My Warrior Son: Gabriel Isser John C. Espinal

ISSER's ONE BIG FIGHT: Our HEALING JOURNEY!

Last year, our family made a crucial decision to share one of the biggest things we have been keeping (not at least to our closest circle) for months & this time, we felt like we owe it to everyone who loved and valued us to share this difficult time..it actually took us months to share this maybe because this young man has been our strength/anchor all along...he was our 1st born...our bright, super strict, responsible, dependable, sensible and warm eldest son/brother..seeing him go through something where we couldn't be of huge help, breaks our heart & sanity

FEB 2019 --> Prior to graduating Senior High School, our dear Isser was diagnosed with a seizure disorder. Initial tests manifest that it might be a sequel of his acute meningitis which he has when he was still an infant. He has to undergo a battery of laboratory tests in the coming weeks as involuntary muscle movements started to appear even when he is awake.

AUGUST 2019 --> Involuntary muscle movements lead to numbness, frequent memory loss, speech impairment, and loss of eye & body coordination. He has been advised for hospital admission as brain condition is being ruled out as the cause of these new developments. Lumbar tap test (where they collected fluid specimen later on sent to Spain) further confirmed that he has been hit with Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis, a diagnosis we have yet to accept. Time is of the essence to anyone afflicted by this illness as the deficit can progress in swift intervals. Isser went through the first line of treatment which is a 5-day cycle of intravenous medications (IVIG). The treatment costs $300-500 (Php 15,000-25,000) per vial. Note that he needs 10-20 vials per day dependent on available dosage.

OCTOBER 2019 --> As we await clearance for his second line of treatment he got confined again due to pneumonia and a head trauma he acquired during one of his seizure attacks. His second treatment is Rituximab infusion, a chemotherapy medication that aims to help his cognitive function resume to normal state, where he can be mobile, responsive, conversant and independent again. The miracle treatment cost us a hefty $2600 (Php 130,000) per vial. He needs to complete twice of this dosage per treatment cycle in two weeks interval thereafter for the next 2 months.

FEBRUARY 2020 - three months after the last treatment and as we await his readiness for the third line of medical procedure (Plasmapheresis), we need to rush him back to the hospital due to difficulty in breathing and high fever. He was later on admitted due to high-risk pneumonia and has been intubated and been aided by a Mechanical Ventilator Machine. As he tries to battle his way out of this complication, his hemoglobin count dropped and edema started to show up on both feet.

MARCH 2020 - On his third week om the hospital, he went through Chest Tube insertion to help drain air, blood, or fluid from the space surrounding his lungs called the pleural space. We are waiting for new lab results to see if the tubes can be taken of already.

APRIL 2020 - Isser's intubation was finally removed and he seems to tolerate breathing on his own. Still seeking for your prayers so all his fever & discomfort due to recently discovered bacterial infection may be promptly & completely healed the soonest. He was asked to take intravenous antibiotics for the next two weeks, to be taken thrice a day amounting to $145.00 (P6,900/daily). He also went through tracheostomy, a procedure that aims to further clean and remove secretions from his airway; to more easily, and usually more safely, deliver oxygen to the lungs.

We were finally advised to go home come April 26 and we'll never get through the last 60 days w/o your love, prayers & support: https://www.facebook.com/ice.espinal/videos/10217208076895063/

MAY 2020 - Almost a month at home, his pressure ulcers started to heal and he started to gain weight. He's been very responsive to music and our voices. A very positive update that keeps us going every single day, though his last laboratory test shows a decrease in his hemoglobin count.

JUNE 2020 - he has been excreting toxins from his body regularly. He was so happy to have another taste of his favorite chocolate syrup after a year during Mama's birthday.

JULY 2020 - his last laboratory tests shows improvement on his hemoglobin count and all else are within the normal range too. Phlegm and coughs is still evident but great to note he haven't had any recorded fever for weeks

Almost a year in this journey and now in Catatonic state, we took care of an enormous hospital bills that covers his confinement, laboratory tests, maintenance medications, dietary requirements, two treatment lines and a dedicated health aid (private nurses). Please note that we are still looking forward to three more treatments for him and preparation for physical and occupational therapy requirements.

The entire process will surely not only break you emotionally and mentally but will break any household's savings. To date, it also maxed out HMO Card, PWD and Philhealth benefits. Needless to say, we are now almost left empty-handed. We are immensely grateful to friends/family who have extended their support in the past months, both in-kind and cash. We may have not completed without your generosity

This is a crucial battle for our warrior son and for the rest of the family so he can get back to his normal and even better self (mentally, emotionally & physically). His recovery is a long trail but we're positive that with all your love it would be a smooth sail. Know that we could never repay you our dear friends for all the prayers, support and help (cash and in-kind) that you have given us.

Though, we have to admit, this battle is far from over so our dear FAMILY/FRIENDs please continue including our First Born to your prayers and conversations with our ALMIGHTY GOD as he still would need all His mercy, grace and provisions to sustain all the medical requirements for his condition until he's fully recovered.

Thank you for taking a chunk in this journey of ours as you share with our fears, tears, hope and small wins every single day. God bless us all and we look forward to the day that our dear Kuya Isser can all greet and say his thanks to the world..& to all of you who stood by us and never left us!

#IssersOneBigFight #MySonWarrior #OurHealingJourney #GratefulandHopeful #WeLiftEverythingIntoThyHands #ClaimingMiraculousandCompleteHealing #GodisMakingaWay #GodisGoodAlltheTime