again. And she needs another round of stront IV antibiotics for it. The doctors advise her to re-admitted but she sorely refused. She said she will sign a waver never to be taken back to the hospital ever again. Currently, she is undergoing the necessary medications via home care. As before, a doctor comes to manage her medical situation, while my nurse uncle administers the medicines and a caregiver monitors her situation.

She also experienced another Gastrointestinal Bleeding this week but thankfully, it was easily alleviated thru IV meds. Her blood pressure is also being closely monitored as it could drop to dangerous levels.

For now, her chemo is halted because of her infection and her inability to sit. Chemo is done on an out-patient basis. But we are hoping she could get back at it very soon!

Peace that surpasses all understanding

I can honestly say that she is so much at peace with her predicament. She desires to be healed, she celebrates life that she’s given every single day, and her faith is so strong. But at the same time, she is surrendered to the will of God. She acknowledges that death could come knocking, and she is willing to obey and to submit, when it comes. She also makes the hard conversations easy.

What makes it so is that her eyes are fixed on heaven, on the eternal promise. Because of her faith, I am slowly learning to view death not as a thief but an escort. It comes to help us transition to an eventual reality. As many other transitions, this one is marked with much pain and sorrow. But in faith I say, still it is no sorrow that can ultimately diminish the joy that will come. “You will grieve but your grief will become joy.” (John 16:20)

I know this is taboo for many. But I think it’s just healthy to view things that way, and even find space to articulate our fears and faith surrounding it. Because this really is an eventual reality for ALL OF US, not just her’s. We’re all terminal. Only God knows when. But when we view life as it really is, it also holds power because then we won’t go living our lives wastefully. Moments of crisis makes us realize the brevity of life and live everyday with intention and purpose.

BUT! We are not wallowing in sorrow just yet. We shed a few tears at times and that is welcome too but today, she is still here and have many improvements. And we celebrate that! We will take any time that we have with her, however long or short. We take it and seize it for life is such a precious and fragile gift!

What we could promise, though, is that we will defend life until the last breath. We will give Mom the best medical care in our power and try out best to make her days happy and peaceful.

Good news (yay!)

But here’s a real cause for some celebration! Mom’s doing so so much better here at home. Upon immediately setting foot here, her vibe changed in an instant. She is happy, grateful, and energetic. Her appetite has improved so much. She’s on soft diet, eats 4 times a day and drinks fruity smoothies twice a say. These are things mostly non-quantifiable by science but now, she is living life to the full and exclaims daily “life is good!”

She also has activities she looks forward to like praying, coloring, playing word puzzles and hosting family and a few friends who would visit. She is also continuing her Physical Therapy and is able to make subtle movements on her own now, like side lying or tilting her head.

We’re still extra careful when receiving guests, though, as her immune system is still very very weak. If you recall, she was hospitalized for almost a month and her final diagnosis was Septic Shock (a life-threatening condition that happens when your blood pressure drops to a dangerously low level after an infection). So any sickness, even the slightest cold can be very detrimental to her. So we’re trying our best not to let our guards down.

As I have said, she feels more alive now. If you could see the glow in her eyes and her skin (honestly she has better skin compared to mine!!). I think she’s never been this alive and happy since the past 6 months. And we claim this is a miracle! And you know what else is a miracle? You! Your kindness and love, along with the Holy Spirit, propels us forward. Thank you so so much! Please continue to pray for us.

Moms be moms even when they’re sick. This is her using a mirror to peek and check on me. She also occasionally gives orders to put things on particular places so that’s how you know she’s getting better! :)

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Prayer Intentions & Praise Report

Prayer Intentions

Please help us pray for these things:

🙏🏽 For complete healing and recovery from UTI and Pneumonia and other infections so Chemotherapy can be resumed. For medicines to work its wonders in Mom’s body.

🙏🏽 For the chemo to help slow down the cancer cells.

🙏🏽 For provision for all the needs.

🙏🏽 For joy and peace to embrace us as we take care of Mom at home. And that she will experience little to no pain or discomfort.

🙏🏽 For God’s will to be done.

Praise Report

🙌🏼 We praise God for Mom’s healing from sepsis/septic shock and for being discharged from the ICU and the hospital private room.

🙌🏼 Thank you Lord for your provision that never fails! For family and friends who have been so supportive, loving and generous. And for our community Titas and Titos who helped us process medical assistance!

🙌🏼 Thank you Lord for bringing us home and allowing Mom to continue her medication here. For caregivers, doctors and med techs who are able to care for her at home. Thank you that she is filled with joy and peace here at home.

🙌🏼 Thank you Lord especially for my uncle, Fr Maynard, Mom’s brother who came home and was with us during the hardest times in the hospital.

