3 bad tumors: Please help me shoo them away!

  

MRI scan results are out and it’s 3 pages long! Meningioma. Schwannomas. Lesions. Mass. Soft tissue. Irregular. Abnormal enhancement. Definite progression. Tumors, tumors and more tumors all over my cranial MRI. Aside from the 4cm big bad brain tumor, there are also tumors on my optical wall (on each side) that needs to be treated. That’s 3 bad tumors! Hopefully the other tumors will remain small and behave forever!

It’s Hypofractionated Stereotactic Radiation Therapy (SRT) times two that costs Php 593,450.00  and we need to raise it within this month.

Here’s the copy of the estimated price quotation we got from Medical City (the only hospital in the country that has this kind of treatment) – the red marks are the discount.

Here’s the plan according to Dr. Vega (radiation oncologist):

Big bad brain tumor

In May or June (this year), I noticed that I frequently have headache, nerve pain (inside my head) and I often feel disoriented. Good thing, I already know how to manage it. That’s what life is with Neurofibromatosis (NF) and I’m used to it. Then a few weeks ago, I’ve been feeling disoriented and I almost had a seizure. I know the feeling every time I’m about to have seizures. I just know. Amazing, right? I just have to stop what I’m doing, be calm, drink water, drink my anti-seizure, drink water again, and deep breathing. Inhale. Exhale. It works all the time! I never had seizures ever since I started doing this. Almost seizure but it never succeeds! I always win! Haha.

After that, I told my mom that I almost had a seizure and told her about that ‘disoriented feeling’. Then we remembered that it’s been a while since my last cranial CT scan to monitor my tumors. After that, my mom told my neurosurgeon, Dr. Lopez about it and a few days after we got the letter of request and I was scheduled to have the CT scan at PGH-FMAB.

KCAT CAN: Unwavering Faith

Unwavering Faith

Late last year, I met Joyce Quiñones because of the group Neurofibromatosis Friends (NFF) Philippines. Her younger sister, Shiela was recently diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) just like me.

She has multiple tumors in the brain that affected her hearing and vision. She needed to undergo surgery to have the tumors removed but her family doesn’t know where to start. Upon my suggestion, they went to see my neurosurgeon, Dr. Willy Lopez, and after that clinic appointment, they were enlightened. Her craniotomy and radio surgery were both a success!

Minor Surgery on Talitha's birthday

October 19, around 4 p.m.

After less than 30 minutes (though it seemed like less than 20 minutes)

"Natutuwa ako"

"Natutuwa ako!" Those are the words that kept coming out my mouth after I was discharged from the hospital. I AM HAPPY because my surgery was a super mega complete success, I kept noticing a lot of improvements and since my face won't show how happy I am, I kept on blurting out: "Natutuwa ako." and "Ang saya ko." Haha! So get ready, I'll enumerate all those improvements. Ready. Get set. Go. ;P

The day before the big day.. Talitha & I were fooling around

Go! Go lang!

Five years ago, Holy Week 2006, everything about my current condition dawned in my mind. I realized that I am really really sick and I am not able to do what I used to. It's like the word is moving too fast, I wanted it to stop and wait for me. I even had a hard time sleeping. I was having an anxiety attacks.

I'll quote the 'Che Che Lazaro Presents' interview of my mom:

Madge Yarza: "Nung holy week, yung yung nafeel niyang parang ano, she wanted.. Sabi niya, she wanted the world to stop and wait for her.

Surgery (April11): SUCCESS! Thank you.

I'm sorry for the super late post. After finishing my column for April 25 and sending it, my computer malfunctioned. :( Something's wrong withe the videcard or motherboard. I'm currently typing via my ipad coz my pc is in the hospital with Dr.Cris my superhero friendly IT cousin. Haha. Anyway, here the much awaited story of my surgery. Pictures to follow.

