“May mga time din talaga na makukwestyon mo si Lord kung bakit ikaw ‘yung napili, pero sabi nga nila, may plano si Lord.”
The online community praised a teenager for his fighting spirit after he was diagnosed with bone cancer at 11 years old and was given only six months to live by his doctors.
Deivid Yap said that it was on July 11, 2016, that they confirmed he had cancer after showing symptoms after a basketball injury.
“Active po ako sa basketball. Dumayo po kami sa may palengke, may court po kasi doon. Natuhod po ako tapos masakit po, hindi ko po sinabi kanila mama kasi nawala naman po ‘yung sakit. Sabi po nung coach na patingnan daw po, kasi hindi niya daw po gusto ‘yung takbo ko. Parang may iniinda daw po ako. Nagpa-xray po tapos may nakita pong hairline na fracture sa binti ko po. Two weeks po akong naka-cast no’n,” Yap told The Philippine STAR.
After removing the cast, he didn’t feel better. That’s when his family decided to take him back to the doctor. “Sabi naman ng lolo ko ibalik daw po ako ni papa sa ospital. Ika-ika pa din ako. Agad po akong in-xray.”
He had then undergone different tests to find out his true health condition.
“Nakita na may sunburst na lumalabas do’n sa may fracture ng buto which is osteosarcoma daw po, bone cancer,” he noted.
Recalling his childhood, Yap said, “No’ng bata po ako, lagi po sumasakit ulo ko. Hindi po namin alam na symptoms na po pala. Pagdurugo po ng ilong.”
Yap was just 11 years old when they confirmed he had cancer. To his surprise, the doctors gave him six months to live.
“Nung nalaman na may cancer po ako, nilalabas-labas na po ako ng lola ko. Bale pinapasyal niya po ako kasi cancer nga, delikado, stage 3. ‘Yung sakit na ‘yun, isa sa pinakamabilis kumalat na sakit. Halos lahat ng katawan may buto so pwedeng mas kumalat,” he emotionally said.
Yap went back and forth at the hospital for three years to undergo treatments. He had undergone 22 cycles of chemotherapy.
“Pabalik-balik po kami sa ospital nang two to three years. One-week sa ospital ta’s pahinga po ng one week, tapos admit na naman po ulit. ‘Pag wala pong kwarto, made-delay po ‘yung chemo ko kasi naka-charity po kami sa Philippine Children’s Hospital,” he shared.
Even though he’s battling the dreaded disease, Yap did not forget to finish his studies. He attended school through modular learning.
With the big battle he’s fighting, Yap said his family became his anchor.
“Sa tulong na din po ng family, nalilibang din nila ako. Hindi naman po ako iniiwan ng family ko kahit anong mangyari. Meron naman po do’n na playground kaya lang ‘pag nasa ospital po talaga ako, nakahiga lang po ako sa kama ‘pag kine-chemo po ako, suka po ako nang suka. ‘Yung timbang ko no’n 37 po nung nag-start ako ng chemo, natapos ako mag-chemo ‘yung timbang ko nag-17 na lang,” he said.
“Sobrang binagsak ‘yung katawan ko kasi sa gamot, hindi ako makakain, suka ako nang suka. ‘Yung panlasa ko, lasang kalawang lang. Ito pa po ‘yung ugat na nasunog sa mga gamot hanggang ngayon po hindi pa naghi-heal. Hindi ko sinasabi sa parents ko kasi nakikita ko sila, lumalaban po kaya kailangan ko ring lumaban para sa kanila. Kailangan kong lakasan ‘yung loob ko,” he added.
Yap also had to undergo an operation that changed his entire life.
“Pinalabas ako ng kwarto kasi sasabihin kanila mama na puputulin ‘yung paa ko. Tapos pumasok ako, sabi ko, ‘Doc, ano po ‘yung gagawin sa’kin? Gusto ko pong malaman.’ Tapos ‘yun po, nag-schedule na ng operation,” he said.
The operation was a success and led to Yap’s continuous healing. He is now an IT student at the National Teachers College.
“Wala naman na po [maintenance na gamot]. Once a year na lang po checkup ko ngayon. Dati kasi ang dream job ko, pulis. Nung nag-ano na, syempre hindi na pwede sa field ‘di ba? Kaya nag-IT din ako,” he noted.
“Syempre hindi natin maiwasan ‘yung mga bata na sasabihin, ‘Walang paa,’ ganto ganyan. May mga time din talaga na makukwestyon mo si Lord kung bakit ikaw ‘yung napili, pero sabi nga nila, may plano si Lord. May mas magandang plano si Lord,” he added.
