AJ's doctors were finally able to pinpoint the cause of her persistent
stomachaches as well as her burgeoning belly. Apparently, a great amount of undigested food
got lodged in her small intestines, another chemotherapy side-effect.
Her doctors were able to resolve this by inserting a rubber tube in her nose which passed down to her throat all the way to small intestines to help drain the liquid. So far, more than a liter of liquid's already been suctioned.
Currently, she has two IV tubes stuck on her arms, the other one is to keep her hydrated and the other one is medicine.
This is a big relief for everyone because the past days we've all been worried about that and each time we'd check on the net what stomach aches in leukemia patients could possibly mean, we get not so nice results which really scares the us. AJ is also feeling a lot better now, her stomach is returning to its normal size and there are no more aches. She can also now urinate without difficulty.
So many good news to share, isn't it? This last week's been very very productive and her doctors are really on top of things. Let's also include her doctors (names I have yet to ask my brother) in our prayers, may they continue to exercise compassion with their profession because at the end of the day, compassion still more than makes up for everything, it is what drives an individual to go the extra mile in performing his/her duty.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Forty bags of blood donated for AJ as of today
Members of the Philippine Army smiles for the camera yesterday while waiting for their comrades as they prepare for a trip to Fe del Mundo Hospital where they donated blood for AJAs of today, we have already collected about 40 bags of blood from various blood donors.
Yesterday, 11 members of the Philippine Army from HQ 303 Pampanga,Community Defense Center
Also, AJ’s Maxicare card was replenished two days ago so we have a fresh PhP100,000.00 credit for meds and other related expenses to date.
Wow! God is so gracious!
Yesterday, 11 members of the Philippine Army from HQ 303 Pampanga,
Also, AJ’s Maxicare card was replenished two days ago so we have a fresh PhP100,000.00 credit for meds and other related expenses to date.
Wow! God is so gracious!
Our little fighter is conquering the battle!
AJ fights the big C back!
As of 10AM on April 6, 2009 her WBC is at 5.3. Target value is between 4.5 to 10. The rest of the blood components are following!Cheers! As her dad said, the tunnel is getting shorter and the light is getting brighter!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
AJ's post chemo photos
AJ's hair had started falling off last week due to the six-days-twenty-four-hours-a-day chemo session she had about four weeks prior. She's a bit depressed about it but we try our best to cheer her up by telling her that she's very pretty with or without hair.I don't like seeing her looking this way, but I always tell myself that the chemo worked and her hair falling off is a sure sign that it did and if my niece would have to stay bald for the rest of her life but remain cancer free, then I am all for it. Besides, my niece is the prettiest and nothing can ever change that, period.
We were already able to collect five bags of blood to date, fifty five or so more to go. The Lord has been truly kind, merciful and gracious to us these last weeks, our hospital bills plummeted down to about P140,000.000 from its original amount of about P200,00.00 because of the blood donations and because we are still under RX Watch. The future is also looking brighter because there is a good chance that we will be approved by the Cancer Warriors Foundation by next month and its Founder, James Auste, has been helping us a lot by giving us so much valuable information on other foundations and new medicines. We found out through him that there is a new medication that effects even the cells that are resistant to Glivec.
Apart from AJ's continuing fever and flatulence, she's doing okay. We doubt she will be discharged from the hospital anytime soon but that's fine. Right now there is no place we would rather for her to be in than in the hospital where everything she needs, medical-wise, is just within immediate reach.
Please continue praying for AJ. We still need help, financial and/or otherwise, and we are also still looking for blood donors within the Manila area. You can get in touch with me via email at hazelrchua@gmail.com or call/text 0908-685-4240. Again, our sincerest and most heartfelt gratitude to all of those who have been in this journey with us these last weeks. Knowing that you are all praying for our dear AJ motivates us and helps make the pain we are going through more bearable. Those who have extended helping hands - financially, morally and in kind (blood donors), no words would suffice to express our gratitude. Again and again and again, we have no words except thank you Lord for bringing these people to our doorsteps and thank you everyone for your kind and compassionate hearts.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Thoughts and Updates
My sister, who is in Canada, emailed her fraternity brothers and sisters here in the Philippines and in minutes, news of our niece needing blood donors spread like wildfire, reaching the different offices and departments of Clark Development Corporation where she worked for 9 years.
Many people from CDC signified willingness and intention to donate blood but we are now facing a dilemma - transportation and approval from the HR department for the bloodletting to be considered an "official business". A lot of people, most of whom have known my sister for years, are currently up on their toes exploring options and possibilities to make all of this happen.
Also, an army camp based in Angeles City requested us to submit a formal letter to their Commanding Officer to seek help in looking for more blood donors. One of the army reservists, my brother's high school batch mate, believes that his battalion will extend assistance since they really donate blood for cases such as ours. Again, in case approved, our only hurdle will be the means of transport for the donors.
I have spoken with the local bloodbank (PNRC) and although they have approved our request to use their venue, manpower and facilities, which means they will do everything from screening to extraction, then they will just issue cards to each donor which we can use to redeem blood from the PNRC-Manila bloodbank, we still have one major problem: We still have to pay P500-P800/bag upon redemption at PNRC-Manila which defeats the whole purpose. So scrapping that idea altogether, we have no choice at the moment but to go on with transporting donors to Fe del Mundo.