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April 9 - Check-in at Philippine General Hospital at around 8 or 9 pm (i think). Check-in, parang magho-hotel lang. Haha. Before heading to PGH, we dropped by St. Jude Parish to light a candle & pray then went to Robinsons Place beside PGH to buy some groceries and eat dinner. Tsk. I forgot to have a haircut. And then we were ay PGH - 5th floor, rm523. The next day was just consecutive number of tests to prepare mo for my surgery. We were told that I'll be needing blood donors to donate 2 bags of blood as a replacement for the blood they borrowed from blood bank that they'll use for my surgery. We posted it on Facebook, and were touched with all the responses, thank you so much!

April 11, 2011 at around 6am, the nurses fetched me in my room with stretcher in tow.

BRB

We are currently preparing for my admission at Philippine General Hospital tonight.. My surgery is on April11, Monday at 7am.. Please pray for me.. And also, we are still accepting shirt orders, you can purchase it when you visit me.. Just contact my mom at 09272459400. Okay?

Visit I AM KCAT page on Facebook for updates c/o my sister, Talitha..

Maglalakwatsa muna ako.. Hahaha ;P

For KCAT (me! me! me!)

1 Month to go

Target date for my head surgery is April 7, 8 or 9.. But that still depends if we have already raised P400,00 by then. Hopefully. Definitely.

Am I ready? Of course! "Matutulog lang naman ako, pag gising ko, OK na!" ;P Money for surgery nalang. But my mom always tell me that I don't need to worry about the (huge) amount every time I need to undergo medical procedure. Truthfully, we don't have that much money but there is always a way and helping hands along the road. And on the end of the road.. is the Operating Room.. Haha. God will always provide.

Here's a visual explanation of how my head will be opened. Face/Off ;P


I'm asking again: Please support. PLEASE.

Amen!

A blogger friend left a comment on my blog post and shared this quote:

"God gives us hardships and trials only because HE has complete faith and confidence that we can handle it"

YES!!! I've been a believer of that ever since.. No need to explain further, the quote says it all..

I'll also quote myself:

"Thankful na nga ako kasi alam ko naman na kaya bakit Niya ako binigyan ng napakabigat na problema. kasi.. alam Niya.. alam ng Diyos na tlaagang strong ako di ba?"

(YSPEAK interview, 12/8/2007)

Not-So-Good News

We went to my eye doctor last Monday, regarding my swollen swallowing right eye.. Tarsorrhaphy is not an option anymore since the bone at the side/back of my right eye is actively pushing it out.. So he advised us to see my neurosurgeon for a checkup regarding that..

while we were in Dr. Lopez's (my NS) clinic, explaining my CT Scan plate and my right eye.. I can already sense that something is wrong, though I didn't feel anxious nor worried.. I got to catch up some words that my doctor was saying: "tumor" "bone" "ct scan" "mri" etc. etc.

and then I finally butt in and asked, "anong meron?" as if i was curious to know if there'll be an upcoming event.. ;P

October 25, 2005...

...was the start of my 2-month stay in the hospital then my health suddenly deteriorated.

Almost Almost Blind Right Eye

I always check the vision of my right eye by closing my left eye and using just my right to see.. and then I was surprised to see than I can't see anything on my right anymore.. I can only see a major major super blurry light.. the silhouette image I used to see before is nowhere to be found..

i edited a picture to show how my right vision used to be and how it is now..

i used this pic:

Be aware. Be inspired.

A few days ago, someone from TV5's Alagang Kapatid messaged me on ym.........
....and then the camera rolls again!

Storyline Whispers (ANC) - Kcat Yarza

aired on ANC on July 22, 2010

There's hope in silence & darkness

Holly Alonzo has an NF2 and is raising funds for her ABI (Auditory Brainstem Implant).. I don't really know her.. Her NF2 made her DEAF and BLIND, but she never gave up & lose hope.. You can purchase her ebook for 7$ (through paypal) at http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/never-giving-up-hope/7293409

Holly is almost totally deaf. She needs the ABI urgently because she can’t see either.

She needs USD20,000.00 for her implant.. All proceeds will go to her ABI fund..

Let's help Holly & be inspired.



Please visit Holly's website here.

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Independent-Dependent

I'm Thread-less & Bandage-free!!!