Gen Z Arjane Villacorta became emotional as she recalled how they almost lost her sister, Arielle “Ading”, after she was diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis.
According to Mayo clinic, autoimmune encephalitis is a group of conditions that causes swelling in the brain. This happens because the immune system mistakenly attacks brain cells. Autoimmune encephalitis symptoms can vary but may include memory loss, changes in thinking, changes in behavior and seizures.
Arjane said that it was a long journey before doctors diagnosed her sister’s autoimmune disease.
“Ni-CT scan na siya nung time na ‘yun. Lahat po normal. Kaya sabi po nila, ‘yung sakit na ‘to ay traydor. Kasi lahat po ng ila-lab sa inyo ano, magno-normal. Unless, mag-seizure siya,” she said.
“Nung nag-seizure siya, doon na po siya ni-recommend sa neuro. Pinag-lumbar tap po siya. Doon na po nalaman na may autoimmune encephalitis na po siya. Actually, nawalan na po ako ng pag-asa talaga nung time na ‘yan kasi ako lang po ‘yung nagwo-work talaga and sa akin po lahat bagsak nung bills,” she added.
Ading was brought back and forth to the hospital as her condition worsened. Arjane said her sister first complained of a severe headache in February 2025.
“Hindi naman po consecutive days, pero may ilang araw po na ganun daw po sobrang sakit ng ulo niya. And akala namin normal lang kasi working student po siya. Tapos, last week ng February, iba na ‘yung symptoms. Sinusuka niya na po ‘yung mga kinakain niya. Then, pinatingin po namin siya sa hospital noong weekends po noon. Nakitaan lang ng UTI. Niresetahan po siya, pinauwi rin the same day,” Arjane narrated.
“After siguro 1 to 2 days, ganoon pa rin po tas nadagdagan pa ‘yung symptoms nagdeliryo po siya, nawala po siya sa right mind niya po. Parang naging aligaga siya. Habang nasa ER po siya. Kasi pila pa rin po ‘yung pasyente dun. Wala daw pong room din. Bali, two and a half days po siya dun nang nakamulat lang, pero dun po ginawa ‘yung MRI niya and ibang labs. Lahat po dun normal kaya sobrang nagtataka na rin po sila, ‘tas ano medyo bumaba po rin ‘yung lahat sa kanya, heartbeat, blood,” she added.
She was first confined at a hospital in Cainta, Rizal and was later discharged on March 11, 2025. Ading slowly regained her strength until she was rushed again to the hospital.
“After a day, nawalan siya lahat ng ability. Magsalita, kumain, kahit nga makarinig eh, magtayo, nawalan po siya ng lahat-lahat po. Doon, kinabahan na po kami, tinakbo po namin siya sa public hospital. Narecommend na i-NGT na po siya ‘yung tube po dito tapos hanggang tyan para doon na po magpakain. Pinauwi din po siya same day nun. Pero, sobrang habang umaano po ‘yung oras, palala po nang palala. Parang na-coma po siya. As in, wala po talaga. Mulat lang siya. Lantang gulay po siy,” Arjane recalled.
Adding, “Constant pa po ‘yung pagsi-seizure niya. Kaya sobrang nababahala na po ‘yung neuro niya din. Kasi mas nagsisi-seizure siya, mas nada-damage po ‘yung utak niya. Nagda-drop na po ‘yung vitals niya po. Sobrang iyak nang iyak po kami talaga noong time na ‘yun, akala namin ‘yun na po ‘yun. Pero good thing po, lumaban po siya noong time na ‘yun.”
Arjane is the breadwinner of the family. While taking care of her younger sister, she continues working just to provide for her family and Ading’s medical expenses.
Their hospital bill almost reached P500,000. That’s why their family decided to provide homecare for Ading.
“Sa bahay na po siya nag-birthday. Since two weeks po ‘yung interval sa second infusion niya, pinayagan naman po kami ng doktor. Sobrang pinagpasa-Diyos na lang namin nung time na ‘yun, kasi wala na po kami pambayad talaga. Bedridden po talaga siya ng time na ‘yun. Wala pong response. Nakamulat all the time po ‘yung mata niya kami na lang po ‘yung kusang nagpipikit. Mabuti may mga nahiraman po kami ng gamit na hospital bed, oxygen. Tapos, inano po siya ng neuro niya na mag-nurse every day,” she emotionally said.
Ading is now recovering and starting anew as she continues to live with the autoimmune disease.
“Second life mo na, hindi ka kinuha kasi alam niya may purpose ka pa, ‘di ba? May mission ka pa. Kaya, tulungan mo rin kami magpapagaling ka. Tulungan mo rin kami, ha? Love ka namin,” Arjane said when she asked about her message to her sister.
Arjane’s family still pays the debt after her sister’s hospitalization. They are also selling chili garlic to sustain the needs of Ading’s maintenance medicines.
To those who want to help their family you can send it here:
Gcash
09215689626
Arjane V.
BPI
3259561921
Arjane Villacorta
BDO
0035 2035 0097
Arjane Villacorta
