Hey My Fellow Steemians and Fellow Uloggers!
It’s me @glenyosores.I’m back for a very long break. It’s been a while that I haven’t posted blogs, #Ulogs, singing songs, #Badkaraoke Contest, #open mic contest, and joining contests in this platform. I also missed #steemgigs show together with my ever dearest Steemit witness Sir Terry 
I have so many things to share with you in my succeeding blogs about what happened in my 3 weeks of absence. But right now, I just want to share with you a story of my wife’s cousin.
His real name is Jeoffry Occena aka ”Nung Jojo”.His 37 years old, married to Felma Occena.He has 2 children name Klint Occena, eight years old(eldest) and Lianne Grace Occena, six years old(youngest). Jojo is the only boy in the family. His father’s name is Alfredo Occena,63 years old(former Ice plant worker) and his mother is Occena,58 years old(Avon sales dealer).
He graduated Bachelor in Secondary Education, major in Mathematics in Negros Oriental State University in 2006. He did a good job in his studies and successfully passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers in the same year. He had three years of experienced as a Teacher aide before he landed a permanent position as a Teacher 1 in the Public School. And his first assignment was in the mountain place of Bayawan City called “Kalamtukan” and there he met his wife. As time flies, they got married and have children. Everything was perfectly fine! No worries and life run very smoothly. He bought a lot, built a house and lived there for almost 5 years.
Jwitho's wife hasn't finished college. He was the breadwinner in the family. He was in trouble with money and his salary as a Public Teacher cannot suffice his daily needs. He sold his house in the place and asked for transfer in Bayawan National High School.His favour has been granted in the Division of Bayawan in the year 2013.He lived together with his parents and bring his family too.At that time,he already feels there’s something worrying inside his head. But he neglected it.Everything still normal and nothing to worry about.
August 15, 2014 7:20pm first attack
This was the time when dilemma came in Jojo’s life. He was down and collapsed. The family was shocked and he was admitted to the hospital. The hospital in Bayawan has no sufficient medical equipment, he was advised to be in Dumaguete. The doctor found out that Jojo has a “Brain tumor”benign leading to malignancy. The stage of the brain tumor was never mentioned.B rain tumor is a collection or mass of abnormal cells in the brain. ( https://www.healthline.com/health/brain-tumor) The family was so sad about the situation and Jojo was half stroke in that incident. The family felt depressed and unhappy. They spent in the hospital for almost 2 weeks.
At first,Jo jo felt so hopeless too. He can’t believe it. Maybe because he’s thinking of his children’s future and his wife. But he keeps on trying hard to cope up and recover about the situation. He did a massage therapy and consult the doctor regularly. He has daily medicine maintenance for his early recovery. Little by little, he learned to accept the fact that he has a brain tumor and he must move on and be a strong man for the sake of his family.
Jojo was an outstanding teacher in the year 2016.He was awarded as the “Early Bird”Awardee. He always arrived in school very early at 6:10am.Despite of his physical problem, his body was half paralyzed, he still see that “Life is beautiful.”In school,his principal assigned him paper works only because of his incapacity to handle class.He can’t do early retirement also because he’s still serving for almost eight years in public teaching. He is using “baston” in going to school.He can’t even walk alone and he’s accompanied with a “habal-habal”motorcycle driver everyday.
We missed the happy, energetic, loving, and friendly Jojo. His illness (brain tumor) affects his whole body system in 2017.Hi s ways, character and attitude changed. He won’t join family activities, gatherings, teacher’s event and all social activities.He was aloft. He wanted to be alone.We really missed his “good charisma”. He hated to go in the hospital and do mthe edical examination. I think he hated his life. But there’s one thing that struck me most,he never forgotten that he has two children. He always checked if his kids do their assignments, projects and he always saved his money not only on his medicines but his most priority is his children’s “baon”. He is a good father.
Going back to his brain tumor attacked in 2014,the doctor advised his family to prepare sum amount of money in his Brain Tumor Operation. But Jojo refused it. Maybe he's just afraid on what will happen to him if the operation will not be successful. He kept it deep inside and never mind on what will happen to him.
So,4 years later,in July 23,2018, the second attack came to Jojo’s life. He was again brought in the Hospital and diagnosed as Brain Tumor leading to malignancy.The family cried a lot because he was in 50/50 stage.Dextrose attached,NGT and brought to ICU(Intensive Care Unit).The doctor said that he’ll be 50/50 chance of survival and if he will not fight within few more hours,then,they must have to prepare in the result that Jojo will passed away.Upon hearing this,all of us prayed,prayed,and prayed a lot. It took 22 hours before his body responded to the machine attached in his body. When the nurses tries to inject him and get some sample blood, his blood won’t come out.
Two days after,July 25,2018,my wife and I visited Jojo in ICU Silliman Medical Hospital.We offered some prayers for him in his early recovery.We asked guidance from the Almighty. When I saw him that day,seeing him in his deathbed,in comatose, grasping air, with Life Support in his body,I feel so sad.I realized,life is just too short to waste. I think of his children.His chidren are still young to lost a father. Jojo is really fighting for his brain tumor. The family is also hoping that whatever it takes,Jojo will live and still be with them.Only God knows.
This is the cousin of Jojo who attended from the very beginning until now.
At 3:00 in the afternoon,July 25,2018,there’s a miracle that happened to Jojo. He was able to stretch his arms and leg.Nurses and doctors who were closely monitoring his life status, were happy and felt positive that he’s really fighting and he’s a true fighter.As hours passed,he also progresses very fast.And so when his physician saw it,he immediately told the family to prepare money for his Operation. His operation cost $10,000.Upon hearing this, the family look for money and humbly ask for some donations in the government Sectors. The school in which he is teaching,headed by the Principal,sent a letter in the Division Office to ask for a financial assistance for Jojo’s operation.The family also ask financial assistance in PCSO and DSWD.
Today,July 30,2018,will be his one week in Silliman Medical Hospital. His operation will be scheduled as soon as their hospital bill payments will be cleared. Supposed to be,Jojo will have his operation this Monday but their money is not sufficient to pay bills.The partial balance in the hospital is Php.114,463.52.
As of now,the family has only Php.200,000 cash on hand. So if they’ll gonna pay the partial bill,the money left will be intended for the downpayment for his operation.Jojo will be transferred in Holy Child Hospital Dumaguete,Philippines as soon as they will be transferred out in Silliman Medical Center.
Thank you so much for reading. May God bless us always!
