Hope in You, Hope in Yam

(Written by Shy Baquiano, a Colleague of Jon Bayogan)
18 July 2006

It was one day in summer this year when the Bayogans rushed their youngest daughter, Yam, to the hospital for fever. Thinking that it was an ordinary illness, it did not really alarm the family much. But it turned out to be something worse than dengue – leukemia.

The first diagnosis was that Yam had ALL (Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia). They were assured that the prognosis for this type of leukemia for Yam’s age is good – up to 80% survival or complete remission. So she was given steroids to arrest the growth of bad cells and to enhance production of good cells.

Learning that their 10-year-old daughter had leukemia was devastating. But being told that the type of leukemia she has, has a poor prognosis, was even worse. It turned out that Yam did not have ALL, but AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia). This type requires a more focused and severe treatment than the earlier diagnosis.

In AML, the stem cells usually develop into a type of white blood cell called myeloblasts (or myeloid blasts). The myeloblasts, or leukemia cells, in AML are abnormal and do not mature into healthy white blood cells. These blood cells are unable to do their usual work and can build up in the blood and bone marrow so there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. When this happens, infection, anemia, or easy bleeding may occur. The leukemia cells can spread outside the blood to other parts of the body, including the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), skin, and gums. Sometimes leukemia cells form a solid tumor called a granulocytic sarcoma or chloroma.

The experience of listening to the doctor’s revelation was harrowing, even for parents who are both strong emotionally. But both Jonathan and Emma had to brace themselves as they discussed the treatment protocol, the possible side effects, Yam’s possible reaction to treatment, the treatment duration, and the comparatively poorer prognosis with Yam’s doctor. Disclosing this to Yam was even harder.

Yam has had her first two courses of chemotherapy in May and in June. Both times, she had to be rushed back to the hospital after several days for post-chemo blood transfusion and supportive after care. She is due to have her third course this month.

Just recently, they were told that after Yam’s third course of chemotherapy, she could now be ready for bone marrow transplantation. The expenses for hospitalization and medicines had already been a blow to the financial resources of the Bayogans. Now that bone marrow transplantation is in the offing, life would be even more difficult.

Where before the family still had time to go out on weekends, eat out, or gallivant around town just to have fun but quality time together (Jonathan works in another province and goes home only on weekends), now weekends are spent either at home or worse, in the hospital.Yam’s older siblings (John, Gabriel, and Janice) were all for supporting their parents during this hard time, to which Jonathan and Emma are of course grateful. Janice is even taking on humbling chores she never did before and went through scant sleeps at night to attend to her younger sibling’s occasional whims.

As they struggled to accept the condition of Yam, both Jonathan and Emma were burdened with the attitude of seeking how their youngest child could survive. They had been scouring the net for clues of medical assistance, including bringing her to the US for treatment.

The whole family is on their knees as funds dipped low in so short a time. But it is during this low time of their lives that they realize their great vulnerability, realize their inevitable need of others – not just to salve their pained hearts and assist them in the occasional brisk pace of attending to yam’s needs but also to chip to the piling hospital bills. Above all, they realize that only God could heal surely and completely.

And so they are hanging in there, beseeching God for a miracle.

Glimmers of hope could be gleaned as text messages, phone calls, and emails from friends came pouring in, offering prayers and even financial assistance. Yam’s doctor has also been very helpful and sympathetic.

But then of course, there is still that great question of “will she make it?”

Yes, Yam will make it. YOU will help Yam make it. YOU are an instrument for Yam’s speedy, complete, and miraculous healing. You can pray. Or you can help pay her hospital bills.