There is also an ongoing text brigade right now calling for more donors to proceed to Fe del Mundo or to get in touch with me. So far, not even one has contacted me yet, but it is still pretty early so we'll see in the next few days.
To be my usual honest and transparent self, folks, this has been very stressful not just for me but also for my family. We all worry for AJ, his dad and my dad who's been on crying spiels every now and then. There are days when I know people around me are starting to somehow lose hope, some of them would sometimes just feel that the pressure is too much to handle and yes, I am no exception to that.
But you know what? God has been really gracious and merciful these past weeks that I cannot help seeing how truly blessed we still are in the midst of this crisis. I cannot help but compare our pains to God's own pain when Christ hung on that cross on Calvary. If we, mere humans who are wretched sinners, could feel all of these frustrations, pains, hurts and sufferings for a loved-one, how much more God the Father whose Son lived a righteous and sinless life on earth? Truly, His pains in seeing His Holy Son suffer condemnation and death is incomparable to the pains we are feeling right now. And that thought is where I draw my strength and inner peace from... Oh how blessed we truly are for having a Redeemer. It makes all of this amount to nothing for He is the only Light at the end of this dark tunnel and He is so reachable and so possible!
Many people from CDC signified willingness and intention to donate blood but we are now facing a dilemma - transportation and approval from the HR department for the bloodletting to be considered an "official business". A lot of people, most of whom have known my sister for years, are currently up on their toes exploring options and possibilities to make all of this happen.
Also, an army camp based in Angeles City requested us to submit a formal letter to their Commanding Officer to seek help in looking for more blood donors. One of the army reservists, my brother's high school batch mate, believes that his battalion will extend assistance since they really donate blood for cases such as ours. Again, in case approved, our only hurdle will be the means of transport for the donors.
I have spoken with the local bloodbank (PNRC) and although they have approved our request to use their venue, manpower and facilities, which means they will do everything from screening to extraction, then they will just issue cards to each donor which we can use to redeem blood from the PNRC-Manila bloodbank, we still have one major problem: We still have to pay P500-P800/bag upon redemption at PNRC-Manila which defeats the whole purpose. So scrapping that idea altogether, we have no choice at the moment but to go on with transporting donors to Fe del Mundo.
There is also an ongoing text brigade right now calling for more donors to proceed to Fe del Mundo or to get in touch with me. So far, not even one has contacted me yet, but it is still pretty early so we'll see in the next few days.
To be my usual honest and transparent self, folks, this has been very stressful not just for me but also for my family. We all worry for AJ, his dad and my dad who's been on crying spiels every now and then. There are days when I know people around me are starting to somehow lose hope, some of them would sometimes just feel that the pressure is too much to handle and yes, I am no exception to that.
But you know what? God has been really gracious and merciful these past weeks that I cannot help seeing how truly blessed we still are in the midst of this crisis. I cannot help but compare our pains to God's own pain when Christ hung on that cross on Calvary. If we, mere humans who are wretched sinners, could feel all of these frustrations, pains, hurts and sufferings for a loved-one, how much more God the Father whose Son lived a righteous and sinless life on earth? Truly, His pains in seeing His Holy Son suffer condemnation and death is incomparable to the pains we are feeling right now. And that thought is where I draw my strength and inner peace from... Oh how blessed we truly are for having a Redeemer. It makes all of this amount to nothing for He is the only Light at the end of this dark tunnel and He is so reachable and so possible!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Glimpse of light in this dark tunnel
I received this SMS from my brother yesterday:
To everyone who offered prayers, financial and moral support and/or who sent AJ healing thoughts and good vibes, SALAMAT (THANK YOU)! It's not yet over, we still have five chemo sessions to go, but this latest development is enough to make us want to just keep on going.
*White Blood Cells
our first faint glimpse of the light in this long, dark tunnel... AJ's latest CBC result as of today, April 1, 2009: From .9, her WBC* is now at 3.4 whereas the target value is 4.5. Good job, Aejae!!!
To everyone who offered prayers, financial and moral support and/or who sent AJ healing thoughts and good vibes, SALAMAT (THANK YOU)! It's not yet over, we still have five chemo sessions to go, but this latest development is enough to make us want to just keep on going.
*White Blood Cells
Flowers for AJ
These two long stemmed roses are for AJ. They were given to my dad this morning during the Baccalaureate Mass held in her school, she was supposed to graduate from secondary education tomorrow.
Sadly, AJ won't be there to receive her awards for being an excellent student, nor even her diploma for a job well done. She is still in the hospital and it looks like she will have to stay there for another week or two. We miss her a lot, and we wish for her to be back home soon.
Brethren, friends, I beg for your continued prayers for my niece. We are still in need of blood donors and/or financial assistance and for anyone interested, kindly contact me at hazelrchua@gmail.com or text/call 0908-685-4240. To date, we have already received, through this blog, cash donations amounting to PhP5,000.00/ US$107.00 and so far two bloggers have already blogged about our situation, you can visit them also at www.stoicpassion.com and www.websaytko.com. For financial donations, please click on the PayPal Donate button on the sidebar of this blog just below AJ's photo.
Again, a million thanks to all of those who have responded so far to this call for help. Some of you we have not even met, not known prior to this crisis and yet, you took time and effort to blog and offer financial help... We are so grateful for your hearts of gold. May your tribes increase! Mabuhay!
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