KCAT CAN: Silent Angels

October is Rett Syndrome Awareness Month, Let us be aware, be informed & be inspired with ate Pam & Julia's heartwarming story.

Silent Angels
by Maria Kathrina Lopez Yarza 
October 24, 2011

Girls like Julia are called ‘silent angels’ because they cannot speak. These angels need us.

Julia Roman was born on December 21, 2000, and like all newborns, she was a perfectly healthy and beautiful baby. But on her seventh month, things started to change.

KCAT CAN: Brave little people

Brave little people
by Maria Kathrina Lopez Yarza 
October 10, 2011

Someone once complained, “Why do people say that a sick child is fighting for survival when that child is so innocent and has no idea of what is happening?”

I believe the answer is found in the same question.

Even though these children are sick, they have no idea of what is going on. All they feel is pain which they desperately to get rid of. But one of the mysterious and amazing things is that adults, especially doctors, attest to these children’s will and determination to survive. That’s bravery right there.

Be a hero for Hannah Marie

This is Hannah Marie Honor. She has Biliary Atresia and she needs our help. Attached is her mother's letter. Read on:

My name is Marie Angela De Luna Honor, mother of Hannah Marie D. Honor. She was born on born Feb. 26, 2009 is now 2 years old. On her 2nd month, she was diagnosed with "Biliary atresia", a liver disease characterized by the absence or closure of the bile ducts.  On her 3rd month "Kasai" procedure was done on Hannah at the Philippines Children’s Medical Center [PCMC]; an operation that removes the damaged biliary ducts outside the liver. According to her doctor, this operation is not a cure but rather a temporary solution to give us some more time to find resources for the necessary funding of Hannah's liver transplant operation.

Charity Blogging For Cancer Awareness

Cancer begins in the cells,which we have learned are the building blocks of the body. Under normal conditions, our bodies produce new cells as we grow and as we need them. They replace the old cells that die. However, under abnormal conditions, some new cells grow in the body when they are not needed, and the old cells do not die when they should. These kinds of cells eventually form a mass called tumor.


In spite of the numerous tumors that I have in my brain, I am truly blessed that they are benign, not malignant. Nevertheless, a tumor is a tumor — it can still be harmful. My Neurofibromatosis (NF2) disease is not a form of cancer, although many people mistakenly take it as one of The Big C. I am never offended by it. I explain to them patiently what NF2 really is.

-that was taken from my column:
The other 'Big C' to fight the 'Big C'
(December 2010)

I have met a lot of people who are/were suffering from cancer. Some amazingly survived it, others are still battling with it and sadly there were those who lost the battle and passed :( but at least they fought until the very end.

I was glad when I saw Mommy Rubz' blog about

I hope & wish & pray..

After the non-stop surgeries, therapies and medications, my battle with NF2 continues and I won't stop raising money to sustain my medical needs.

This October, I need to have my regular cranial CT scan to monitor my tumors. And also, I'll be having my MRI of the spine to check if there are tumors on my spinal column that's causing my immobility.

Both tests would cost us more or less P35,000. (The MRI of the spine costs P24K) We are not really short of money since I still have my savings, but still we can't let that savings be drained because we'll never know when I'll be needing it. Besides, that is where we get the money for my maintenance medicines like anti-seizure, antibiotic for my eyes, etc.

Good things come in two's

An amazing thing happened yesterday and then today:

The tumor on my right leg shrunk last year and it shrunk again! Wiiii!

Welcome back!!!

A few days ago, I was so sad because my right eye's vision became so blurred again.. As in almost blind! It really bothered me because my vision already improve and then it worsen again. Tsk.

I was praying and praying and praying and the next day, I wasn't that sad anymore. As always, I told myself, "What's the use of continuing to be sad. Keri na yung 1 day akong nagmumukmok." Haha. Though I'm still bothered and irritated. Eh naman kasi nakakainis! My mom and I would always say, "madumi lang ya.." Besides, I'm not using autologus serum or antibiotic for my eyes lately.. Madumi lang 'to.. Madumi lang 'to.. So my mom cleans it everyday w/ the eye gel.. It slightly improved. As in konti lang.. The last time I checked my vision was this afternoon while I was taking a bath.. I still don't recognized the shape of the 'tabo' but I can define its color..

KCAT CAN: Wanted: Pen, paper, musical instruments

Wanted: Pens, Papers, Musical Instruments
by Maria Kathrina Lopez Yarza 
September 26, 2011

Getting an education prepares us physically, emotionally, mentally and socially to survive challenges in the real, big world out there while trying to accomplish our dreams. Even President Obama said, “Through education, we learn how to learn.”

I am forever grateful to my parents for giving me a good quality education. I might not have excelled in academics but the values that I learned in school really come in handy in my life’s journey.