This single mother faced the biggest battle of her life. She thought that she would recover after she accompanied her mother to her health treatments for breast cancer.
But after a month, she was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer.
“‘Yung first thought ko talaga is talagang takot, usually’ yun naman talaga eh. ‘Yung fear na kasi bago ako, 2019, mother ko muna ‘yung nagbreast cancer. So magkasunod kami as in one month apart lang so syempre ‘yung devastation ko sa experience dahil ako ‘yung unang naghahatid sa nanay ko sa chemotherapy niya biglang mababaliktad eh. Magrerecover pa lang siya tapos ako naman,” Kai Desamparado told the Philippines STAR.
The situation not just affected her but also her entire family, including her three children.
The nationwide lockdowns affected her health treatments. In October 2020, the cancer progressed to stage 3.
Kai started receiving cancer treatments and undergone the removal of her left breast in March 2021. But the medicines and procedures took a toll on her overall wellness.
“Akala ko noon sa pelikula lang ‘yung parang nakikita ko na nagwawala sila, na hindi nila kaya pero reality, it’s true. That’s the same emotions that you would feel. Masakit, mahirap tapos feeling mo ang panget panget mo. Kulang ka tapos ang thinking natin is dahil babae tayo you know, iba na ang tingin ng ibang tao. Marami na magbabago physically,” she recalled.
“After the surgery tapos nakakalbo na ako, nagready pa ako shinave shave ko pa ‘yung hair ko pero nung experience ko pa rin y’ung hairfall, umiyak pa rin talaga ako. Sabi ko “ganto pa rin talaga,” she added.
Usually, Kai was alone during her hospital visits amid the health protocols implemented in the facility. Whenever her mother would accompany her, she couldn’t help but feel guilty for her sacrifices.
“Mga nakakasabay ko may dikit na asawa, ‘yung umaakay sa kanila. Maraming times na binitbit ko ‘yung sarili ko mag-isa sa ospital pero kasi ang thinking ko, uuwi ako with my family na may hope na, after nun gagaling na ako so para sa kanila na lang,” Kai emotionally said.
But before her fight against cancer, Kai used to have a healthy lifestyle including going to the gym regularly.
“Very health conscious naman ako before eh. I workout, everyday nag-gy-gym ako nun tapos medyo makikay, talagang alaga ‘yung sarili,” she shared.
From a fit and healthy body. Kai experienced hair loss and gained weight.
“‘Yung mga damit na gusto kong suotin before hindi ko na masuot, ‘yung mga, alam mo na, kulang na ‘yung confidence and aminado ako until now, lalo pag nakikita ko ‘yung sarili ko sa salamin syempre may mga times na umaasa ka pa rin dahil single mom nga ako ever since, umaasa ka pa rin na there might be someone who can accept me pero ‘yung hope mo dun sa part na ‘yun parang medyo lumiliit kasi nga hindi naman lahat maiintindihan,” she noted.
Kai focused on getting her strength back for her daughter and three sons.
“Sa totoo lang masakit kasi supposedly at their age ako ‘yung nag-aalaga sa kanila that time lalo pandemic diba I was –ako dapat ‘yung nag po-protect pero hindi,” she said.
Besides the physical pain she had to endure, Kai also faced financial problem due to the expensive health treatments.
“Sabi ko nga yung cancer na sakit na ‘to, pangmayamang sakit eh kasi ang bigat ng gastusin. Totoo yun alam mo yung gagastos ka lang, nalaman mo lang na sixty thousand kada chemo, kakabahan ka na. Hindi ko masisisi yung iba takot pag nalaman nila kasi alam nila gastos pero,” she said.
“Tuloy-tuloy yung pagiging ina, pagiging anak, treatment, trabaho. I didn’t stop working kasi like I said, financially hindi naman ako capable so nakiusap ako sa mga boss ko nun baka pwede work from home ako, pag kaya ng sistema ko magtatrabaho ako,” she added.
Kai is now a survivor! She is currently being monitored by her doctors after her successful treatments.
If it weren’t for her family, especially her mom, Kai said she already gave up a long time ago.
“Very thankful ako at malakas ‘yung support system ko. I have very loving people surrounding me, friends, family, workmates, ‘yung mga kahit nga ‘yung mga hindi ko kakilala anonymously they actually reached out for help kasi nga hindi naman ako mayaman. “Kay mom, sobrang thank you kasi kahit may sakit yun, kahit matanda na, inaakay niya ako, yung parang, isa pa yun sa guilty feeling ko kasi supposedly ako yung nag-aalaga sa kanya talaga pero she never failed to take care of me all throughout, sinuportahan niya ako sa gastos, pag-alaga sa mga anak ko. Hindi niya ako pinabayaan,” she said.
“God is good. Kung meron akong isa pa ‘yung sobrang pasasalamatan, ‘yung taas. God never failed me, talagang he guided me all throughout and made everything easier for me. Kung baga hindi madali. Sabi niya siguro “Ibibigay ko sayo lahat ng kailangan mo pero dapat gawin mo, lumaban ka para sakin,” she added.
