It was around 4pm that day, I just finished talking to my brother-in-law (Eva’s brother) regarding Eva’s condition. Eva was confined in the hospital that time for two weeks. All my savings were gone. The hospital bills are piling up and I don’t know what to do then.
During my conversation, I can’t help but notice a lady at her 50s walking and giving us a glance. When I was about to go back to Eva’s room, I saw the lady standing near our room. She gave me a smile and said I can sense you have a big problem son? Who’s inside the room? I said it’s my wife Tita. She has cancer.
Then I asked her, why are you here in the hospital Tita? She said: My daughter. She has brain cancer. Then I told her that all she has to do is to pray for we have a merciful and a loving God.
I find that hard to believe she said. I asked her why? Then she related her story:
I am a battered wife she said. For no reason at all, my husband will beat me black and blue. I reached a point where I already lost my self-respect and the will to live. I had to hang-on and swallow my pride for my kids. Until the last straw came, my eldest son died in a car accident. That I cannot take anymore she said. I gathered my kids and left my husband. I started a new life. I regained my will to live again.
I know it’s going to be a tough life ahead of me, but I never thought it’s going to be full of trials. I was diagnosed to have brain cancer. I had to undergo a lot of treatments, pains and sleepless nights. After years of treatment, my cancer was gone. I was so happy. I thought my trials are over. But I was wrong, it was my husband’s turn to get sick. My children keeps prodding me to accept him back. I had no choice. So I have to take care of my husband despite being beaten by him several times. Now, I have to work for him to support his food and medicines.
I have to learn to live with it but another problem occurred, my daughter was diagnosed with the same cancer I had – Brain Cancer. I really can’t believe all these things are happening to me she said. So where is God she asked me?
To be honest, I don’t know what to say. Being a new Christian, I don’t know what to tell a grieving mother. All I can say is for her to pray and pray. Yes she said, I am praying. I am asking God to take away my daughter’s cancer to give my cancer back. And if this is too much to ask, then I am asking God to end my daughter’s suffering. I wish that when I go back to her room, she will just be sleeping and never regain her conciousness again.
You know my son she said, I would rather see my daughter lifeless than see her in terrible pain. It’s tearing me apart she said. At this point in time, I really can’t say anything. All I can utter is don’t worry Tita, I will include you and your daughter in my prayers. She just gave me a smile and told me to take care of my wife. We went back to our respective rooms after.
The next morning, Eva (my wife) was to leave the hospital. I had to arrange all the necessary papers for her discharge. When I got out of the room, I saw Tita in front of me pushing a wheel chair.
I greeted her : Good Morning Tita. She greeted me back and said this is my daughter. I have to bring her downstairs for her laser treatment. We reached the elevator station and I told her : “Tita, always remember that with God, nothing is impossible. Have faith in him that He will heal your daughter. After uttering those words, Tita turn to me and hug me so tight and she whispered to me : “Yes my son. I know and thank you for reminding me of that love since yesterday”. Then she went inside the elevator with her daughter.
I don’t know what happen to Tita and her daughter anymore, that was the last time I saw them. But that experience sends shivers to my whole body. Being a Christian is not an easy task. It’s a journey. But am wiling to take the journey for I know God is with me all the time.
