Leukemia at 29

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The gift I received this year is life-changing. I felt intense chest and back pain on the eve of my Birthday. Accompanied by my parents, we went to see a doctor get myself treated. I felt a little better, celebrated my birthday. And yet, I still felt very weak and lightheaded. I knew something was wrong, even when others didn’t think it so. Four days after my birthday, Sept 2, my parents accompanied me again to see a doctor because of new symptoms, I had lymph nodes on the back of my neck, and my headache has become very severe. The doctor now ordered tests to be done and the next day my sisters realized that I look yellowish. And so, I was first admitted to a local hospital on Sept. 3. My body was fragile, jaundice, and in pain.

Leukemia at 29
Leukemia at 29
 
 
September 6, 2021, is the day I will never forget. I woke up before the nurses even came, transferred to a chair, and worshipped God. I tearfully sang,
What is our hope in life and death?
Christ alone, Christ alone
What is our only confidence?
That our souls to him belong
Who holds our days within his hand?
What comes, apart from his command?
And what will keep us to the end?
The love of Christ, in which we stand.
In some peaceful way that morning, after googling so many things the past days, a thought came to my mind on what sickness this can be — LEUKEMIA. How scary it can be, but I was at peace with it. I kept singing and continually trusted that my God is sovereign above all. As we wait for the doctor’s rounds and news, I was in good condition. And when the doctor came to explain what she found out, lo and behold, the word leukemia was first heard. My parents and family were shocked and yet I was calm with tears in my eyes.
 
Because we were in Legazpi City, I had to be quickly be brought to a better medical facility and team of doctors for a more definite diagnosis. I praise God and thank the many prayer warriors who prayed for me and my family to be admitted now at St. Lukes Medical Center – Global City. I thank the Lord for the very fast and smooth admission despite pandemic situation; very cool and professional doctors and nurses who performed many tests and procedures to me while making me laugh; the donors who are downstairs giving their rbc and platelets for me. May God bless you a hundredfold in return!
 
Just within 36 hrs at St. Lukes, my doctor, Francis Lopez, and his team was quick to diagnose me with: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), and Hemaphagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). It will be hard for me to explain it all in detail. And the next steps we will take will also be careful because of the nature of the diseases.
ALL Result
CBC
People ask me, what caused this? I even asked the doctor, and he said, there’s no known cause. And that even if I don’t know and would never understand why there are such diseases.
 

This disease is scary and real. I’m not underestimating it, I will face it head on. But I have faith that darkness like of a disease can never separate me from the light.

Psalm 139 even talks that,
“Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.”

This darkness of a disease is not dark to my Heavenly Father, and so where should I just trust and go? To Him! To the light of this world!

This is not His punishment to His children, it is His call to be closer to Him.

Friends and family, let me say that your outpouring care and your prayers to God for me are what keeps me strong these days. But let me tell you that my prayer these days is that you all in some way find faith in God in your personal lives, and that you will find joy in whatever circumstance in Him. Life is unpredictable. Live it for Jesus as I will do my best to live every bit for Him!