CML patient remains strong for her family Marilyn Umali It has been 12 years since Marilyn Umali was first diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML). At the time of her diagnosis, she found it difficult to accept her circumstance, especially since she has a young family to take care of. While many “what ifs” came to her mind, she never questioned God. With the help and support of her husband, Marilyn was always reminded that she can handle anything and everything wit

EPCALM Patient John Lerick Otazu Our featured patient for this maiden issue of EPCALM News Online is John Lerick Otazu, 23. A serviced patient of EPCALM since 2020, John Lerick has been diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML). Presently, he is on oral chemotherapy and steroids medication. The second of four siblings, he graduated from the San Jose Elementary School in Rizal Province, and thereafter went to the San Jose National High School also in Rizal. Their paren

King’s aunt Alice Litao sent an e-mail to EPCALM last April 10, 2014 asking how they could ask for help for King Arthur who was suffering from leukemia. They chanced upon the EPCALM website while they were surfing through the internet, looking for a leukemia support group. King has been in remission for 6 months after he was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) last Nov 2012. After 6 months of remission, King had a relapse last March 1, 2014. King, 31 (at 1st co

“God Help Me!!!” – This is the shout of a 26 year old Leukemia patient while blood was coming out from his nose and mouth back in February 2015 when all of his blood test results went below normal. Michael Angelo Go is a 3rd year Medicine student and a graduate of Nursing batch 2011 at Gullas College in Cebu City. Aside from being a doer, having volunteered after typhoon Yolanda devastated the Visayas area a few years back, Michael is also known to some to be a giver. One sto

Tara \t(a)-ra\ as stated in www.thinkbabynames.com as a girl’s name is pronounced TAH-rah. It is of Gaelic and Sanskrit origin, and the meaning of Tara is “hill; star”. Tara in wikipedia is also a goddess in various religions. For EPCALM, Tara is Tara Enrile, 34, a mother of a lovely 4-year old daughter, Kara, and who is an Overseas Foreign Worker (OFW) based in Ichinomiya-shi, Aichi, Japan. Tara’s story and leukemia journey is that of Faith, Hope and Love (as this is Tara’s

Ryan O’Neel Equio, a 34-year old rescuer of the PDRRMC Search and Rescue Team, has been in the forefront of all rescue missions deployed by the local government of Negros Oriental since 2009. Also a rescue volunteer of the ONE RESCUE EMS, Ryan has been helping save lives of victims of calamities, mishaps and accidents of all forms. The years of rescue work and constant exposure to danger and life-risking situations, somehow made Ryan and his fellow rescuers assume the feeling

Michelle Ann Fernandez-Dechavez, writes a plea to the kind-hearted. See her letter below: “… (When) I found out (that) my husband Kitz had leukemia last November 2012, my whole world crumbled. I was 4 months pregnant with a sick husband whom I am married to for only a year. I had to be strong for the both of them, and I did. Despite the financial burden, the help of friends and family saw us through four chemotherapy sessions. I gave birth to our son last April and thought t

“God will sow” as defined by gotquestion.org is the meaning of Jezreel. Jezreel, as further defined in gotquestion.org: “….was a city in the plain or valley of Esdraelon. It was also called the Valley of Jezreel. The Valley of Jezreel is a beautiful and broad valley or plain, stretching from west to east from Mount Carmel and the sea to the Jordan, which it reaches through two arms, between the mountains of Gilboa, Little Hermon, and Tabor; and from south to north from the

Help Save Our Dad! is the battle cry of Rommel Mauricio’s family – Wife Annie (36); and children; Mhelannie (13); Riza Angela (11); and Princess Anne (8), as they journey with their father, Rommel, 35, who was recently diagnosed with Leukemia last 2012. Rommel who is currently unemployed, is from San Simon, San Nicolas, Pampanga. Prior to diagnosis, Rommel was experiencing on and off fever and general body malaise. Upon check-up in the local hospital, the doctor initially

Flight Delayed. Flight delayed: a term often found at the airports, caused by various reasons, i.e. unavailable aircraft, increased airport traffic, poor weather conditions, etc. Flight delays most often cause inconvenience on the part of the passengers due to missed plans and schedules, whether business-related or personal. Paulo found his “life flight” being delayed by a discovery at the hospital. Paulo Luces, 28 year old engineer, was diagnosed with AML (Acute Myelogeno

