This story yet again proves the power of waiting for the “perfect timing.”
30-year-old Dolly Dacanay Telintelo was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2019. After undergoing several cancer treatments, her OB-GYN said it would be hard for her to bear a child. But after almost five years, she got pregnant with her first baby.
“Naging kami po January 16, 2017, and na-diagnose ako ng cancer, March 2019. Nagkakilala kami [nung] college. Kinasal kami last June 14, 2024. Nasabi nung OB ko na hindi siya ganun impossible, na magkaka-baby pa, pero sa mga cancer survivors, maliit na po ‘yung chances,” Dolly shared with The Philippine STAR/LatestChika.com in an exclusive interview.
For her partner’s part, Kenin, he said that he was focused on making Dolly safe and healthy before thinking about what could happen to their family.
“Syempre, during that time ‘yung sa akin kasi is, mind-setting is, to get her out of the condition she’s in presently. Wala pang pumasok sa utak ko ‘yung sinabi ng OB. We’ll get to the problem when we are there. Eh, so far so good naman ‘yung nakarating tayo sa situation na ganito, dumating na si baby,” he said.
After she felt some symptoms of cancer, Dolly immediately went to a specialist to find out about her condition.
“Naka-experience po ako ng pagsakit ng left side ng tagiliran ko, and then walang gana kumain, tapos may blood sa poop,” she recalled.
After a few days, they found out that she had a cyst on her abdomen.
“Kaka-graduate ko pa lang ‘yun ng college. So nag-i-start pa lang po ako sa buhay ko noon, and then sinabi na magche-chemo ako. So pina-refer kami sa oncologist, ayun doon na ako umiyak sa may surgeon noon,” she emotionally said.
She first undergone surgery in March 2019 and started cycles of chemotherapy.
Noting, “Na-misdiagnose ako. First na diagnosis sa akin, ovarian cyst. So, ‘yung surgical cut ko po, from puson hanggang sa may tiyan.Thirteen inches.Pag-check po nila sa ovarian cyst, negative, so inakyat po nila ‘yung cut, kaya nahanap po nila ‘yung bukol po sa may descending colon.Pina-biopsy po ‘yung bukol na tinanggal and doon po na-diagnose ako ng colon cancer stage 3.”
“Hindi ko po natapos ‘yung sa chemotherapy. Magki-chemo dapat po ulit ako kasi according sa last colonoscopy ko po ng September 2019, may recurrence,” she added.
Kenin made sure to put his focus on Dolly’s situation. He held her hand through doctor appointments and cancer treatments.
“At the state of shock naman kaming dalawa eh. Ang sabi ko lang naman sa kanya, whatever it is, [accept] na lang natin, ipanalangin na lang natin, and then go with the recommendations of the doctor. By God’s mercy naman, na-clear out siya,” he stressed.
Dolly is now a cancer survivor. She considered her daughter’s arrival as the greatest blessing of their lives as they welcomed their baby girl last October 8, 2024.
“Ay, ako po ‘yung pinakamasayang lalaki sa buong mundo. Literal, ako ‘yung sa harap niya mismo tumatalon-talon na sa saya,” Kenin happily said.
“Hindi po namin siya triny na magkaroon ng baby kasi ikakasal po kami talaga this year. Pero binigay po siya kaagad after ko po ulit ma-diagnose ng achalasia siya, this year lang. Sobrang saya na dati hindi ako naniniwala ‘yung sa God’s perfect timing pero nung time talaga na nalaman ko na buntis ako, alam n’yo po ‘yung kapag ready ka talaga. Siguro sabi ni Lord, ‘I know you’re ready,’ kaya ‘yun, binigyan niya na si baby,” Dolly ecstatically said.
Dolly expressed gratitude to Kenin, whom she described as the best husband and father to their daughter for sticking with her no matter what life throws at her.
“Thank you kasi napakaresponsable mong asawa. Sa lahat ng pinagdaanan ko, sa lahat ng nangyari sa buhay ko, hindi mo ko iniwan. Pinakasalan mo pa ako. [Kahit] alam mo na darating ‘yung araw kapag nagkasakit ulit ako, eh, ganun ulit. ‘Yung situation, aalagaan mo ako,” Dolly said to Kenin.
