Kumbento 88 at 20 - A Cause For Brotherhood

lifted from Jeff Sulit's email to our yahoogroup

Mga Kasama,

Nuong Xmas gathering last Saturday kina Jay, nabangit ni Jun "Little Drummer Boy" Lara about the current medical condition of one of our batchmates.

We have been planning since Feb this year about a flagship project for our 20th year. There were suggestions for scholarship grants to a charitable organization, scholarship for some of our batchmates' children, outreach programs, and electronic scoreboard for the PCC gym. But unfortunately, nothing has been decided on until last December 21, 2007 during our Christmas Party.

I would like to suggest that we share our blessings to the person nearest to our hearts, our batchmate. I think it was not coincidence that these planning and meetings were discussed but rather this purpose was meant to materialize in the perfect time. Nothing in my opinion is greater, more genuine, and pressing than the cause for our batchmate, Jobet Lara, who needs our help right now.

At first, Jun intended to post this immediate and sustaining need of Jobet but decided to let Jobet share his condition regarding the matter.

As you can read in his email, nahihiya siya to post this himself kasi medyo matagal na rin siyang walang contact to most of us. Sinabi ko sa kanya na it doesn't matter since everyone of us is a true kumbento boy and a part of the brotherhood of batch 88 (graduate man o hindi).

In his behalf, I would like to call the attention of those connected or who has connection to pharma companies if we can help him out with the drugs he listed below. And at the same time, those who can offer financial assistance and even prayers or whatever help we can give to please extend it to him at his time of need.

Salamat at mabuhay ang ating kapatiran. Nothing has been decided on, so we knock on your kind hearts to help or pray for Jobet.

Long live K88,

Jeff Sulit


Jobet's Response to Jeff's Email:

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for bringing that up. Medyo nahihiya kasi ako at more than 2 decades na tayo di nagkita at baka di mo na ako kilala. Nabanggit nga ni jun na tinatanong mo raw details ng medical condition ko and about the treatment I am undergoing. na-diagnose ako last November may stage 3 hodgkin's disease ako. Lymphoma or cancer of the lymphatic system. May cancer ang mga kulani ko sa katawan which makes me vulnerable to all kinds of other diseases. Sa biopsy di nakita kung saan ko nakuha sakit pero baka genetic daw. basta alam ko na abuso sa katawan ang cause ng lahat ng klase ng cancer. I lost 2 aunts and 1 uncle to cancer. Sabi rin ng Oncologist ko baka namana ko raw sa kanila ang sakit. Pero di ko na iniisip kung saan ko nakuha sakit ko. Iniisip ko na lang na lalabanan ko sakit ko at gagaling ako at malalampasan ko
ang trial na ito sa buhay ko.

I need to undergo 6 cycles (12 sessions) of chemotherapy and I was given a 90% chance of survival. Di naman grabe stage ng cancer ko dahil naagapan ko rin. So far tapos ko na 1 cycle or 2 sessions. So far, favorable ang response ng katawan ko sa mga gamot. Lumiit na mga bukol ko sa katawan. Lumiit na bukol ko sa leeg, sa dibdib at sa magkabilang kili-kili. Tanda mo ba kami magkambal na naglalaro ng pingpong sa kumbento before? Kasing laki ng pingpong ball ang bukol ko sa magkabilang kilikili ko before. pero thank God nawala din. Di na ako masyado inuubo (I have a small swollen lymph node blocking my trachea right at the opening of my wind pipe). Every night pag nakahiga ako grabe ubo ko. Di ko lang alam situation inside my body. Affected din kasi liver, spleen, pancreas and diaphram ko. The CT Scan showed scattered sesame seed-like growth on my liver, spleen, pancreas and diaphram. Nakakita ka na ba ng palitaw na may budbod ng linga? korean beef stew? Ganun itsura nila.

I still have 10 sessions (5 cycles) of chemotherapy to go. Di masakit ang treatment, masakit ang gastos. I need P25,000 every chemotherapy session, P5,000 professional fee for my doctor, P15,000 for the chemo drugs, P5,000 for the use of the chemo room, gadgets (oxygen at anti-allergy drug... may allergy kasi ako sa isang gamot na isinasaksak sa akin) machines, and other medical supplies. Every 2 weeks ang schedule ng chemo session ko. Baka naman pwede ako matulungan ng batch either maghanap ng source ng chemo drugs ko na mas cheaper or sponsor any or all the chemo drugs I'm using.

Eto list ng drugs na isinasaksak sa akin every chemo session:

NASEA
DOXORUBICIN
BLEOMYCIN
VINBLASTIN
DACARBAZINE

Pwede ba kayo na lang mag-post nito? Mas regular kasi kayo nagkikita ng batch. Medyo nahihiya ako. I hope and pray sana matulungan ako ng batch.

Attend ako ng next gathering ng batch kung hindi ako groge sa chemo session ko.

Thanks & Regards to your family. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Jobet