LIfe's Update 2022

             GOOD MORNING PHILIPPINES! HELLO BLOGGING WORLD!

How are you guys! I know that most of my co-bloggers/readers here are doing great as two of them are my facebook friends already, Edel & Mylene,, yey! Well, It's been a while since I last wrote here, so medyo nakakapanibago din. I took a chance also to rearrange the layout my site just a little but to my dismay some gadgets contents were lost :(. But it's okay, I'm here again regaining this hobby of mine back into this platform again. So here's a little glimpse of my life today.

*MY HEALTH - I am so much grateful that inspite of the depression and hardships I have gone through these past few years after my chemo, my tumor marker is always within the normal range except for some small nodules on my breasts, polyps and stones in my gall bladder. I always make sure that a regular check ups and monitoring on its size is done every 6 months, " bawal mapraning kakaisip at bawal pumalya sa ultrasound and Ct Scan" but other than that - I'm good. Thank God for my second chance in life.

*MY FINANCIAL STATUS - " Unemployed up to this date (did not pursue the job I applied last year) "nasanay na kong hawak ang sariling oras.", But even if my income from my sari sari store and house rental is way below the minimum wage I had before, I feel so blessed pa rin." Sometimes when you have so little, you'll have a lot more to be thankful with.

*MY  SAVINGS and INVESTMENTS - I pulled out all my shares in FAMI and SOLDIVO, used some of it and invested the rest in PagIBIG fund. Yes po, I continued my Pag ibig Mp1 voluntary contribution and P2 savings. I've also withdrawn some in PHILEQUITY and minimum shares were left. I've nothing against mutual funds and stocks but time is very essential in long term investing. Given my situation, it's not wise for me to invest long term anymore. The probability of being alive for 20 years or more is very unsure,"how morbid no?", but that's the reality of life. 

*MY SPENDING HABITS - that's the amazing part, a lot of it changes after Big C battle and when covid pandemic hits us, "mas wais at kuripot na po ako ngayon talaga" in spending on my needs than my wants. My wants became my simple joys as I have prayed to God to bring back the little joys I had back in my childhood days and glad it was granted. (I'll be writing a post about it).

So here I am now, I'm well and able. Sharing my life's story and updates again. All thanks to the mercy and grace of GOD. 

GOD BLESS EVERYONE. HAVE A GREAT DAY AHEAD!

THANKFUL & GRATEFUL THIS DECEMBER '21

          

          Hi guys !!! First I want to apologize to everyone for not being around in this platform lately, it's just that for a while I want to let myself be lost to my own self, ang gulo no? - it was kind of learning from unlearning and relearning from my old mistakes and starting again from scratch which somehow led me redirecting and introducing myself to the unknown future which I fear most in my life. Ang gulo ko pa rin di ba? -that's the reason why I stopped writing, I need to reorganize and synchronize my thoughts first.

         But today I just want to thank all my anonymous co-bloggers ( Dianne, Brenda, Joan, Jane, Edel, Kristine, Chi, April, Mylene and everyone) who supported me morally, financially and spiritually  - you were all such a big help to me. Thank you for all your prayers and support.

          My vocabulary may not be rich as it was before but the word "Thankful and Grateful" will be forever inked in my heart for all the goodness and kindness you've done to me.

          Here's my facebook account : https://www.facebook.com/grace.nadal.77.

          Medyo magulo lang po kasi may mga naka-public ako di ko na machange and erase ung ibang post ko. You can check it guys and I hope we can know each other more on fb too.

God Bless Everyone. Stay Safe and Healthy

Life's Update (July 2019) - Thank God it's False Alarm

          Hello Philippines and Hello blogging world! How are you guys! Here I go again sharing my life here. As much as possible I want to forget my past illness because of my fear of its recurrence but it went back last May. Here's what happened:

First Diagnosis - It was last May 28 when I noticed a mass in the lower part of my abdomen so I promptly went to the nearest clinic in our area the next day. So after checking up the mass in my abdomen and hearing the background of my previous illness, automatically the doctor noted his diagnosis "Tumor recurrence" in the prescription pad. So I prayed, "Lord wag naman po sanang bumalik si Big C, break na nga kami e."

Second Diagnosis - I was alarmed with the first diagnosis so I immediately reported it to my Ob-gyne in San Juan de Dios the next day but upon checking my abdomen, my doctor told me that her diagnosis was not tumor recurrence but "Hernia". Though it was only an initial diagnosis, It was such a relief, knowing that it was only "hernia or luslos". Iff such finding is confirmed,  minor operation is needed to remove it. I thought to myself that maybe it was my fault - "kung kasalanan man ang maging masipag, aminado ako".My mother is constantly reminding me - wag abusuhin ang sarili." but I also assured her that I'm okay.  I thought probably because of my going back and forth routine to the supermarket, carrying loaded groceries and lifting my nephew and niece cause the occurrence of "hernia" in the lower part of my abdomen. So I prayed again, thank you Lord, maysakit man ako atleast magaan ang pagdadaanan ko. I was able to sleep soundly that night because of that second diagnosis.

