Fighting for Life

June 4, 2009

September 2005, a new problem came into my life. It concerns my health. The doctor said that I have “Scoliosis”, an illness that made my spine twist and turn. It was already 25-30 degrees. For operation, it will cost half a million pesos and my family doesn’t have that big amount so we decided to look for other opinions from other doctors. We met another one. She said I need to wear a “body brace” to prevent the turn of my spine. Without thinking twice, my parents bought it for 20,000 pesos and I wore the brace for 2 and a half years.

Last 2007, my mother and I visited the doctor again to have an x-ray test for my back. The doctor said we need to come back the tomorrow to know the result. The next day, I had big hopes that it will be good but it didn’t go that way. Instead of being healed, my back was already twisted at 50degrees. I suffered different pains in my body and I had shed so many tears because of it.

November 2008, my dad’s friend suggested making me see a doctor in Cebu and he told me and my mom. They both decided that we will see the doctor. We departed at 6 in the morning by plane to Cebu, my first plane ride. In Cebu we went to see 2 doctors. The first one has negative news, “hopeless” was the word I heard from his mouth. The second one said that there is still a chance but I can see in his face the reality. He also suggested making me wear a different kind of brace and a new doctor for us to see. My parents bought the brace which cost 15,000pesos. Before we went home to Cagayan de Oro City, we first went to a Miraculous Saint, “Birhen sa Regla”. She once helped me, and we are hoping that she will help us again. I asked her one simple thing “cure me”.

When we came back from Cebu, my mother and I visited the doctor who was recommended by my doctor in Cebu. She was nice, she said that if I’ll be rehabilitated, it will be helped, and if I wear the brace too. And when I turn 18, I will have an operation.

December 2008, my uncle visited me. He’s a priest from Malaybalay, Bukidnon. But I didn’t get the chance to talk to him because I was in class that time, but he and my mother talked. My mother was crying because of what I had been going through that time, the pain and all, but there was something that my uncle told my mom that made her strong; “Do not lose hope, because hope is beyond death.”.

February 26, 2009, my friends hosted a farewell party for me because I am leaving the place where I grew up for 13 years. Because of my condition, my system is already weak and I could hardly breathe. My doctor said that the city is no place for me anymore because of the heat and pollution. Everybody cried, and I also cried. I did not want to go but I had no choice. I still want to live. I still want to fulfill my dreams.

Sometimes I feel a little jealous to the people around me. I wonder why of all the millions of people in the world, why does it have to be me getting this “gift”. Why me? But my mom always says “He loves you very much that’s why He gave you that gift”.

I’m still suffering from various pains all over my body and I still shed tears because of it. But I need to be strong because through Him, nothing is impossible.

I don’t know what will happen to me. I don’t know how it will end. But I’ll just enjoy life and be happy despite what is happening. Because I know He loves me and I am not alone. I know that God is always there to care and love me.

- Samantha Nicole Delfin

*Uncle's note:

This was written about 2months ago. i just got hold of this recently and since i was on travel most of the time, it took me a little time to post it. I told sam to write, draw, paint whenever she feels down or whenever she is happy. it makes her forget what she is into.

thank you for reading this article..