Keep Fighting our Dearest Papsy

Hi All,

I created this campaign for my Father. I am knocking to your humble hearts to help us sustain his medical expenses. He was diagnosed Stage 3 Colorectal Cancer last November 2019. Earlier that year he felt pain on his stomach and his bowel is not normal. He always suffered from diarrhea. We thought it first as a normal stomach concerns that will go away soon. But until he got blood on his stool. I was able to convince him to undergo a colonoscopy so it can be checked further. And as the Doctor gave us his words, our world shattered, 80% the tumor found was cancerous. I hold on to the 20% that it was not a cancer. I kept that faith until the Doctor ordered to have his CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) test. This is a cancer marker that will determine the level of cancer cells in the body. It turned out to be at 63 ng/ml. Which was higher than the normal, it should be lower the 3 ng/ml. Before the biopsy released I already knew that my Father has Cancer. I have search the type of the cancer usually found in the colon, ADENOCARCINOMA. The word that I couldn't forget. This cell, that was about to take my Father's Life.

I felt chilled from my toes up to head while the Doctor telling to my Father what was going on. I couldn't cry even if I saw my mother and my sister crying. I cannot low my guards because I know I am the only person that needed last to be weak. I hold my tears, when my Father ask the Doctor, if he can live. The Doctor said, that is why we will be treating your illness for you to have a longer life. He even ask how much will it cost, after the Doctor answered his question, he look at me. "Do we have the kind of money?" I smiled at him and I said we will have that and you shouldn't be worried. I looked immediately for other Hospital that could operate my Father where the money I have will be enough. The Doctor said the tumor was getting bigger that would lead for him not to release his stool and became infected. Upon looking for hospital, I kept praying to lead us for the best. Make it smooth, the clock of my was ticking like bomb. And then that's it we are able to found a Colorectal Surgeon in Philippine General Hospital. He even told us that there are many Financial Assistance that we could apply.

The surgery was then scheduled right away. All the pre operational procedures are all good and my Father doesn't need colostomy bag for his stool after the surgery. We rejoiced because he will be able to have a normal life again after the surgery. He will be healed properly. At 5:00am the nurses went to the room to prep him. We sent our prayers, the rest of the morning we couldn't relax nor eat until a Doctor came in around 11am, she said that the surgery was successful and my Father is in the recovery room. However, it was almost 4pm we haven't heard anything again. I called the recovery department and asked how's my Father doing. She said my Father regain his consciousness but the anesthesiologist doesn't clear him yet for transfer. Around 5pm, he finally brought back to the room. He was awake but dazed because of the anesthesia maybe. But few days after the surgery I received a call from my sister that our Father was ordered to have emergency CT scan. His stomach became bloated and got fever. The color from his drainage from the surgery became black blood. The Doctor found out that there was a leak on his stomach from the stiches inside. This is due to the stored stool of my Father for a long time that he wasn't able to release due to the tumor. The worst thing to happen was to open my Father again to drain it if not, he will die because of sepsis. He was again in critical situation. I went out the room I sobbed alone, I couldn't let my Family see me on that situation. We prayed all together during those days that he was under observation. My Father was about to gave up, because he was tired. I told to them that we should pray together, that moment we all cried. But that moment as well, no one will give up. And grateful to our dear God, he successfully fight for the infection. No need for another surgery to drain the leak. The blood from the drainage became clear, lightly red blood. We again rejoice!

A month after his surgery we met his Oncologist for further medications. Because the cancer already invaded few lymph nodes. The Oncologist said that he needed to undergo 12 sessions of chemotherapy to kill the cancer cells. Since stage 3 Colorectal Cancer recur often. We started his chemo December 2019 it was smooth at first until the plate count of my Father goes done on the 8th session reason for him to have delays on the treatment. We look for blood donation from 7 to 8 persons. The stress and worries was unexplainable during those time. But luckily we surpassed, praise the Lord! BUT pandemic came, we are not able to bring him at the Hospital as the Philippine General Hospital became the center for COVID Patients in Manila. The admission of all types of patients was put on hold. We are able to resume for his treatment on June 2020. However, he was outpatient, we will be going to the clinic instead for few IV drips and go home for the oral medications. We successfully finish the chemotherapy last July 2020. And all necessary laboratory test requested by the Doctor was done and the results came back nicely. Then early this year January 2021 the Ct scan was repeated and still okay together with the colonoscopy procedure, done last February 2021 and it was all cleared also. We have moved on and my Father continued his life with a different smile from the time that he was on treatment. UNTIL........

May 2021, he feel back pain that became severe until 2nd week of July to the point that he can no longer walk, stand and even feel his poops coming out. We brought him again to the Hospital with the help of Ambulance as he can no longer travel riding on a regular vehicle. He need to undergo MRI for lumbosacral. The Doctor read the result and it not good. There was a possible abscess (pus) seen on his spine causing compression to the spinal cord wherein different nerves were compromised. He needed to undergo immediate surgery. Yes, again surgery..... We communicated his Oncologist and updated her with the case. She instructed us to bring my Father again to the Hospital (Philippine General Hospital) for further evaluation as he has the history of Cancer. We waited for 4 days for the final decision of the Doctors regarding the situation of my father. Sad news the Spine specialist discourage the surgery because the tumor location on my Father's spine was too dangerous to operate. And the success rate of the operation will be 12% ONLY. And its confirmed the tumor on the spine of my Father was bone metastases. On the other tests done the Cancer also spread to the Lungs. Ideally the cancer traveled to the Lungs and spread to the bones. I was in dazed upon hearing the news and cried. We are there already. We are happy, we are back on track, planning things for the Family. Travel soon after this pandemic. My Father was an inspiration from others. All the people who found out his story, they are all amazed. he is really a fighter. BUT hearing all these news he just wanted to die. Especially that he cannot regain his walking ability. I needed to isolate myself, I need sometime to think and absorb everything. This time it is much harder for him.. After sometime, I get back and listen to the Doctors for the recommended treatment. He needs to undergo 10 consecutive days of radiotherapy to shrink the tumor and at least regain whatever spinal nerves can. He also needs to see for Physical therapy so the muscles from his thighs and legs also will not shrink and he needs to learn how to poops and pee how paralyze people do it. We are so done of crying, as our Father saw us that we wanted to fight for him. He also go for it.

I am begging for everyone to please help us on this fight. Finances will be so hard and difficult for now. Radiotherapy will be followed by chemotherapy as the Cancer spread also in to his Lungs. Please help us to save my Father. He wasn't able to see his grandchildren yet. Never ride an airplane. Never had his own car to drive. I want to fulfill this dream for him. Which was my originally planned before he got sick. All the savings that I got. I gave it up all for his treatments and medications since 2019. I am afraid I cannot sustain this current medications. I put everything to our dearest Lord to tap those people that I didn't know with good hearts to help me with my Father.

Thank you so much for giving time to read our story.