🙌🏼 Thank you Lord for all who are sharing with us in our cross! For our community brothers and sisters who provided our daily meals at the hospital. And for the kindness, prayers and help of our family, friends and community brothers and sisters all over the world!

Thank you and may God be praised!

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Update #13: Home at last

Last Thursday, we finally went home after more than 3 weeks in the hospital. Mom has been saying she wants to go home countless of times. But she wasn’t very well. So I was very dismissive of the idea. Until a few days ago, Mom cried a lot begging to be home. We know we can’t dismiss it this time.

But we have to give her the full scenario of her situation, including weighing the pros and cons. I had to clearly explain that at home we won’t be able to quickly respond to emergencies because we don’t have facilities nor medical experts at our disposal. She took a hard pause and thought about it. And finally I asked her to mark her choice and she ticked “Siblings. Love. Food. Etc.” That’s it. We start planning our discharge thereafter.

Her tears speaks so much. You see when she found out she had Cancer, she has questions but I did not see her cry. Casually, we talk about death and she doesn’t cry either. But loneliness, isolation from the people whom she loves, and there goes the tears pouring. This speaks so much about who my mother is, what she stands for. She always chooses life! As if screaming “What will I do with the medical facilities and staff if that deters me from fully living?” Diagnosis, pain, even death does not scare her, it’s the aching pain of loneliness that does.

Mom went home and with her NGT (nasogastric tube) because she doesn’t eat very well yet. She also still has her Central Venous Cathether (it’s like IV line but on her right neck, she had it because her veins had gotten so thin, it’s hard for the nurses/med techs to access). And also she her urinary catheter. We had to manage and transition so many things. Currently we have caregiver who comes 7AM-7PM who helps us out, my uncle nurse who lives at home and our family doctor visits to check on my mom. They help us manage the situation so Mom could get medical attention while at home. We also chart her vital signs to show it to the doctors (Blood Sugar, Blood Pressure, O2 Saturation, Heart Rate, Temperature and Water intake and output).

It’s hard but Mom’s joy makes it worth it. Upon arriving, she looked at me in the eye and said “Salamat ha!” I felt it deep into my core.

While waiting for our trip back home, she was also excited as ever. Check out her dancey dance!

But how is Mom really?

At the moment, we will still need to wait for the repeat laboratories to check on everything. As you know, when the patient’s discharged it’s also more difficult to access these things. But she’s already done with antibiotics for her UTI. Currently, the blockage in one of her arteries, is manageable as the doctors said. However, she’s really bed-bound now and has lost her mobility. She’s very determined to get it back, though, and looks forward to her Physical Therapy sessions.

But just basing on things not quantifiable by science, I could say my Mom is so much better because she’s VERY happy to be home. Her eyes sparkle more often, she smiles so much more and she even laughs every now and then! She’s eats more and she looks forward to her cold smoothies which I make for her daily. She has prescription milk which I infuse with fruits and ice, gives it to her twice a day. So far, she has been raving about her Durian Smoothie which she rated 10/10. She’s had it twice in the span of 3 days and we allow her since her blood sugar and blood pressure is on a healthy level.

We claim this is God’s miracle at work and we thank you for all those who have been praying for us! We know that our friends and family coming from different parts of the world have been praying non-stop. Our local community (The Light of the World) has also been praying together via Zoom three times a day! And you have been so generous in helping our practically and financially as well, it has helped us a lot in paying of our dues to the hospital! Thank you, thank you, thank you so much.

A quick snap of Mom, myself and Nono Nard (Fr Maynard, my Mom’s older brother and best friend)

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Update #12: Home is where the heart is + updates on some complications

Three weeks at the hospital (2 weeks in the ICU), not even counting the other 2 weeks we were here in September.

Mom just wants to be home. The sound of our tall bamboo tree gushing through the wind probably beckons her, she longs to see the scene of the lush green plants she used to fondly take care of, but being around family most of all. “It is very dark here! I want to go home.” By “dark” she barely refers to the lighting. She’s frustrated. Every once in a while she sheds a tear or two but today she cried a river. In my lifetime, I can count by the fingers things that made my Mom cry. But this one knocked her over. Despite the difficulty in speaking with her throat severed by the intubation that’s just been taken out last week, she asks her whys- why we’re stuck in the hospital, why her situation seems to spiral over and over again, why other sick people don’t have it as worse as hers. In between tears, and rants, and pleading she asks the Lord for forgiveness for her whining. Though I bet there’s no blow God cannot take. No complaining that makes Him love her any less.

We try to explain that Cancer does that to people, that we can’t go home just yet until she’s cleared of some complications. We try to assure her we will be with her, that we will never leave her alone. But I guess our words fall flat. It will never be enough. We hold her hand, we take care of her practical needs, pray for and with her. Her brothers bring her flowers. We place it in a nice vase and position it in a spot she can clearly see. I see her eyes sparkle as she smiled. It comes rare nowadays. We hope the actions speak more than our encouragements ever will. May she understand this when our words adequately communicate that we love her and we will take care of her until the last fiber of her being wears out.

