A millennial based in Thailand received praises from netizens after she shared her life while taking care of her sick biological father while being pregnant with her first child.
“Masikit sa dibdib, stay strong po. Napakabait mong anak. Get well soon po sa daddy n’yo,” a netizen commented.
“May God answer all your prayers specially the healing of your dad and Justice,” another said.
25-year-old Nischel Casi Regidor didn’t grow up with her Daddy Joenis in the Philippines after her parents got separated at an early age.
“I grew up with my mom and also with my stepfather. So after ko grumaduate ng college, I went here to work kaya do’n ko pa lang siya nai-start parang na-meet ko siya, ‘yung parang bonding talaga as father and child,” Nischel told The Philippine STAR.
Nische hoped that it would be an opportunity for them to get to know each other after travelling all the way to Thailand until a nightmare happened in February 2024.
“My dad has been working here for almost eight years and nagwo-work siya as a F&B [hotel] manager. Nung February 9, [2024] nagkaroon nga nung incident sa isang bar. Tumawag ‘yung tita ko sabi niya nadisgrasya daw ‘yung dad ko. So here in Thailand, common ‘yung motorbike accidents I thought nagka-motorbike accident siya,” she recalled.
At that time, Nische worked as a teacher in a different place in Thailand, and she had to travel all the way to Phuket to check her father’s situation.
“Pagdating ko sa hospital, tinitignan ko siya, parang iba. Wala na siya sa self niya kasi damaged na nga ‘yung brain niya. Tapos may mga stitches siya sa mukha niya, may mga pasa-pasa. Sabi lang sa amin sinuntok daw siya,” she said.
Nische couldn’t believe the current medical situation of her father, that’s why she went to the nearby police station.
“Do’n na ako na-shock na nakita ko around siguro mga 8 na mga tao, na mga Pilipino nando’n, puro lalaki sila tapos ‘yung tatay ko mag-isa lang siya. Nagkagulo nga tapos dalawang tao ‘yung sumuntok sa kanya and then do’n siya parang nagka—na-fell siya sa ground at tsaka, alam mo sobrang tagal, seven minutes, tinignan lang nila ‘yung tatay ko do’n na nakatihaya,” Nische said after she watched the CCTV.
“Tapos flinashlight-flashlight pa nila parang kinabahan daw kasi silang lahat kasi nga akala nila patay na ‘yung dad ko,” she added.
She immediately filed a case against fellow Filipinos who attacked her father that led to Daddy Joenis’ disability.
“May second operation paparating ‘yung dad ko after six months, and hindi siya maka-work talaga kasi wala na siyang lakas. Tapos deformed na ‘yung head niya dito, wala na kasi siyang skull dito sa right niya na side, so half na ‘yung ulo niya ngayon. Every time na magmo-move siya, nahihilo na siya, hindi na siya makalakad nang maayos. Though nakakaligo siya, may mga simple things na kaya niyang gawin,” she said.
“‘Yung left arm niya hindi niya masyado ma-move. So ‘pag naglalakad siya, parang nakaganito na siya. Nakakapagsalita siya pero ‘yung mahabang conversation na, ‘yung dila niya parang pumipilipit na tapos nagdo-drool na siya. ‘Yun talaga ‘yung kinakasakit ng loob ko kasi nakikita ko ‘yung mga taong gumawa sa kanya ng ganito na nag-iinom, nagpa-party, nagsa-sauna while ‘yung papa ko wala na talaga. Hindi na siya maka-work,” she added.
She hopes that her father will be able to surpass the biggest challenge of his life, as she promises to be with him on his way to recovery.
“Nabigla ako kasi me and my partner are looking forward na mag-focus sa pregnancy ko, sa baby. And then suddenly this happened. At tsaka wala kasi akong mga kapatid, na pwede kayong mag-share ng thoughts n’yo or decisions,” she noted.
“Tatay ko naman ‘yan, hindi ko naman ‘yan pwedeng pabayaan. Though sabihin mong hindi talaga kami close before or ganito, it’s part of being a child talaga. I was not prepared for this. I grew up na ako lang mag-isa kaya nahihirapan ako ngayon. Pinagdadasal ko na lang na maging okay ang lahat,” she stressed.