Dinner - A Big Success

Katseye and Andree

On Oct 16, 2009 (Friday), 6:00PM at Strumm’s Jupiter Makati a fundraising dinner for katseye happened. Katseye’s friends, relatives, and friends of friends got together. An overwhelming number of guests arrived to support Katseye on her battle against cancer. The fund raised from this event will sustain Katseye’s 2nd chemotherapy scheduled on Oct. 23, 2009.


Katseye’s Speech
I was diagnosed to have Stage 3 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma last month but
as early as March of this year I have been in pain. My left leg was
very painful that no medicine can relieve it. In April, my leg
started to swell and I also noticed an enlarged lymph node in my neck
- pero di ko pinansin.

Slowly, as weeks and months passed, I noticed a lot of changes -- changes
that were very alarming: I had difficulty walking even a short
distance due to the pain and swollen leg, I would be out of breath
when I talk or walk - there even came a point where my lips would
turn blue.

This is the time I decided to go to a Cardiologist and diagnosed me to
have Deep Venous Thrombosis. I was prescribed with blood thinners but
after 2 months of treatment there weren't any significant improvement
in my condition and above all - I was still in pain. The doctor told
me 'Di na kita kaya pagalingin, irerefer na kita sa iba" - he referred
me to a Vascular Specialist at the Heart Center.

The night before my check up I noticed a big lump in my left armpit,
so the following day I showed the doctor the lumps in my neck and
armpit, she also checked my leg. I also gave her my medical history
and she finally said "We have to rule out lymphoma"

Then it all happened so fast. I had my biopsy on the first week of
September, after 4 days they confirmed I have cancer -- so the next
step is to know what kind of cancer - is it lung cancer, breast cancer
or lymphoma. The following week I went to the NKI to get a 2nd
opinion and while waiting nagpa-CT scan ako. They found out na stage
3 na yung cancer and the NKI confirmed that I have lymphoma and the
kind is called Diffuse Large B cell -- a very aggressive type. The
only treatment is chemotherapy.

When I found out I have cancer I was very hurt because I was still
young, but most of all I was hurt for my baby girl at the thought of
her losing me. I really, really, really want to be there when she
grows up. I dont want to miss all the milestones in her life, She is
the main reason why I can not lose this battle.

So this is where I thank you all for coming to show your love and
support. I am also grateful to those who came even if you dont know
me. You didnt just save me, but you also saved Andree's mom.



Katseye's Sisters


I would like to specifically thank my sisters: Theresa, Karla, Berna,
Vjet, Chubby and Ate Day for putting all this together. You have
showed me how unconditional love can be. I would not have survived all
these without you. For this I will be forever grateful for your
unending support. No words can fully express how much thankful I am
and how much this means to me. You are the testament of God's love
for me. I love you all so much.