Saving Mark from a Bomb

On February 2018, I was able to meet people with the same sickness as what I have. Some of them may look like healthy and well. But in fact, they are like carrying bombs inside their bodies! That is how it feels like to have AVM. Please read this story and together let us help Kuya Mark and her wife to raise funds for his treatment. Here's the story narrated by her wife and written by me. Let us help her Save his Husband!

"Mark and I have been together for 12years. We have two beautiful children, Marko and Shaynne. We're not a well-off family. Mark works as a call center agent and me, a housewife. Life is simple. We are happy. In 2015, my husband started to experience uncontrollable shakings or tremors in his hands. We just thought that it is caused by fatigue because he works as a call center agent (night shift) for almost ten (10) years. But these shakings are getting worse as the days pass by. He's also experiencing a sudden slowing of movements and slurring of speech. So we decided to have him checked by a neurologist. He was diagnosed with "Parkinsonism" and required him to undergo several scans to be sure what causes his shaking.

He was seen with a Brain Aneurysm caused by Arteriovenous Malformation. He was given precautions and prescribed him medications. Life goes on for us. Mark continued working to provide for our family. He seemed to be fine even with AVM on his head.

A brain Aneurysm is what killed actress Isabel Granada while Arteriovenous Malformation also known as AVM is a congenital disorder (one present at birth) of blood vessels in the brain, brainstem, or spinal cord that is characterized by tangled abnormal arteries and veins. Having both in his head is like living with bombs inside that could explode anytime. I don't know how should I feel during those time. I don't know how can I help my husband and I don't know where to ask for help. It crushes my heart whenever the idea of losing him, the sweet father of my children, crosses my thoughts. We lived our tomorrows that he'll be fine with all the medications he was prescribed.

Almost two (2) years have passed and nothing serious happened to Mark. But on March 2017, at 4:00 in the morning, he woke up with a severe headache, vomiting, then later on with inability to move. I rushed him to the hospital carrying him on my back. They told us that he's having a high blood pressure, he will be fine and ordered us to go home. But his headache and vomiting continued as the days went by.

So, on March 28, 2017, I decided to bring him back to the hospital. We brought him at East Ave. Medical Center. What I fear happening happened. His AVM ruptured (pumutok ang ugat) and caused his stroke. Regardless of what happened, I am thankful that he's able to talk and eat during that time. The Neurosurgeon told us that it would be better if they will not open his skull to remove the AVM for he might be paralyzed or die. Mark stayed in the hospital for 16 days. Almost 3 weeks of struggling and no sleep for me. Then, he attended a month of physical and occupational therapy to help him walk again. I've seen and felt his perseverance and fighting spirit to recover the soonest. He kept on telling me, "Naawa na 'ko sa'yo, ang laki ko eh." And Thanks beo God! Mark was able to walk again.

There are available treatments to remove the AVM without opening the skull. One is the Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) which is only available at Private hospitals in the Philippines. This costs 300-400,000 Php. And we lack this big amount to have my husband get treated. This is the reason I am knocking at the doors of everyone's heart who will read this campaign and donate whatever amount will greatly help us."

It's been a year, Kuya Mark is still suffering from shaking disorder, slurring of speech, and his AVM is left untreated. Sadly, as long as the AVM is on his head, Kuya Mark got 4% risk yearly of having another rupture. And over the years, this percentage may pile up and increase the possibility of another rupture. Please help and support our fundraising. Please help him get treated. Please do SHARE this post also. It will be a great help to us. God bless your hearts!