The doctors tell us the complications are getting worse. Her recent X-ray reveals Pneumonia, the frequent but unwanted visitor, came back. She also has UTI which the doctors are also addressing. Her immune system is badly suppressed. She takes steroids to contain the Multiple Myeloma but it doesn’t work well for her immune system. And yet they can’t fully stop it because unless they treat the Multiple Myeloma, all these other complications will show up again and again. Her chemotherapy on the other hand will once again be halted unless her infection is treated.

She’s already suffered from Decompensated Heart Failure. But now the doctors found out her tests indicate a blockage in the arteries, a possible Heart Attack. She would need 3 blood thinners but she can’t have it all because she’s at risk for bleeding, another complication of Multiple Myeloma. They’re trying to give her at least 1. All these recent findings further deters her to go home, as her heart so desires.

When her tantrum ceased, I gave her Apple Juice as she asked. It’s one of the few things we can give her upon her request. It’s nice to have a few things we can give her. Later on, I showed her something I saw from Instagram that I’ve been pondering upon. She made me read it at least thrice. We engage in a short conversation and she closed her eyes as if to slowly accept it.

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Prayer Intentions Oct 30

* Her Pneumonia recurred and she developed UTI we pray that it may be addressed quickly.

* For her chemotherapy to resume as soon as her infection is treated.

* For heart problems to be addressed soon (Decompensated Heart Failure and a heightened risk for Heart Attack).

* For the Spirit of joy and peace to reign over her heart despite the depressing scene of a hospital room. May she experience radical acceptance over her present reality (and to our family members too).

* God willing, we pray that she could go home soon and be healed.

* Let God’s will be done.

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Prayer Request October 28

For Mama Minnie's Blood Pressure to normalize

For full healing from Pneumonia

For her immune system to be boosted

For Aiana and Anne (yaya) to be healed from flu, so they can go back and take care of Mama Minnie again.

For other caregivers + family's good health.

For Mama Minnie to be discharged from the hospital

For provision for all needs

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[minniefights]

Update #11: Mom graduated from ICU after 15 days last August 26.

ICU admissions are very scary. It tells you something is badly serious. Let alone intubation! Yet Mom emerged victorious, thanks be to God and thanks for all your prayers! After 15 days in the ICU, she is finally transferred to a private room in the same hospital. She’s still hooked to oxygen, to assist her breathing and is still feeding via NGT because she does not have an appetite for food yet.

The doctors were planning to transfer her a few days ago, however she experienced Gastrointestinal Bleeding that caused low levels in her Hemoglobin. It was at midnight last Tuesday when we were informed and we immediately had to make arrangements to request for blood. We were blessed that one tita and tito from the community left us their Red Cross card before so we were able to use it readily. She was transfused 2 bags of (B+) blood a few hours after and the transfusion went well!

“Lord, go before us.” That’s my prayer every now and then. Whenever there are transitions, big and small, I meditate on the Lord who goes before us, opening doors for us and preparing the way for us. I prayed that God will prepare a good room for us so my Mom can be transferred. We were often warned that we have to wait for rooms to be available because the hospital is always full and there will be a possibility of having to wait in the ICU some more until one is available. But by God’s grace, we immediately got a room, and a good one at that. Mom was transferred and endorsed smoothly.

Despite being in the private room already, the Infectious Disease Doctor strictly warned against receiving guests. He said that my mom’s immune system is very very fragile and so we don’t want to take risks. With that, we won’t be able to receive any guests, and even among family members, only very few could come. We also take necessary precautions such as wearing masks all day long, using an air purifier, frequent use of rubbing alcohol etc.

Yesterday (Aug 27) we found out that I have an infection. I am taking antibiotics already. And today (Aug 28) our helper, Anne, who stays the night with Mom also got infected by colds and cough. Immediately upon finding out, we went home because we cannot risk the slightest infection for Mom. We had to make adjustments such as my Mom's brother had to stay with her the whole day at the hospital and we needed to look for an interim caregiver to take over.

Chemotherapy On another note, Multiple Myeloma chemotherapy medications include an injection and oral chemo. Last Thursday, Oct 26, the Hematologist gave her first dose of injection. She will continue receiving it weekly, every Thursday and will last until 4-6 months. The doctor said that it’s not as strong compared to other Cancer Chemo Meds and wouldn’t likely to cause hair loss.

We continue to wait on the Lord and pray for further improvement in her health so that we could go home. But now, we’re seeing a rainbow and the doctors are giving us hope that things will get better. We really pray it will! Please continue to pray for us.