Rene Macalalad’s hope rests on God. He thanks and praises Him for his new trial, because now, Rene finds reason and purpose in Life: to help other Leukemia patients who are suffering the same fate, by giving strength and encouragement; and to fellow farmers (Rene being an agriculturist) to provide awareness on the dangers of using chemicals (i.e. fertilizers) on fruits and vegetables. Rene, 25 years old, is one of the latest patients that has approached EPCALM for assistance

Just when Rovil was ready and prepared to face life in full bloom, her career has been nipped in the bud by Leukemia. Let us journey with Rovil as she battles with this dreaded disease, and pray for her eventual recovery. Read below Rovil’s write-up: “….I’m Rovil Villas, 22 years old. I just passed the nursing licensure exam last year. While waiting for the result, I worked as a call center agent. It was May 2012 when I was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

“...Life will knock us down, but we can choose whether or not to get back up...” – Mr. Han (Karate Kid - 2010) Nothing is impossible – even the most unlikely thing is bound to happen in our lives. It may break and knock us down, but one thing is for sure God will surely help us overcome the battle and will use others as instruments to guide us. God won’t give up on us, so there’s no reason for us to retreat. And that’s what Mischelle Cuajotor, a Leukemia patient, had shown u

Last January 2011, Arlene Danugo Bisamos, married to Erwin Bisamos (33), residing in Blk 28 LRT, Barangay Gregoria de Jesus, GMA, Cavite, was admitted to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), to give birth to her fourth child. Arlene, a 29 year old mother of 3 girls ages 14 (Erleen), 12 (Cassandra Lee) and 3 (Sophia Ezra), was undergoing regular laboratory examinations, due to frequent hematuria during pregnancy. Upon evaluation of the test results though, Arlene was dia

Not many will look back to the period of their early twenties and see a time heavy with medical trials. Our friend, Ryan, will belong to such minority, as he has many somber remembrances in his young adulthood. As I entered the hospital to visit a newly diagnosed leukemia patient together with his parents, I couldn’t help but come to the stark realization that many cannot come even close to saying they have been through so much at his age. In 2008, at the age of 17, Ryan ex

Glenn Mayo is a 36 year old OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) who has been diagnosed with meningitis and AML (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia) for well over a year now. Only this December did a close friend find and connect with EPCALM to start assisting his family in what ways we can.Glenn Mayo is a 36 year old OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) who has been diagnosed with meningitis and AML (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia) for well over a year now. Only this December did a close friend f

Jessel with brother Manuel (left) and EPCALM Executive Director Cesar Dumogho (center) As soon as Manuel Dancel found out that his sister, Jessel Dancel Hsu was diagnosed to have leukemia, he wasted no time in searching for avenues of help and cure for his beloved sister. When one gets diagnosed with a dreaded disease, the sick gets strength from the love of family manifested by the way the closely knit Filipino family is drawn even closer together to do everything they can a

Gladys Abano, 28 years old, married, first consulted doctors at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) last November 2010 due to easy fatiguability and pallor. After testing, Gladys was found to have a decreased hemoglobin count, thus blood transfusions were recommended. But due to persistent and recurrent signs and symptoms, work-ups were done, where Gladys underwent bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. Results of the work-ups revealed that Gladys has Acute Myelogenous Leukem

Exactly 16 days ago, I was diagnosed with Leukemia. Despite all the tests, medications, complications and even the first chemotherapy I recently went through, the thought of having Leukemia hasn’t really sunk in yet. Everything just happened so quickly. Cliché as it sounds, that’s how it was literally for me. When the diagnosis was disclosed to me, I saw my life slowly crumble right in front of me. But I knew I had to look strong for my family so I kept it all inside. Perhaps

Anna Carmela Tria Kho, 22 years old, has been recently diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) last March 16, 2011. Anna Carmela was referred to doctors for evaluation of Pancytopenia, a medical condition in which there is a reduction in the number of red and white blood cells, as well as platelets. Her physical appearance upon examination revealed marked pallor. No organomegaly (abnormal enlargement of organs) was observed though at the time of the examination. A