So young yet so sick
Members of KKK in a photo taken early this year
* On Dec. 16, 2007, KKK will have two one-act plays at the UPV Auditorium. Ateneo de Manila University's Entablado will perform "Ang Sistema ni Propesor Tuko" by Al Santos and "Tatlo Tatlo" by Rene Villanueva. The matinee is a 3 pm, the ticket is at P100 while the gala is at 6 pm and ticket is at P300
TO any other girl, 14 is an age of fun-filled days, high school classes and crushes, and perhaps a lesson or two on becoming a woman. And it would have been particularly special if one lived at a picturesque island-province called Guimaras. But it was not so for ALLEN JOY T. GALVEZ.
At 12 years old, Joy was nagged by bouts of dizziness and weakness, and people noted her paleness. This was initially diagnosed to be caused by Rheumatic Heart Disease that, though serious, was something that could be managed with proper care. But the disease was apparently merely an omen, because in March 2006, Joy was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia at the Iloilo Doctors' Hospital. She started chemotherapy immediately and managed to finish three courses. Their bill and other expenses reached almost P300,000 and was settled by her parents, Arturo and Tessie, both fish vendors, by selling all their properties and incurring debts. Even then, the waters turned darker – literally – when in August 2006, a massive oil spill from an ocean tanker that sank ruined the coast and fishing industry of Guimaras. The family had to cross the sea to the Iloilo fishport to buy fish that they would then sell back at Guimaras.
Allen Joy and her parents
Joy should now have been in 1st year high school at Salvacion National High School, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras. She needs about P10,000 per course of chemotherapy and maintenance medications requires more than P150 a day. The family, including her younger brothers Allan (10) and Arnold (7), are casting a wide net of hope to catch your generous hearts for loving daughter and elder sister Joy.
At six years old, EDEN MAR MIRANDA wants revenge. The needles that the nurses painfully stick into her frail arms have created the seething desire in her to do the same. Under ordinary circumstances this would be deplorable. But Eden is not an ordinary girl. At six years old, she is battling Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Her revenge is surviving, and one day become a nurse herself. Eden was diagnosed with Leukemia on May 2006 and had her first chemotherapy session on February 2007. To Eden, the initial chemotherapy sessions were physically difficult, but her family also had to bear much of the pain. Her story is well known and shared by many in the poverty-stricken countryside of Iloilo: born to a family making a living from seasonal agricultural work, with Eden's mother Marilou, unemployed and her father, Rio earning 120 pesos a day during the times when he was hired as a farmhand. Her family had barely enough to go by, each day a blessing in simply having lived through it, no matter if it was in a squatter shanty. Having to shell out ten thousand pesos for a chemotherapy session is devastating enough, let alone four times in as many weeks. It would have been a miracle for them to pull through. And so it was, as Manang Marilou, Eden's 40year-old mother, tearfully recalled. She had stayed behind at the West Visayas State University Medical Center, praying, disconsolate at the lack of any idea where they could get the needed money. But it did come. Living as a squatter in Cansilayan, Dumangas, she was grateful the local "politico" (politician) gave a substantial amount. But through her breaking voice, what seemed to strike her most was that her neighbors, as poor as she was, collected from each other and handed to her, along with the other donations (some asking help from their own landlords and relatives), a total of seventeen thousand pesos. Since then, Eden has only had to take maintenance drugs in her battle against Leukemia. These include intravenous Vincristine (1 session per month), intrathecal Methotrexate (once every 3 months), Mercaptopurine and Cotrimoxazole (daily).
Eden and her mom Marilou
It only costs about P150 a day to keep Eden forging on. A little more would assure that she gets the other, more costly drugs and likewise, make it possible for her brothers, Riomar (15) and Reymar (14) who had to take up work when Eden was diagnosed with the disease, to return to school at Dumangas National High School. Manang Marilou has great faith that people will help them get through. Help Eden get her revenge. Let Eden be able to stick needles into your arms someday.
JOHN PHILIP JAVA, 5 years old, is the son of Eva Pugaha Java and Bautista Java, a housewife and farmer respectively.
