I remember all the details of mama’s treatment like it was yesterday. When she was diagnosed with cancer back in 2019, I filed my resignation the next day. Di ko na pinagisipan. I felt like I was born for the role of taking care of mama.

Nung first chemo session nya, in-patient kasi di namin alam ano side effects sakanya. After sya turukan ng onco, umiyak. Akala namin masakit or what, tapos sabi nya, sino daw magaakala na yung baby na sinukuan nya nung 1992 will be the same person na magaalaga sakanya pag nagkasakit sya 26 years later.

Di pa nya kabuwanan sakin nung dinala sya sa ER kasi may complications because of her diabetes & hypertension. She was 36. Sabi ng doc, masyado pa daw maaga. Kung ilalabas na ako, either I will die or live for 1-2 weeks tapos mamamatay din. She prayed to God and said, “Kung ibibigay mo sya samin pero mahihirapan lang sya, kunin mo nalang sya”. She had two miscarriages prior. The next day, for some reason, naging ok lahat at nadischarge kami. Weeks later nilabas na ako but was incubated for another 10 days kasi hindi pa fully developed lungs.

Sobrang thankful ako sa nanay ko kasi lumaban sya. Stage 3 na yung breast cancer nya nun (akala nya Stage 2, di ko na pinasabi kay doc yung tamang stage kasi baka mawalan ng pagasa) pero nilaban nya yung isang taong pabalik balik sa ospital kahit takot sya sa ospital haha. Sobrang thankful din ako kay Lord kasi binigyan nya kami ng magaling at mababait na doctors and nurses na nagalaga samin (shoutout sa Onco Dept ng Diliman Doctors), at ng pambayad. 😂😂

Malayo na at malayo pa mararating natin, Ma. Labyu!!!