UPDATED [June 4, 2024]
25-year-old Deniece Yanga passed away on Sunday, June 2, 2024, after a battle with brain stem glioma, her mother confirmed.
Originally published [April 28, 2024]
This mother from Valenzuela City couldn’t help but become emotional as she shared the journey of her 25-year-old daughter in her battle against brain tumor.
“Kada papasok ako dun sa anak ko, sinasabi ko, ‘‘Wag kang bibitaw,’” Mommy Mary Anne Yanga said in an exclusive interview with The Philippine STAR.
According to Mommy Mary, her daughter, Deniece, first felt the symptoms on October 16, 2023. In the same month, Deniece had undergone MRI and consulted a specialist.
“Naka-feel s’ya na parang nagshe-shake ‘yung kanyang mata and then nagdo-double vision. Unang findings dito sa Fatima Hospital is Diplopia, double vision. Ipinaliwanag sa amin na dapat ang mata natin is parehong gumagalaw,” Mommy Mary shared.
“Sa kanya, ‘yung right eye n’ya that time is hindi na napupunta rito sa right side. Umi-istop s’ya. Kung kinakailangan n’yang tignan ‘yung nasa gilid n’ya sa right, kailangan igalaw ng buong katawan n’ya,” she added.
After several tests and checkups, Deniece was diagnosed with brain stem glioma, a brain tumor.
Mommy Mary said that at first, she was shocked after her daughter’s diagnosis, but noted she had to be strong for Deniece.
“First time lang din namin ma-encounter, marinig ‘yung ganung klase ng sakit. Sobrang nanlamig ako nun na parang ‘yung mga kaharap ko lumayo. Tapos tumakbo ako dun sa bahay ng mama ko, dun ko iniyak. Sabi ko, “Kasi kapag nalaman kong may sakit sa brain, malala ang sakit na ‘to.” Pero hindi ako nagpakita ng kahinaan pag-iyak kay Denise, pero nangangatog ako nun nung malaman kong ganun,” Mommy Mary recalled.
Deniece consulted specialists at the Philippine General Hospital and was later found out that she needed to undergo brain surgery as soon as possible.
“Pagkakita sa amin nung chineckup si Deniece, chineck n’ya kung paano ‘yung paglunok ng anak ko, pandinig, and then para na ring nama-mild stroke si Denise that time kasi napansin namin ‘yung paglalakad n’ya hindi na pantay. Kailangan urgent, as soon as possible ma-surgery si Deniece kasi malaki na ‘yung tumor na nasa brain n’ya at ‘yung tumor is nasa critical area ng brain,” she said.
On November 29, 2023, a big tumor was removed during Deniece’s surgery but there’s a tiny one that was left on her brain.
“Success naman ‘yung kanyang surgery, natuwa kaming lahat. At ang sabi ni Dr. Legaspi, natanggal pero may natira na parang gabuto ang laki. Hindi pwedeng i-scrape pa lalo ‘yun dahil halos kakulay ng brain ‘yung tumor. Kapag nagalaw n’ya ang bawat nerve doon, maaapektuhan ‘yung paglalakad ni Denise at other part na nerves,” said Mommy Mary.
Deniece was on her way to her recovery until she felt some symptoms again in February 2024.
Noting, “Naiuwi naman na namin s’ya ng bahay, nakakapagsalita, gumagalaw pa, pero ‘yung left lang talaga n’ya parang na-mild stroke ‘yung kamay, ‘yung paa. May mga iniinom nang gamot si Denise that time na ano ‘yung mga nireseta para sa kanya. Maayos si Denise that time. May mga times pa nga na s’ya mismo naayusan n’ya ‘yung sarili n’ya. Tuwang-tuwa kami.”
“Parang normal ulit ‘yung anak namin pero tinutulungan kong paliguan, tinutulungan namin s’ya para kumain. Hindi pa ganun ka-okay ‘yung balance n’ya pero nakakalakad na s’ya that time. Nakakalunok, nakakapagsalita, as in normal,” she added.
As of this writing, Deniece is still in the hospital fighting for her life after it was later found out that the tumor is continuously growing in her brain. The doctors also revealed that there is no cure for her situation.
“Sa ngayon, nandito pa rin s’ya sa ICU, naka-intubate. Nag-violet na ‘yung labi n’ya, talagang hirap na s’ya sa paghinga. Hangga’t hindi nati-treat ‘yung tumor n’ya sa ulo, ‘yun at ‘yun ang mararanasan ni Denise. ‘Yung findings kasi sa MRI n’ya nung February 26, ‘yung size nung tumor noong una ay mas dumoble. Base sa mga doktor dito, wala nang lunas. Delikado na kung maooperahan ulit si Denise,” Mommy Mary said.
Adding,” That’s why pati ‘yung mata n’ya, gawa ng pressure ng bukol na nasa loob, parang naitutulak palabas ‘yung mata n’ya. Pero hindi pa rin kami nagpapatinag kasi meron naman tayong Diyos na pinaniniwalaan. There’s a miracle.”
To those who want to help Deniece you may send your donations:
BDO
005601572209
Mary Anne E. Yanga
Gcash
09655164258
Mary Anne E. Yanga
