BLOGGER
Dancing with cancer
Being a member of KKK, Mga Kaibigan ng mga Kabataang May Kanser, I get to meet several pediatric cancer patients coming from poor communities. At first, KKK had three recipients. Then, they grew at seven. The latest is Hazel Roque from Iloilo City.
Hazel (pronounced as Hasel) is seven years old and the youngest among the five children of Rowena and Henry Roque, residents of Pala Pala 2, Iloilo City.
On December 2007, Hazel experienced flu and vomiting. He was checked by a doctor and upon learning that his hemoglobin level is very low, he was hospitalized and underwent several tests. He was diagnosed with Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). ALL is a type of blood cancer and the most common for children under age 15. ALL starts with a change to a single cell in the bone marrow. At present, there is no known way to prevent the disease. Its causes are still being studied.
Hazel and his siblings stopped studying in order to divert the family's cash to his chemotherapy treatment. Now, he is in remission stage. Meaning, his treatment is working.
According to Anna, his 14-year-old sister who takes care of him, he's already on his 20th chemotherapy session. They got financial help from their grandmother, aunt, friends of their parents, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Mayor Jerry P. Trenas, and now, KKK. Hazel's chemotherapy sessions take place at Mission Hospital and he is under the care of KKK member, pediatric hematologist and oncologist Dr. Lita Paclibar.
Chemotherapy is not an enjoyable thing for a person; how much more for a child. Some of its effects are mouth sores, diarrhea, hair loss, rashes, nausea, and vomiting. His mom Rowena told me that when Hazel lost his hair from his first session, he went wild. "He wanted to have long hair," she said. In fact, Hazel lets his guardians chase after him before he could go with them to the hospital for his treatment. Thus, he's notorious for being late.
Anna said that he is very energetic and loves to play "Finish-finish", a slippers game. He also dances to the tune of Chabelita with his cousins. During an art workshop sponsored by good friend Gina Apostol just last Saturday, Hazel excitedly confirmed that he loves to dance. Indeed, not even cancer can stop Hazel from dancing.
Hazel also has a dream that he hopes to fulfill if given enough support so he could combat ALL. Hazel wants to live to his adult life so he could help other people. "I want to be a doctor. I want to help others," he said.
I believe that to everybody's need, there is always fulfillment. They come through the support of other people. KKK is very thankful that there is an outpouring of support from here and abroad so it could continue to help finance these children's chemotherapy sessions. The support comes in prayers, donations, sponsorships in our events, organizations making KKK a beneficiary in their events and volunteer work, among others. KKK's website is www.iloilokanserkids.com and is a product of volunteer work by Justin Go.
To those who continue to care, you know who you are. Thank you so much.
(For comments, SMS to 0928-5057-824 or e-mail to lifestyle@thenewstoday.info)