This mother became emotional while recalling the death of her 5-year-old son due to cancer last December 2024.
Mommy Aileen Sabal has been open on social media on her grieving process after Kobe’s battle against cancer.
“Sobrang sakit talaga mawalan ng anak. Ba’t nabigay niya ‘yung cancer sa anak namin sa dami-daming tao. Hanggang malibing namin siya sa puntod niya. Sobrang sakit talaga. Hanggang ngayon po, may times talaga na nagbe-breakdown talaga ako,” she told The Philippine STAR.
According to Mommy Aileen, she experienced several pregnancy symptoms while carrying Kobe but noted she gave birth to a healthy baby boy on October 31, 2019.
“Sobrang saya po. ‘Yung pinagdaanan ko, worth it ‘yung lahat talaga. Na mapakinggan ‘yung first talagang iyak ng anak.Talagang normal talaga. Walang nakitang discrepancy sa baby ko kahit sa ano, sa newborn screening. Three days lang kami dun sa hospital,” she shared.
Mommy Aileen and her husband, Keanno, were very happy raising their first child after being together for six years.
Until Kobe experienced intense pain in his stomach in January 2024.
“Madaling araw, natutulog kami, parang gigising lang siya na ouchie daw ‘yung tummy niya. Kaya nilalagyan lang namin ng mga oil. Tapos natutulog na naman siya ulit. Tapos mga ilang araw naman, sasabi na naman siya na masakit daw ‘yung tiyan niya,” Daddy Keanno said.
“Matakaw talaga sa pagkain si Kobe. February 24, di na talaga kumakain.‘Yung gatas niya, di na niya nauubos.Ta’s sumuka,” the couple recalled.
The doctors had a hard time diagnosing the condition of Kobe. But after running some tests, specialists found a 10cm tumor on Kobe’s stomach.
“Sabi ko, anong mass po? Ha? Ba’t ano nangyari? ‘Yun, sabi nila, need daw ipa-biopsy ‘yung mass daw ng anak ko,” Mommy Aileen said as she was shocked on her son’s diagnosis.
“Doon na parang gumuho ‘yung mundo ng asawa ko. Di namin na ano kasi, sa ano namin ‘di talaga namin na alam na gano’n pala ‘yung dinadala ng anak namin na sakit,” he added.
Kobe was just four years old when he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma Stage 4, a type of cancer in nerve tissues.
“Ayaw namin ipakita sa anak namin ‘yung weakness namin kasi dito siya kumukuha ng lakas,” Mommy Aileen said.
Kobe continued different cancer treatments to help improve his condition. His parents became his anchor as they navigate Kobe’s condition.
“Dasal lang kami kay God na sana bigyan pa ng chance ‘yung anak namin. Kasi wala din talagang choice din. Siguro ayaw namin siyang ipagamot baka maano din siya mas early pa [mawawala.]” the couple noted.
The hospital also became their second home. Unfortunately, since the tumor was big, the doctors did not recommend Kobe to undergo surgery.
“Kasi na ICU si Kobe.Sa sobrang lakas ng medisina ng chemo nag-shutdown ‘yung katawan niya. So kala namin dun na 50-50 na ‘yun si Kobe kasi nag-seizure siya. Seven times siya nag-seizure nung time na ‘yun. Ta’s parang na ano na talaga ako, na blanko na talaga ako,” Daddy Keanno said.
Mommy Aileen added, “Nagka-question po talaga kami sa Lord. Kukunin mo na ba ‘yung anak ko? Or meron pa ba chance? Pero, pinakita pa rin ni Kobe na sobrang lakas niya.”
Mommy Aileen and Daddy Keanno recalled the last few moments with their son in the hospital.
“Since sobrang sakit na talaga, ta’s hindi na niya kaya ‘yung pain.Tinawagan na nga ‘yung mga family namin na magba-bye para kay Kobe. Sabi namin i-let go na. Try na natin i-accept, na i-surrender,” the couple narrated.
“Hopeful pa kami na gusto pa namin siya i-save. Pero parang napaka-selfish din namin, na i-try pa namin kahit ang hirap na sa kanya. Naghabilin pa po siya na ‘yung mga toys niya, ‘yung mga damit niya, hindi po ipapamigay,” they added.
Kobe passed away on December 19, 2024. Since Mommy Aileen has been a housewife and a full-time mom since Kobe arrived, her son’s absence took a toll on her mental health.
“Halos nakatunganga ka na lang. ‘Di mo alam anong gagawin mo. Ang sakit po, kahit lang ‘yung konting gamit lang ‘yung, kahit medicine na lang niya, ang sakit i-let go.Tinupad din po namin ‘yung pangarap niya po na ‘yung sa mga toys ay ‘yung habilin niya po. Bali bumili po kami ng cabinet na andun po lahat ng favorite na toys niya po,” she stressed.
