Help us save my Daddy!

This is for the most selfless, most amazing Dad in the universe who deserves the best life possible. My Daddy Paul.

by: Maikee Maninang (Michelle Andrea Maninang)

Last 2018, My Dad was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (MM), a type of Cancer to the Bone Marrow wherein the cancer forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. Healthy plasma cells help you fight infections by making antibodies that recognize and attack germs, but in multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells rather than produce helpful antibodies, the cancer cells produce abnormal proteins that can cause complications. Multiple Myeloma is an incurable type of cancer - although there are cases when it is managed well, patients with this disease enjoy a long and happy life.

When we found out, it broke our hearts into tiny million pieces and baffled us. How can this gentle giant be sick with such an awful disease? How can this generous and loving soul be in such a dire situation? He didn’t deserve this. He deserves so many more amazing things and adventures but not this, not MM.

Honestly, it broke me to my core; it made me question my faith. It made me question myself; it made me ask how of all people, why should it be my Dad? When there are those who I know deserve this sickness more - not my Dad. I know it was wrong for me to think this way, but in my heart, I couldn’t fathom why this had to happen to him. I grew angrier as I read through all the research and the struggles patients undergo with MM. But, it wasn’t until I saw my Mommy's astounding strength, her unwavering and immense love for my Daddy and us. Trust me, I can see her pain and sadness, but she did not falter; she took it upon herself to be everyone’s light and foundation, this wasn’t easy, yet she amazes us every day with how she carried our situation with grace and kindness. She also had me pray to St. Rita - The Saint of the impossible, which led me to read up on her life and the faith she had to overcome the many years of struggle and challenges yet stood firm, only holding on to her faith. I realized a lot and in that moment, decided to lift it all up to our Almighty God, Mama Mary and Jesus, because as what my Dad would always remind me - always believe nothing is impossible, especially at times when it feels uncertain and overwhelming.

Through this, I saw how we became stronger as a family, how my Mom was indeed the epitome of a wonder woman and how amazing my heart really is and how love will always keep you together - how you can find solace in prayer and notice and appreciate all the small miracles you receive everyday but somehow neglect because of life and its misadventures.

By 2019, My Dad was able to proceed with a transplant. He will undergo an Autologous Transplant, wherein your bone marrow can produce healthy stem cells, and once it reaches a specific number, you can harvest them. How? By emptying the bone marrow and injecting it with the harvested healthy stem cells. It may seem easy, although the experience was far from it. My Dad had to go through months of needles, increased medication, multiple blood works, and worst isolation - the works, as they say. This was indeed not an easy journey for him. This wasn't especially easy for my Mom, but you will never hear any complaints from either of them. However hard, we were able to surpass it with a smile.

After the transplant, the infamous MM was hanging on by 1% in my Daddy’s bone marrow; because of this, he needed to undergo continued treatment, a series of do's and dont's and more injections, but we were hopeful we could slay that 1%.

Tata 1%. See you never.

To our dismay and to everyone's, CoVid came to wreak havoc on the world. This changed everything. The progress that my Dad was having halted - no treatment, no added tests, no new medication, no aggressive fighting - NADA. As he was already immunocompromised, entering the hospital was the same as entering a war zone with no weapons, gear, or protection. VERY DANGEROUS, Literally. It just wasn't worth the risk, as per his doctors. Pabida si CoVid and she's making her mark to stay so my Dad was advised to better stay home, eat well and be healthy.

After 1 year plus of no treatments but with continued maintenance through prophylaxis and some meds, we thought we got this and have his MM contained because he was getting chunkier, his hair grew back, and his smile was bigger - great days! When the Covid panic subsided, my Dad could finally continue his progress through whatever treatment his doctor saw fit.

By Christmas 2020, I was told my Daddy’s MM was back and relapsed with a growth of 6%.

Whaaaaaaaaat? I saw my world slowly tumbling down but shrugged this off and was ready to fight again. We know this was a long battle and we are not giving up. Not now, now ever!

Fast forward to today, the Infamous MM is doing her best to break our spirits - with more admissions, blood transfusions, platelet apheresis, and longer hospital stays. If this sickness were a person, I’d want to kick her in the face and slap her with a chair. Ugh.

We are trying our best to keep fighting, never to lose hope; however, inflation is also taking its toll. As of now, my Dad needs constant A+ donors for Platelet Apheresis, and A+ Packed Red Blood Cells for whole blood transfusion as his blood works are very erratic. What was then an every month thing shifted to every other week then from every week to every 2 days. He gets infections left and right. Hematomas quickly form through his body - tongue, mouth, cheek, arm, legs, toes and fingers.

I know we have what it takes, however, his treatments, his medications and his hospital stays, not to mention - Daily labs, machines and even his bed do come with such a hefty cost. A Platelet Apheresis alone costs 24k every time we have someone screened, be it passed or failed up until the actual transfusion process; every time we have to admit him would roughly cost us 300-500K per admission.

Moving to present day, my Dad had platelet apheresis together with whole blood transfusion 2 days ago. A couple of hours later, he had a fever which spiked up to 39.1; he now feels pain in his ribs and has much difficulty breathing. He was rushed to Chong Hua Hospital. After having done Multiple tests which racked 100k in cost, We found out he has pneumonia alongside the infamous MM, making it even more difficult for him to breathe and eat. He is currently on a Mechanical Ventilator and is to be transferred to an ICU room - these two alone are bleeding us dry, not to mention others costs that will be added.

We were admitted less than 24 hours, and our bills are over 100K+. My parents are now retired, and their savings, rather than enjoying it galivanting in other countries and living life to the fullest, has been drained because of our immeasurable cost.

Your prayers and kind hearts will immensely help our fight to save my Daddy, but your financial generosity would be even more tremendous help. Any amount will do as long as it’s from your heart together with thoughts and prayers that we will overcome this battle because he deserves more days. He deserves better days.

Will you help us save my Daddy?