Hope versus Cancer: The Will to Survive

The other day, I saw a fastfood chain's commercial that is themed with the Holidays. It showed of Filipino families' yearly dillema especially of those whose members are OFWs. I was teary eyed while it was playing and bawling like a baby after watching.

No, I didn't grow up with my parents' being away. But, I feel for every kid who does especially after hearing my husband's story.

My mother in law left the Philippines for France on 1995 in pursuit of better life. My husband was 11 years old then. Tragedy struck though when in 1998, she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. I could not imagine how she must've felt during those times. Being told that you are dying while you are alone in a foreign land. John painfully remembers when they received the overseas call from my mom in law's doctors telling them to arrange their flight to Paris as they were losing hope with her case. The government of France offered to shoulder airfare just so their taxpayer's family can get to see her before she passes on.

Mama (fourth from the left) during one of her chemotherapy sessions.

She refused the government's offer to have her family fly to her because she didn't want other people to think she was dying. Mama Edna is a fighter - one of the bravest I have known. She knew she can surpass it. And although she didn't say it, she probably didn't want her family to see her suffering. In connection, my husband shared that at one point, he felt bad for learning of Mama Edna's condition from her sisters instead of her.

(3rd from the left) Slowly losing hair as effect of medications. She also says there were times things get so hard she pulls her hair.

Mama Edna underwent mastectomy and then a series of chemotherapy. She held on to what these medical procedures promised and increased her faith to living. But then, just a few sessions of chemotherapy, her doctors delivered the bad news. Cancer cells have spread rapidly throughout her body. Still, she insisted to proceed with everything the doctors suggested.

Mama Edna completely bald during a chemotherapy session. With her were friends who stood by her while she was away from her loved ones. God bless their souls wherever they are.

I'm teary eyed as I write this, just because my husband couldn't stop crying whenever this topic arises which is mostly during this time of the year.

By some miracle of heaven, mama Edna survived and has been cancer free for 12 years. She continues to live and work in Paris even when her children have all completed with their school. She could have gone home but opted to stay because she says she is still strong and that God still has a mission for her. She, being a cancer survivor and recipient of miracle from God believes that she has to share her experience to encourage others who are losing faith. Also, she says there are things she wants to give her grand children that may not be availble here. Yes, mama Edna is a spoiler!!!

With her grandkids.

This, just like the other years that passed, we are spending the holidays without her. And as sad as we are thinking she's away, we know it's twice the sadness for her since she's alone. Despite that, she still took time to pick up some candies for the kids to include in her friend's baggage who came home for Christmas.

I hope Mama Edna knows how much we appreciate her. I, personally for being the reason I have my husband. I hope she knows that she can come home anytime and that it's completely fine. She has been a servant for too long, it's time for her to be the Queen again.

I also hope that every OFW kids know that it is never their parents' intention to leave them, if only they had better options here. It's disheartening to see kids who are ungrateful and kids who are blaming their parents' decision to leave for whatever mess they have become. I hope they know the sacrifice our OFW parents have just to give them every caprice.

Any touching story that pulled your heartstrings recently?

Love,
Jonah (and John)