Mother’s wish for her daughter with Leukemia

A Mother's Wish

"I wish she could always have medicine. I give her all my love and sometimes love is not enough. She needs medicine to survive. Every time she does not have it we are worried. We cannot buy it because we cannot afford it. This month she had monitoring and that was 15,000 pesos ($300 USD). My family ate less to be able to save the money." - Cora Tombale, Jasmin's mother

Two yrs ago, Jasmin Ramirez was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. At the time she was only 22 yrs old, young and full of life. Since then, her life has completely changed.

I work with Jasmin’s Mom, Cora. I see Cora daily so I often see how difficult it is to watch her beloved only daughter live with Leukemia. Cora’s struggle has brought me to tears many times, as she tells me through her own tears. A mother’s love for her child is sacred so it is heartbreaking to hear how helpless she feels. And yet Cora has to stay strong for her daughter to lean on. I have a 4 yr old daughter and she reminds Cora of raising her own, so I hear about Jasmin as a child. Cora always talks about how she is the Best Daughter that a mother could ever wish for, and often remarks what a good girl Jasmin is.

(Photo of Jasmin and Cora before her diagnosis)

Jasmin's Story

Here is Jasmin’s diagnosis story in her own words:

“I had gotten sick with severe cold and coughs. The Doctor advised me to rest for 5 days. Since I am working at a call center, it would be hard for me to talk over the phone with the illness. After a week, I got a Urinary Tract Infection. After another week, I got diarrhea and then started coughs and a cold again. My supervisor noticed I am losing weight. I went from 57 kgs to 50 kgs. I had to eventually quit my job to rest.

After a month, I decided to find a new job. The HR department told me to clear my medical exams and the clinic informed me that I am anemic. I went to a different clinic to do some laboratory work and get clearance. But they would not give me one since the WBC count was 55 and they need further lab work. My boyfriend, Jerwin was very worried about me. He became scared and sad if something really bad happens. It made me sad to see the love of my life anxious and I’m the cause of it. We finally told my family, who were shocked to see me so thin. The doctor eventually diagnosed me with chronic myelogenous leukemia. He told me to go to a big hospital like PGH (Philippine General Hospital) since they can provide proper medication and they have a Hematologist. They did more lab work to biopsy my bone and bone marrow.”

During this time Jasmin's boyfriend, Jerwin, refused to leave her side. As Jasmin’s illness spiraled, Cora had a heart-to-heart talk with him and told him perhaps it is better for him to leave her because the future is unknown. Instead Jerwin cried to Cora and said, “I love your daughter and I won’t leave her, please don’t push me away.” Despite Jasmin’s leukemia, and the doctor telling her she cannot become pregnant, else she would have to stop chemotherapy, Jerwin married Jasmin.

(Photo of wedding )

Today Cora said her daughter is still in a lot of pain. She feels pressure in her bones and takes pain relievers. It helps the pain, but it is always still there, non-stop. Her doctor has recommended getting a dog to help with depression.

The Novartis Foundation was supplying her chemotherapy the previous year, however the foundation has been disbanded. Currently Cora's family has applied to Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for help with the costs, however they have received no response. Cora has also written a letter to the Senator, but has also received no response.

What your donation will be used for:

The monthly cost of her oral chemo medication. This is 204,000 Philippine pesos = $4,157 USD per month

Jasmin’s Doctor has prescribed that she continue to take her medicine with hopes for her cancer to go in remission. Her health will worsen if she discontinues. Jasmin only has enough medication until the end of this month, November.

(Photo of the cost monthly of chemo medication)

Jasmin is a Jevoh’s Witness and leans heavily on her Faith.

2 Corinthians 4:16 – 17

Therfore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achievings for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.