John Java and mom Eva Java
John was diagnosed to have Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia on February 2007. His first symptom was bruises appearing all over his body. Initial blood exams was done and his doctor from Pavia referred him to Dr. Lita Paclibar, a hematology-oncology specialist in Iloilo City.
Bone marrow biopsy was done which confirmed the diagnosis of leukemia. The chemotherapy was started February, with subsequent monthly sessions until April. Initial chemotherapy sessions were sponsored by an uncle who is an OFW working in Jeddah.
He failed to follow-up after April and came back August because of fever and pallor. At the hospital, he was diagnosed to have sepsis (infection in the blood) and he was subsequently admitted, given antibiotics and transfused with blood. Intensive chemotherapy was then started (every week with intravenous Vincristine). His present medications also include Prednisone, Cotrimoxazole and Mycostatin.
John likes watching TV and his favorites are Lastikman (Vhong Navarro) and Sarah Geronimo. He likes to draw and color, and he says he wants to have coloring books and crayons.
John is a very talkative and curious boy, gamely posing for pictures even if he was just lying down and could not sit up because he was still feeling weak from the chemotherapy. During the interview with the mother, he would interrupt and give his contribution to the conversation, which made the other patients and watchers laugh.
A happy moment for Fritz and mom Lea
LEA AND WARREN DUREZA lost their 5-year-old child Fritz Romeo Dureza to Rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer in the oral cavity. He died in February 12, 2007.
When he was diagnosed with this rare condition, he had to stop going going to school because he had to be isolated from other people so that he won't catch any infection.
"When he was diagnosed, we rushed him to Manila," Lea said.
He had weekly treatments for three months. After that, he was at the maintenance phase so he had treatment every 21 days.
"We decided to have the treatments here because it's so expensive in Manila," Lea said.
"For those who have financial problems, one concern is from whom will you get help. At that time, it was so hard to find an organization that you can get help from, except for the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). That's why we went to Manila. At least, if you are determined there, you can get support from many organizations," Warren said.
After Fritz died, the Dureza couple underwent a retreat, hoping to renew or refresh their life.
The Durezas shared their story with the hope that more people would support the cause that will benefit children with cancer who are poor.
One organization that helps pediatric cancer patients is the Kaibigan ng Mga Kabataang May Kanser (KKK).
It all started with friends talking over coffee. Dr. Socorro Martinez and Sol Fernandez were talking vaguely on how they both dreamed of a project for cancer patents. Fernandez is a cancer survivor (colonic cancer) while Dr. Martinez has always had a soft spot for cancer patients, having her mother, grandmother and uncle die of different types of cancer. Until one day in March 2007, Fernandez renewed his friendship with Mirella Clarete, owner of House of Dance in Manila, who showed interest in doing a project for the same cause. It was then that Crossover, a dance concert was conceived. With only one month to prepare, the help of friends and volunteers made it successful. The funds generated were more than what everyone expected, given the short time of preparation. The proceeds from the show were used to sponsor the chemotherapy of indigent children diagnosed with leukemia in Iloilo.
The success of Crossover inspired the main movers of the show to organize and make the organization a medium in achieving a common goal.
On Dec. 16, 2007, KKK will have two one-act plays at the UPV Auditorium. Ateneo de Manila University's Entablado will perform "Ang Sistema ni Propesor Tuko" by Al Santos and "Tatlo Tatlo" by Rene Villanueva. The matinee is a 3 pm, the ticket is at P100 while the gala is at 6 pm and ticket is at P300.
At present, KKK is still at its infancy and it relies on the generosity and volunteerism of its increasing membership and their friends for its development and success in its endeavor.
Its members are Dr. Ma. Socorro Martinez, Solomon Fernandez, Dr. Ruben Martinez, Cristina Tan, Mary Ann Gumban, Dialita Jardeleza, Dr. Ma. Lita Paclibar, Dr. Joselito Caso, Dr. Maria Geraldine Lorenzo Gubatina, Rev. Fr. Gregorio Porras, Kathy Villalon, Dr. Dina Belicena, Dr. Eileen Granada and Ma. Elena Torre.
For more information, membership or support for KKK, call or SMS to 09173031400. Visit http://www.iloilokanserkids.com.