By: Marinelle P. Guillan 

Once upon a time there was a kid that goes to school with a healthy body. Her name is Manel. She walks with her mother to school everyday. She was happy because she knew that she has a pair of healthy legs. On weekends, she plays with her friends and with her bike. One day while she was walking with her mom, she felt something painful and said, “Mama my leg is hurting,” and her mother told her that the pain could be because after not riding her bike for quite a while, she rode it again and played with her friends. Even after a week had passed, her legs were still aching. And because of the pain she’s feeling, she was not able to join her other classmates in finishing their group project.

The next day, when the class was about to watch a program and everyone was already inside the room, Manel felt the need to pee. While running with her friend to the comfort room, an accident suddenly happened. Manel tripped and fell down. She was hurt, the teacher saw her and her elder cousin, “ate” Hazel saw her and they were so worried for her. They immediately got a wheelchair and helped Manel to go sit on it and brought her to the clinic. Her parents were called and they were so worried. They brought her to another clinic with an X-ray machine then brought her to the hospital. Another X-ray was done and they were directed to the Orthopedic Department. The doctor said that Manel has a fracture and right leg needs to either put on a cast or a small metal to heal her fractured leg. Her parents chose the cast that costs P25,000 compared to the insertion of metal that is P80,000. It was a hard time for Manel and her parents but they chose to remain strong in facing that trial. That was a hard and memorable experience for Manel.

After a month, the cast was removed but the doctor said that she won’t be able to walk yet because her legs need to be stronger first. After two weeks, they noticed that there seem to be something growing on her leg. The doctor saw something on the result of her X-ray but they can’t figure out what it is and Manel needed to have a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to figure out what it was. Manel’s parents were crying because the doctor told them that he may need to cut Manel’s leg. Manel did not cry. She just stayed strong and prayed to God. 

After the MRI, Manel underwent biopsy to know if she has cancer, and the results showed that she does have cancer and needed to undergo series of chemotherapies. “I am not afraid of my cancer, I will just stay strong and have faith on God,” Manel said.

Currently, Manel and her family remain strong and keep on praying to God. Manel believes that she will receive many miracles from Him that is why she is continuously keeps her faith in Him.