27/01/2026
๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ช๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ง๐ข ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ฅ (๐๐ผ๐ฑ'๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป)
I was 32 when I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer last 2022. I am a young physician who is just about to start stabilizing her career and practice along with my husband.
We were married since 2016 but both of us were in residency training so we had to prioritize it first because we could not afford a family yet. Being both residents on training, our income is just right to pay for our apartment rent, bills, car loan, gas and allowance.
2019 came and I was hit with a news that my mom got shot in our backyard. It was the most tragic and devastating moment in my life because I grew up with only my Mom by my side. I wasn't able to finish my residency training for security purposes so we went to Palawan (from cagayan valley) to start anew. I took my 9 year old half sister with me and since then she became under my custody. Mike and I became instant parents (something we are never prepared for). I remember being drained of resources coz my husband and I were both jobless for first few months.
My husband finished his IM residency (at least) so he took community service here in Palawan as part of his requirement before diplomate exam. I, on the other hand, landed a job at the City Health office.
2020, there was lockdown due to the pandemic. I was assigned as a safety officer since the emerging disease program was given to me prior to pandemic. It was tiring and challenging because my husband was also assigned in C0VlD ICU while I am assigned in the ground to manage the community.
End of 2021, I finally got promoted, then 2022, just when community lockdown are starting to get lifted more and our income were starting to get more stable, Cancer diagnosis came as a surprised.
Mike and I only had about 200k in our bank account. And the cost of cancer, from diagnostics, to surgery, to chemo, would climb up to a million. I was about to give up then because I am tired of draining up our bank account. I felt so bad about my husband because of many unfortunate events I have already caused him. When our mon died, he took the responsibility to provide and care for me and my younger sister. And now, here's to another battle. "For richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health" is such an understatement.
During the course of my treatment, we relied on donations. We exhausted HMOs, philhealth and even pcso. My husband would dedicate offs to line up to pcso every chemo session.
I finished all the treatment last october 2022. Gave up my job last 2023 so I could recover faster and to be able to give my item away to a more fitting physician. I became a part time physician and a full time homemaker.
2025 came, my husband and I would usually talk about starting a real family but are still scared I might not be able to conceive or that my body might still be frail to take care of a living creature inside. However, with just one try, one unprotected contact, without fertility check up and intervention, p**f! We were able to received a gift we were probably denying ourselves of how much we ever wanted. A beautiful pregnancy...
I was reminded of Job's story. My God is a God of restoration. My battle was His. He never promised me smooth life but He was surely by my side all the way. I might be physically broken but His Grace has healed my soul. His plans are perfect.
