The Miracle of God's Love

January 09, 2010

At past 01:00 AM today, I was still awake. With me in my room were Bolet, who was already sleeping, and Kuya Marty who, like me, was still very much awake.

January 12, Tuesday, was scheduled for Kuya Marty’s surgery that would remove the tumor that was left after undergoing chemotherapy. But the surgery will not push through on the said date.

It was almost 02:00 AM. I was about to sleep when I heard Kuya Marty talking to Manang Mija on the cell phone. Kuya Marty said he is not yet prepared for the surgery. He wants to postpone it. I said to myself, “Why postpone it? The agony will just be prolonged, Kuya.” But the next words that I heard from him answered very well my questions and even moved me into tears despite the fact that my senses were already half-asleep.

Kuya said he is not yet prepared, physically and mentally, because he is scared. Scared because the surgery would cut open his body, remove the tumor and might even cut a part of his ureter because the tumor is attached to it. Scared because his arms and feet are still weak and hurting (neuropathy) and he doesn’t know if his body would withstand the pain of such surgery. Scared because of the uncertain consequences of the surgery. Scared because he will be again confined in the hospital and no one knows if he’ll stay there for a week or two or more. Scared because he might undergo catheter and stent procedures again which I remember he once said that these are two of the things he doesn’t want to experience again, ever, and not to forget the series of body injections, dextrose and other punctures. Scared. Very much scared. Who wouldn’t be scared if faced with these situations anyway?

Tears continue to fall from my already-closed eyes. I don’t want Kuya to know that I am listening so I was acting asleep, with my back facing him. But I was crying.

After a few minutes, his conversation with Manang Mija was over. I have already wept my tears. Then there was silence inside the room. It was time to sleep.

After a few more minutes, I woke up because I heard someone is awake. I glanced at Bolet but he was still asleep. I glanced at Kuya Marty and there he was, sitting on the bed and was gently massaging his feet. Perhaps the grueling pain of his neuropathy had struck again.

From then I realized that Kuya Marty is in an extraordinary situation. A situation where courage, toughness, prayers and faith should come altogether to withstand all the challenges the situation would bring.

Kuya, stay tough, be courageous, you are not alone in this battle. We, your family, are here to stay by your side. Manang Mija and her family are also there to stay on your other side. And you see how relatives and friends love and support you, and when you put these altogether, even if the battle (that is your surgery) has not started yet, it is already half-won. And most specially, strengthen your faith to the Lord. Faith can move mountains, this line is worth repeating over and over again.

Friends, Kuya Marty’s operation would take place on the 18th, that’s Monday, and so I invite all of you once again to pray for Kuya Marty, (and all those people who are sick and desperately need prayers), for his preparations for the surgery, for the success of it, and for his fast recovery thereafter.

Thank you very much for your time and your prayers. Your reward will come from God. And special thanks to Ms. Michelle Diolola. Thanks for sharing a part of your life. Yes, paborito at malaki ang tiwala ni ‘Bossing’ sa ating pamilya kaya tayo nakaranas ng ganito. Kaya sa tulong din Niya, ipapahiya natin si ‘Taning.’

God bless us all.

2009, to our family, was supposed to be a year to forget – Kuya Marty suffering from a malignant cancer and sudden turn of events in the life of Kuya Chinkoy which led to serious emotional and financial woes. But at the end of the year, He gave us a wonderful gift in Baby Gonzalo, born on the 24th of December.

See how miraculous God’s love is. Coincident? I don’t think so. His miraculous love had been shown to our family over and over again.

When it was found out that Kuya Marty was suffering from a cancer, we all prayed hard to God that his cancer would turn out to be benign. It turned out to be malignant. It was God’s plan, but He made it curable. That was out of his miraculous love.

When we learned that Kuya would not be able to attend the signing of the roll of attorneys and the oath taking because of his scheduled surgery, we prayed to God that may His will be done. The following day, we were told that his surgery would have to be postponed enabling Kuya to attend the signing and the oath taking.

When we were told that the tumor inside Kuya’s body was attached to his aorta making it very difficult to remove the tumor during the operation, we prayed hard to God again. Later on, unexpectedly, Kuya’s oncologist ruled out surgery to our delight.

