Mom Loses Her Two Kids In The Span Of One Month, 'Play Kayo Sa Heaven, Kasi Hindi Niyo Nagawa Dito'

Losing your child is unimaginable, what more losing all your children within a span of a month? 

A recent story on Facebook immediately tugged at the heart of netizens and made us tear up—a mother shared that her two children passed away just one month apart.

The said post by Mei Antido Piolino has been shared in Facebook over 23,000 times (as of writing). In her post, Mei wrote, “My two warriors are now signing off. Marcus Gabriel P. Lopez, September 2, 2019 - June 11, 2023, Cause of Death: Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia. Athena Cassandra P. Lopez, April 27, 2021 - July 21, 2023, Cause of Death: Heart Failure.”

Her two children, Gab, 3 years old, and Athena, 2 years old, both passed away just one month apart. She added in her post, “Thank you Tondo Medical Center, doctors, nurses, and staff. Especially Doc Danilo Casasola for taking care of my two angels. Alam ko po na sobrang hirap din sa part mo dahil napalapit ka po sa mga anak ko, sa pagpapalakas ng loob ko kasi alam mong iyakin ako. Alam ko din pong ginawa mo lahat ng best mo para makasurvive sila at sobrang na appreciate ko po yun. Maraming maraming salamat din po sa lahat ng taong walang sawang nagdadasal at tumutulong para sa pamilya namin.”

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Smart Parenting interviewed Mei through Facebook Messenger chat and she said, “Sa totoo lang, sobrang hirap eh. Walang kasing sakit yung tipong gugustuhin mo nalang din sumunod sa kanila.”

But she realizes she also needs to stay strong. “Pero all of a sudden, mag-sink in din sa isip mo na yung mga anak namin, naging matapang para makipag-laban sa mga sakit nila para mabuhay. Tapos kami ito, panghihinaan lang ng loob. Pinipilit pa din naming maging maayos sa kabila ng lahat nangyayari samin.”

The Story of Gab and Athena

Mei said Athena was born with a heart disease. “Si Athena, since birth may congenital heart disease na talaga siya. Halos naging tirahan na namin ang hospital dahil lagi siyang nagkakasakit.”

The case was different for their eldest child, Gab. “Si Gab naman, itong March 2023 lang siya na diagnosed ng leukemia.”

Gab was diagnosed with Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, a rare blood cancer found in only young children. 

Mei shared the signs and symptoms they observed with Gab, “Pabalik-balik na infection.” Despite this, they were still surprised with the diagnosis because they were consistent with all his check ups. She said, “Sobrang alaga namin sila sa check ups at laboratory kaya ang hirap, hirap tanggapin na magiging ganon agad yung sakit niya.”

She also said that since Athena was born with the congenital heart disease, she was already undergoing medication and was supposed to have an open heart surgery. 

Mei said, “Si Athena for open heart surgery siya eh. May mga cardiac meds naman siyang iniinom pero dahil biglang nagkasakit ang Kuya niya, mas nabigyan namin ng atensyon si Gab dahil rare type ng cancer ang dumapo sa kanya. Mahigit three months kaming nasa hospital, walang uwian.”

'Kung may pagkakataon lang na mayakap ulit kayo kahit sa huling sandali, gagawin ko.' -Mei to Gab and Athena

They pushed through with all the possible treatments for Gab, but his body couldn't take all the treatments for long. “Nag-chemo kami pero hindi talaga kaya ng katawan ni kuya yung mga gamutan niya, kaya dumating kami sa point na tinaningan na siya ng hematology doctor niya.”

 Mei wrote about Gab’s last moments on social media too. “Narinig mong nag-salita si Daddy kaya dinilat mo ulit mata mo, kinakausap ka niya. Nagsidatingan na din mga Tita at Lola mo para magpaalam sayo. Hindi ka na nag-rerespond pero patuloy lang na tumutulo ang luha mo. Nag-decide na kaming hindi ka na patutubuhan, hindi ka na ire-revive, wala ng ituturok sayo dahil sinabi na din sakin na nasa end stage na tayo ng cancer mo. Pag tapos ko pumirma sa kasunduan binalikan agad ulit kita, pag-upo ko sa tabi mo kasabay ng malakas na ulan yung huli mong pag-hinga..”

Message to parents undergoing challenging times

Despite what their family went through, Mei tries to stay strong. She said, “Actually po, napaka-duwag kong tao. Napakaiyakin ko. Ang ginagawa ko lang is humihingi ako ng strength kay Lord para makayanan lahat ng pagsubok na binibigay Niya sa amin.”

She also shared what keeps her going, which is also a message to other parents who are undergoing challenging times, “May mga times na akala mo pinababayaan ka Niya pero nagkakamali ka. Kaya sa mga magulang na katulad kong may mabigat na pinagdadaanan, i-surrender niyo lang lahat sa Kanya. Wag kang mawawalan ng pag-asa.”

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Message to Gab and Athena

Mei shared a message to her two angel warriors. “Mga anak, kung ako lang tatanungin, gustong-gusto ko na habang buhay tayo pa din ang magkakasama. Hindi ako perpektong nanay, pero alam kong alam niyo kung gaano ko kayo ka-mahal, lagi kong iisipin yung mga masasayang alaala na binigay niyo sa amin ng Daddy niyo para lumaban pa sa buhay na 'to.”

She added, “Kung may pagkakataon lang na mayakap ulit kayo kahit sa huling sandali, gagawin ko. Namimiss na namin kayo. Mag-play lang kayo diyan sa heaven ha? Kasi hindi niyo masyadong nagawa 'yan dito eh, dahil lagi kayong may sakit, wag niyo na kami masyadong isipin dito. Mahirap pero kakayanin namin. Hanggang sa muli, Gabriel at Athena, mahal na mahal namin kayo ni Daddy.”

What is Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia?

According to Cancer Research UK, Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is a very rare type of slowly developing (chronic) blood cancer that occurs in young children. Children of any age can be diagnosed with JMML. Over half of those diagnosed (over 50%) are under 2 years old.

There is still no known cause for this specific type of cancer, or any prevention known. It currently has a 50% survival rate. The only known cure is through bone marrow transplant.

Some of the symptoms of JMML are similar to those of other childhood illnesses. And they vary between children. Remember JMML is rare. And it develops fairly slowly. This means that symptoms might develop over weeks or months.

• being tired, lethargic and generally feeling unwell
• being irritable–it might take a young child longer to settle
• bruising easily
• nosebleeds and bleeding gums
• looking pale
• fever
• getting lots of infections
• an enlarged liver and spleen–you might have noticed your child has jumped a nappy or trouser size quickly
• pain in the tummy–if the monocytes have collected in this area
• skin rashes
• cough and wheezing

What is congenital heart disease?

According to UK National Health Services, Congenital heart disease is a general term for a range of birth defects that affect the normal way the heart works. The term "congenital" means the condition is present from birth. Congenital heart disease is one of the most common types of birth defect, affecting almost 1 in 100 babies born in the UK.

Some cases are mild and may improve on their own, but in more serious cases, surgeries or interventional procedures are required. Some symptoms in babies and children are, rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, swelling of the legs, tummy or around the eyes, extreme tiredness and fatigue, a blue tinge to the skin or lips.

Editor's Note: This article is published for educational and informational purposes only. Do not substitute this article for professional medical advice. It is important to always consult your doctor for your medical needs.