This father from Caloocan couldn’t help but become emotional while sharing their life after his wife passed away last year due to cancer.
Daddy Dexter Salazar, 35, was a former OFW in Abu Dhabi after he decided to go home for good when his wife, Mylene, was diagnosed with cervical cancer stage 3B.
“Ang sabi niya parang may kakaiba siyang nararamdaman sa sarili niya. Kasi irregular siya. Hindi niya alam kung normal lang o hindi na nagdi-dysmenorrhea siya or dinudugo siya pero parang sobra-sobra ‘yung nilalabas na dugo,” Daddy Dexter told The Philippine STAR.
“Nung nagpa-checkup, sinabi ng doktor na parang may tumor siya sa cervix niya.Papunta na siya sa cervical cancer.Sabi ko magpa-second opinion ka. Two weeks after nung first checkup, sabi nga parang stage 1 cervical cancer na siya. Ganun siya kabilis,” he added.
Daddy Dexter made sure to provide emotional support to his wife while undergoing chemotherapy, tomotherapy and brachytherapy.
“Sabi niya, ‘Kakayanin ko ba ‘yung ganito? If ever na cancer ‘to, paano ako magpapagamot? Paano ‘yung kambal?’ Nung June po nung 2022, umuwi po ako nun kasi po gusto ko kasama niya ako sa mga treatment niya kasi mag-isa lang siya,” he shared.
But the cancer took a toll on Mommy Mylene’s total health and wellbeing that forced Daddy Dexter to leave his job and stay in the Philippines for his wife and kids.
Noting, “First week ng December [2022], nandun pa rin ‘yung sakit niya, ‘yung cancer. And then nagkaroon na ng maraming complications sa liver niya at saka sa stomach niya. Inoperahan siyang dalawang beses sa tiyan.Binutas ‘yung tiyan niya.”
“Kahit na walang masyadong ipon pa non, nag-decide ako na umuwi ako ng February [2023]. Nagde-deteriorate na, eh. Parang nagkaka-failure na ‘yung liver niya. So inadvisan siyag magpa-dialysis. Akala namin kakayanin. Parang papayat siya nang papayat tapos pabalik-balik kami sa hospital,” he added.
Daddy Dexter gave his full attention to his wife as they hoped she could fight the cancer. Until her organs eventually failed, and her body rejected all the treatments and medicines.
“Parang two weeks na kami sa ospital nun, eh. Sabi ko, nung April 3, uwi muna ako. Kinagabihan ng April 3, biglang pababa na nang pababa ‘yung heartbeat niya. ‘Yung blood pressure niya parang wala na, halos ‘di na siya makahinga. Madaling araw ng April 4, tinawagan ako ng kapatid niya, wala na. So parang hindi ko naabutang buhay siya,” he recalled with a heavy heart.
Mommy Mylene died on April 4, 2023. Daddy Dexter admitted that it took some time for them to accept that his wife was gone.
“Binantayan ko siya mula nung simula eh. Tapos nung kailan mawawala na siya, parang wala sa tabi niya. Sobrang sakit sa‘kin nun. Parang hindi ako makabangon. ‘Pag naaalala ko lang, parang sobrang sakit pa rin kasi parang siya ‘yung naging strength ko lalo OFW ako.Tapos siya ‘yung nagdedesisyon sa amin. Parang nung nawala siya, ano nang gagawin ko?” he emotionally shared.
Adding, “Kahit anong express ko sa kanila na wala na ‘yung mommy nila, naintindihan naman nila na wala na, pero parang wala pa dun ‘yung emotion nila. May graduation nila ng kinder, umakyat ako sa stage na kasama ‘yung picture. Ang hirap kasi parang ‘yung kalahati ng buhay mo, nawala.”
He even spotted his daughter, Zoe, crying during his wife’s death anniversary.
“Sabi ko, ‘Ba’t ka umiiyak?’ ‘Nami-miss ko kasi si mommy.’ Kaya dun in-explain ko na, ‘Okay lang ‘yan.’ ‘Nandiyan lang si mommy, angel natin siya, gabay natin siya,’” he said.
“Ang hirap i-explain din ‘yung sakit eh. Naawa ako sa kambal kasi wala na nga silang mommy ta’s mawawalan pa ng isa. Dun ako humuhugot na lang na kailangan kong magpakatatag para sa kambal,” he added.