We were briefed that Kuya Marty’s chemotherapy session would ordinarily take six sessions for six months, but it could end earlier if Kuya’s body would respond well. We prayed to God that the session would end the earliest possible time because it’s hard to see Kuya suffer from the gruelling effects of chemotherapy. The session lasted for six months, the longest time expected. But it turned out to be a blessing later on as it was found out that the tumor inside Kuya’s body was burned very well, leaving no residues any more inside, thanks to the long chemotherapy sessions.

And the greatest manifestation of God’s miraculous love,

Two weeks ago, Kuya Marty was confined again in the hospital for his surgery. On his first day of confinement, several tests were made to see to it that Kuya’s body is ready for the surgery. Kuya underwent stent and catheter procedures again, that is, a tube inserted inside the opening in his genital. Imagine how painful that was. All tests were done, the surgery, then, was scheduled the following day, at seven in the morning. It was Papa, Mama and Manang Mija who were by Kuya’s side. We were not there because we were taking our midterm examinations. Kuya took a bath and made his final conditioning for his surgery. Before entering the operation room, already in tears, he kissed and hugged Papa, Mama and Manang Mija. It was, then, time to enter the operation room.

It was only after five hours when they heard from Kuya’s surgeons. They were puzzled to hear that the operation did not push through yet again. The reason? It was found out that Kuya’s left kidney was not functioning normally. More tests were needed. More worries to our family. More tears.

The test on his kidney was scheduled the following day. Kuya Marty, then, had some time to breath as the surgery he feared was postponed. But the sigh of relief was short lived. The result was out. It showed that Kuya’s left kidney was not functioning at all.

It was supposed to be an operation to remove the tumor that was left. Now, Kuya’s left kidney has to be removed also. But that would only be possible if a portion of his ureter has to be cut also. About four inches long of his ureter has to be removed together with his kidney and the tumor. Oh God, when will Kuya’s suffering end? We prayed harder than ever.

Then came the day for the operation to remove Kuya’s kidney. He entered the operation room at eight in the morning. The operation took place two hours after. At 12:30 noon time, the doctors were out. One of them talked to Papa, Mama and Manang Mija. He told them that there is no need to worry. It is time to rejoice for it turned out, after opening Kuya’s body and examining it, that his left kidney was still functioning somehow, and only four small burned tumor were found inside. These four were all the doctors had to remove. No need to remove the kidney, no need to cut any portion of his ureter. Praise the Lord! It was the clearest manifestation of how miraculous God’s love is.

Already relieved by the good news, Papa, Mama and Manang Mija waited for Kuya’s release from the operation room. But Kuya was released from the operation room only at ten in the morning the following day. He was so much in pain so the doctors did not allow him to be out from the operation room.

Days after Kuya’s surgery, another scare hit our family. Suddenly, Kuya’s stomach looked so bloated as if he swallowed a basketball. It was the liquid and the air accumulated inside his body. And so a very long tube was inserted in his nose until it reached his stomach for it to flush out the liquid which made his stomach so bloated. But who would be scared if he knows that God’s miraculous love is always there. God’s miraculous love was with us indeed. Kuya is now out of the hospital and on his way to his full recovery. Praise the Lord!

This is how great true love can be,

Kuya’s tumor was finally removed from his body, he is out of the hospital and he is on his way to recovery already. Credit should be given also to the love Manang Mija had shown to our dear Kuya Marty all throughout this trial.

For the eleven days Kuya was confined in the hospital, it was Manang Mija who never left Kuya. She was there every night when Kuya needs someone on his side to help alleviate the pain, she was there to hold Kuya’s hand when he was so much in pain, she was outside the operation room from eight in the morning until twelve midnight, without taking any full meal, just to wait for Kuya’s release, she was the one, not the doctors or the nurses, who let Kuya know the good news that his kidney was not removed, through a letter written on a small paper which was sent to him inside the operation room, she was the first one to burst in tears of joy after hearing that there was no need to remove Kuya’s kidney and ureter. She was there all along. Is there any love truer than what Manang Mija had shown to Kuya Marty? People, this is how great true love can be.

Relatives, friends, thank you for all the prayers, Kuya’s battle will not end up like this without all your prayers. I am very sure, God’s miraculous love will be with you and your family

Papa, Mama, Kuya Chinkoy, Bolet, Ogie, Popop, Manang Mija and Manang Mija’s family and relatives, Ate Jane and family, Tita Venice and Tita Melda, other relatives and friends, thank you for the prayers, for being there and for the helping hand. All I can do is to thank you all, it is God who will reward you.

This is the miracle of God’s love.