Third Diagnosis - I reported to my oncologist in the San Juan de Dios the next morning.  She checked my abdomen and noticed something new - "there's a palpitation above the abdominal mass" and so she noted her findings as "abdominal aortic aneurysm". It took me a while to absorb what I've heard but later I realize the possibility of having that kind of illness since my father also have a heart aneurysm and he's been going back and forth to Philippine Heart Center to monitor the size of the bulge in his aorta. My oncologist noticed my reaction changed and told me not to worry, a whole abdominal ultrasound is needed to confirm her findings. I was not able to sleep well that night, I prayed and ask God to give me strength and wisdom to face this new trial in my life.

Fourth Diagnosis - A whole abdominal ultrasound was perform to me the next day. It was the technician who performed it first and she told me that she didn't notice any solid mass in my abdomen. I told her to repeat it so I was instructed to drink more water again. It was the doctor who performed the second ultrasound, I insisted that there's a solid mass in my abdomen and her reply was "wala talaga". So I asked again, what is that solid mass in my abdomen that I always notice? - her answer --"poopoo". She smiled "poopoo" daw talaga. With confusion, I asked her again - then why is it that it is always present in that particular area? - her answer gave me relief , "simply because it's where our descending colon is located. It was such a relief to find out what was inside that made me so worried for few days, "nakakapraning mag-isip di ba? So thankful to God with the result of ultrasound and finally after few days of sleepless nights I was able to sleep soundly and went back to my usual "palengke-grocery-tindahan routine"

          I waited for another month to publish this post because I needed to confirm the result of my tumor marker screening (CA125) which is done every three months and was schedule last July. I do not want to be too complacent with the result of my ultrasound and needed this test to monitor if there is any recurrence and thankful again that the result is "perfectly normal". It was the reaction of my oncologist and I was so happy when I heard it.

         It's quite costly, stressful and mentally exhausting to undergo series of check ups and laboratories to monitor my health but as always the result gives me tranquility and relief to know that everything is okay.

        Thank God its false alarm...Thank God Im okay...Thank God for letting me live a simple life again. and thank you all for including me in your prayers. Truly, God is so amazing!

Till then.
Have a great weekend!
God Bless.

Life's Update (May 2019) - Facing Mr. Big C Again?

          Hi guys, sorry I haven't been around in this blogging sphere for a while. I am really getting so so tired lately that I have no energy to write another post. But still I miss writing down all my life experiences here. So here are some updates about my life and health condition today:

           • Let me share some good news first – The result of my tumor marker screening (CA 125) is within the normal range (less than 4) and my doctor is happy with the result. I’ll have my monitoring check up/ lab result every three months.

           •  Some bad news  too - I think my scoliosis is getting worse. When levoscoliosis appeared on my CT scan result, my oncologist referred me to the PT department, and I was required to undergo 6 theraphy session for 2 weeks. I only did one theraphy session, ang mahal po kasi - each session costs 900++ (discounted price na). After that 6 PT session xray and ultrasound will be required before the doctor recommends another set of PT. Actually, my therapist notice something in my back which means that I have 2 kinds of scoliosis kaya baka daw mag letter S ang spinal ko. 
          Another reason why I didn't continue my theraphy is the transportation, nakakapagod mag commute at ang daming overpass mong lalakarin para lang makatawid kaya wala ring sense yung theraphy kasi napagod lang akong mag commute, di ba? Anyway, I'm planning to inquire in the hospital near our area, our neighbor mentioned to us that there's a physical rehabilitation center in that hospital.
   
          •  Another good news - Although my father was diagnosed with heart aneurysm last year, his bypass operation was postponed, check up is required every 3 months to monitor the size of the "buldge' in one of the major vessel of his heart. " Kahit papano nagkaron ako ng relief  knowing my father's condition  is not so critical.

         •  And another bad news - I notice a mass in my abdominal area so I went to the clinic a while ago and the doctor confirmed it. He told me that there's a possibility that my cancer metastasize. I told him that my CA 125 is always within the normal range, why is it that it was not detected? The doctor told me that there is a possibility that its a different cancer and a different tumor marker is needed. Well, I guess I'll be facing Mr. Big C again. Pray for me again guys.

Till then.
God Bless
Have a great day ahead!