Big fight for Sey, Stage 4 T-Cell Leukemia

Last September 5, 2018, Sey was admitted at Binangonan Lakeview Hospital due to severe cough.

The initial diagnosis was bronchial asthma/Tonsillopharyngitis, she was discharged after three days (Sept 8) and took antibiotics for 7 days. After taking antibiotics at home for seven days, swollen lymph nodes in the neck became highly noticeable. We went to the pedia for follow-up, a stronger antibiotic was given as the infection was still there, this time for 10 days.

The swelling of lymph nodes persisted and more appeared at the lower back of the head. Her snoring became louder and it was really disturbing because she seems to have difficulty breathing. We went back to the pedia after 10 days of home medication; this time she was being referred to an ENT doctor. Another stronger antibiotic was prescribed, but still, things got worse as days go by.

After several days, we went back to the ENT doctor, this time she went through a CT Scan. When the CT scan result was released, the ENT doctor was abroad so our pedia explained the results instead. This time we are being referred to a Pedia Hema/Onco as there are signs of lymphoma.

We are using a health card so her pedia searched for an accredited doctor. She found one in Taguig but it was very far from Binangonan Rizal, so my wife suggested to search in The Medical City as it was relatively closer. Luckily there's one, but only one and it took several rescheduling because the doctor was too preoccupied with other appointments.

Finally, on October 18 we were able to meet the Pedia Hema/Oncologist. The doctor recommended that Sey should be admitted immediately to undergo a series of medical testing. But her 2nd grading exam was due the following days so we had to delay a few more days before going back to the hospital for admission.

On October 24, she was admitted at the Medical City and they started the series of testing. She was cleared from infectious diseases, meaning, the swelling was not caused by any infection. On a normal case, we should be happy that she was cleared but in this case, we would prefer to hear that it was just an infectious disease instead.

On October 27, she underwent a biopsy procedure wherein a sample tissue was extracted from her neck and at the same time a bone marrow aspiration was also done (If this is a big C, they need to check how far it has spread). After the procedures, we were discharged while waiting for the results.

Unfortunately, when we went back, further testing is needed in the biopsy sample (separate fee) and again results for this new test were delayed due to the November holidays.

On November 6, we received a call from the Onco and told us that Sey needed to be admitted immediately as the results are already out. Then the saddest news, she was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), a type of leukemia that is aggressive and progresses quickly. Crashed as we were, still, there was one detail that can make things even worse, the stage. We were so shocked that we failed to ask this one detail, we found out the following day, stage 4. Barely two months since we saw the obvious signs that she was ill, now we are dealing with a stage 4 big C. If you are a parent, what you can imagine how one would react from hearing such news is not very far from what we went through.

We could not stay in-denial for even a week as the need to treat her immediately gives you no time to absorb what is happening. Her first dose of chemo was administered during this confinement that lasted for nine days. Just 9 days of confinement and our health card was already exhausted. So in the next transactions, we needed to start paying cash.

She was admitted again after several days (November 17 to 25, 2018), this time she received her second set of chemo meds. During chemo, she was vomiting consistently so the supposedly 24 hours medicine (one of the many) was cut to 22 hours as the side effects are showing too early. She was nauseous for several days but showed signs of recovery.

After the agony of seeing your child suffer, now comes the hospital bill (240k). I was able to secure a loan during this confinement, but I did not expect that it will be fully utilized this fast.

Just one day of rest, we are back in the hospital (November 27, 2018) for another chemo session. it was scheduled to be an out-patient chemo treatment but due to severe vomiting after traveling far she needed to be admitted to ensure that she will not be dehydrated after the chemo. This confinement was just less than 24 hours but we were are already using the funds from donation to cover our bill.

The protocol is scheduled for three years of medication. Based on the protocol, there will be different types of chemo, testing, and procedures needed almost every week.

INDUCTION PHASE (4 weeks) - Done

INTENSIFICATION (6-9 months) - Done

MAINTENANCE (2 years) - two months in progress

Even with help and support from our family and close friends, the cost is just too much for our capacity so we are reaching out for your help to support Sey’s medical expenses.

For Direct Donations:

BPI ACCOUNT: Zaldy L. Mendova / 3309056883

BDO ACCOUNT: Ira Ceres C. Mendova / 010080161812

THANK YOU SO MUCH! 😘😘

For:

Zisly Moriko C. Mendova/ 9yo

T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patient

You may visit her Facebook page here:

One Big Fight For Sey