ALL OUT FOR MIKE’S BRAIN TUMOR – A JOURNEY TO HEALING.

My name is Maika and my Dad would normally call me his "Maika da BotBot". A lot would agree with me that I am my Daddy's carbon copy. I am my Dad's female version and I can say that the love between us is unbreakable. My Dad is such a loving person because he taught me how to value myself whenever I feel inadequate and unworthy. Daddy is my hero, his presence makes me whole and he is my greatest gift from God.

FIRST CRANIOTOMY:

About 10 years ago, in September 2012, I was 9 years old when my Dad had his first open brain surgery at Cardinal Santos Medical Center. I really could not remember all the details but I knew we were on a vacation that time in Cebu when my Dad had his first ever seizure and was rushed to the hospital at Chong Hua Hospital. I was too young to know all the details but what I can remember is that my Mom would normally hide in the bathroom so no one would see her cry but her eyes showed it all. Daddy survived the operation and I helped with his recovery by reading phrases to him and having him follow me speak the words little by little. He was such a fighter that he was able to recover on his own with my Mom's effort and a little help from me since I am the eldest.

• September 2012 - tumor found in his left frontal lobe that measured 46x41x34mm, a size of a golf ball.
• Grade II Benign Oligoastrocytoma - a mixed glioma that forms from both oligodendrocytes and astrocytes.
• November 2012 - another life threatening infection in the brain, confined.
• No Radiation done due to depleted funds, no recurrence was found for 9 long years
• 2018 - we stopped his anti-seizure medication.

BREAKTHROUGH:

9 years after my Dad decided to return to work full time to somehow help Mom with finances since Mom lost her job due to the pandemic and we are one of the few families who were struck so hard by the pandemic. March 2021 while training for his new job, Daddy suffered a new "breakthrough" seizure after years of being seizure and tumor free. His speech was greatly affected so we rushed him to Cardinal Santos where his doctors returned him to a regimen of anti-seizure medications and MRIs. (Thank you, Block G)

RECURRENCE:

Fast forward to June of 2022, as we received the result of his regular MRI follow up, the impression was there has been an interval mild progression in the extent of the irregular immeasurable signal of abnormalities which surrounds his left frontal resection cavity. We were told that there is evidence of tumor growth. The tumor growth could barely be spotted on its own, but comparing it with his past MRIs, there is clear evidence of it. An EEG was also done to determine his brain activity.

RESOLUTION/TREATMENT:

A week later, we had a follow-up consultation with his neurosurgeons. After consulting with their team, they gave us two options, whether to do a stereotactic biopsy or another open surgery procedure. Both have the motive of taking a sample of the tumor in order to identify the type of tumor that is growing. Since it is a new tumor that is growing, it is possible that it is a different type of tumor with a higher grade this time and radiation or chemotherapy or a combination of both is mandatory.

The doctors were honest to let us know that a second open brain surgery will be too risky for Daddy. Risks such as stroke, bleeding, permanent paralysis, leaving him aphasic or even worse death. And I must also mention that since his seizure last year, I have noticed how Daddy’s speech is already heavily affected by the tumor growth. Including his power to use or comprehend words.

After deliberating, praying and several discussions of points to consider, we have decided to go with the stereotactic biopsy procedure. We are looking into the advantage of costs because open surgery is more expensive. Also, this procedure would bring much fewer risks compared to the open brain surgery procedure since risks are considerably higher. The estimated amount needed for the first step process is about P450,000 - P500,000. Moreover, we will continually let you know of the updates as we undergo this process for Daddy since the treatment that would follow the biopsy, an estimated price point will still be determined as soon as the result is available.

HELP TO EXTEND MIKE'S HEALING JOURNEY:

Growing up, I have been hearing things like my Dad's sickness is lifetime, we don't know what will happen in the next few years or even in the next decade. I honestly don't know how to feel about our situation at the moment. All I know is that I want to see my Dad grow old with my Mom. I want to extend my Daddy's life to be able to witness and to guide me through my life journey. While my Mom has been the only one working for several years now to provide for the family. I saw her struggles and her devotion to work for our sake just to make both ends meet and I cannot blame her for feeling exhausted almost all her life, I guess that is what love really is. In transparency, I know that my Mom and I will not be able to afford this on our own. Right now, we aren't even halfway to our recovery after pandemic and life has been so hard for us and with this I am humbly asking within the goodness of your hearts to ask for help for my Daddy's biopsy procedure, radiation/chemotherapy and other medical needs as we take this journey again for the second time. We were told that this procedure must happen as soon as possible in order to prevent the growth of the tumor because we don't know if it is a fast growing one, nevertheless, not to lead us to only one option - open surgery.

Daddy would always tell me that his only wish for me is to be able to graduate college so that when the time comes that he can no longer be with us, I would be able to take care of Mom and my younger brother. This is the reason why I really strived so hard to maintain being a good student and daughter to my parents because everything I do is for them. As I enter college this school year 2022-2023, I plan to work while studying to be able to pay for my needs and other needs of my family because our journey will never be easy and I am pleading for help to those who know us.

I know that one way or another, whether you have only interacted with my Daddy once or since your childhood or college days and if he has made an impact in your life. Or if you don’t know my Daddy Mike, take it from me, he is someone you would not want to lose in any lifetime. Please consider helping my Dad and my family. We wholeheartedly thank you for your kindness to someone like him.

PRAYER WARRIORS:

God sends angels to pray with us. Please be one of us and let us win the war. We will win the war when we pray in power because prayer is the battle.