Most people say, my life’s story is amazing. I am brave. I am strong. Little did they know, I’ve suffered depression, I was stressed, distressed, disappointed, and frustrated. While most people of my age start building their own independent lives, mine’s different. After I graduated in college with honors and have passed the Interior Designer’s Licensure Examinations in the Philippines on year 2012, I was diagnosed with Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) on the brain the next year (August 2013). The AVM caused me to suffer two (2) Major strokes. And on September of the same year, I had an open-skull surgery to obliterate the AVMs on my brain.

The haemorrhage in my brain damaged many parts on me. It affected my vision (I am now enduring double vision, spinning vision, and Nystagmus), my speech became slow (Aphasia), I got deformed facial features, my body movements’ control and coordination is now impaired (I write slowly like a Kindergarten would do), the whole left side of my body has a partial loss of sensation, and I lost my balance- i can no longer walk independently. November, also of year 2013, I was diagnosed of Tracheal Stenosis and had my second major operation. It was a reconstruction of my trachea to remove the parts that causes the closing of my airway. On February 2015, I have undergone Gamma Knife Radiosurgery to remove the remaining AVMs on my brain. I am hoping that it’ll be the last procedure I have to go through.

My medical procedures, treatments, and hospitalizations took a toll on my family. We are now experiencing financial bankruptcy and poverty. We lost our house, family business, and other properties. There are even days we do not have anything to buy food. Because of our condition and myself seeking for something to do with life, I’ve tried applying in home-based jobs like academic writer, virtual assistant, or English tutor online. But sadly, for more than two years of trying to find work for a living, I was unable to find one.  I am always rejected or failed due to my speech problem and lacking of equipment. Despite all of these, I was also able to continue fighting and hoping in life because of people who help me. Then one day, Kuya Mike offered help. Before, I questioned “What have I done in my life to suffer like this?” But now my questioning was replaced with “What have I done for others that I became worthy of their help?”

I realized that there are still people who willingly reach out a hand to the needy without something in return. There is still good in this suffering world indeed. The approval of the laptop acquisition and receiving of it happened days before my 26^th birthday. It was like a birthday gift for me and I’ll be grateful all my life for the people who became vessels of this blessing. It was truly a big help on my writing online or blogging which I believe will help me achieve financial freedom and help supporting myself. My journey is indeed amazing and extraordinary because of the people who helped me go through my suffering. I am grateful for your big hearts. Thank you Kuya Mike!

With the sincerest thanksgiving,

Loida