A story of an extraordinary mom
Jessica with children Kent
and Kelly
She plays a vital role in your life. Imagine how many sleepless nights she had spent just to prepare your formulas and change your soaked diapers. She was there when you learned your first word and when you had your first step. She perpetually walked you to school and pack your favorite sandwich for snacks. She was there during the most crucial stage of your life though you keep on complaining on her being nosy. She comes in different names like Mommy, Mom, Mama, and Nanay. Whatever you call her, she has always been the forgiving woman who have sacrificed a lot for you and to whom you've shared your burdens with.
"I want to share my story to all the mothers out there to make them realize that every child is a gift," says Mrs. Jessica Nerecena, a 30 years old mom with an inspiring story to tell.
Everyday Jessica would dress up her 6 years old son Kent and her 4 years old daughter Kelly. Their day would start with a long walk. Jessica would carry her two children walking through the entire length of Delgado Street until she reaches the hospital and the university on its end.
This has been her routine since she had Kent. Her son needs to have five treatment sessions in a week at the physical rehabilitation center, where they get the treatment for free, to counter the debilitating effects of his condition. Kent had been suffering from Hydrocephalus Meningitis since he was a year and a half.
Kent
Hydrocephalus Meningitis is a condition wherein there is an excessive accumulation of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the cranium brought about by an infection of the membranes that covers the brain and the spinal cord. The effects are debilitating and will progress if not given enough treatment and medications.
"The doctors in PGH told me that my son cannot survive for a long time and that he only have few months to live but I never gave up," narrates the teary-eyed mother. Kent was 18 months that time and had stayed in the hospital comatosed for 4 months.
After her son gained consciousness, Jessica moved to Antique together with her husband and her daughter. They lived in a remote town in Antique for awhile. Eager to find a healing solution to her son's condition, Jessica decided to transfer her family to Iloilo.
Here, she began asking for help in radio and TV stations. They needed a huge amount of money for Kent's operation. "I am a very shy person. I was hesitant to ask for help or donations but I never had the choice. I love my children," claims the mom who used to work as a nursing aide in Riyadh and in lying-in clinics in Muntinlupa but gave it up for her children.
With a positive response from the public and with the help of kind-hearted doctors, Kent was successfully placed with a shunt in an operation done last March 27, 2003 and two more surgeries thereafter. The procedure decreased the intracerebral pressure brought about by hydrocephalus.
"There was once a doctor who would like to adopt Kelly... I told him that I would never give my daughter away though we don't have much in life. I love my kids. There are mothers who give or sell their children. Some would even abort their child. I'm not like that," shares Jessica.
The meager income of her husband, who works as a driver in a laundry shop, cannot even sustain their daily needs. Jessica would accept her neighbor's dirty clothes and wash them to earn extra pesos for Kent's medications. Oftentimes, they are given free medicines by doctors. "I would beg for food at the hospital canteen after Kent's treatment session to feed my starving children. It doesn't matter if I can eat or not," adds Jessica.
She admitted that being a mother is hard and being a mom to a special child like Kent is even harder but she has to be strong. She would often pray to God for strength and guidance. According to her, there were times that she thought of ending her own life but the mere thought of leaving her helpless angels brings her back to reality.
"If my son who has been suffering a lot is fighting back, then why would I give up? I absolutely have no reason to," she confessed.
She often gets hurt when people call her son abnormal and when the society looks at them as outcasts. Some would even tell her to stop and let things happen. She never listened to them. Despite the criticisms, Jessica continued saving her son's life, giving the best of her.
Dividing her time and attention to her two children is not an easy task. Once her daughter told her that she wants to leave the house because her mother didn't have enough time for her. "That was painful. I often cry because I can't give what my children need and want."
The hardest part of all is when Jessica sees her son suffering during episodes of seizures and have nothing to do because she has nothing to buy medications. "I never asked God to take him away from me. However, I am ready whatever will happen any time soon. Me and my son have fought the battle and still fighting it. I have gone to places and begged for help. I've done my best and will continue to do so," concludes the strong-willed mother.