loving family and friends. Until he began to experience distressing symptoms. He had intermittent fever and his stomach ached constantly. He also manifested severe back and joint pains that made it hard for him to get up and move around. His parents were greatly troubled and brought him to their local hospital for tests. But despite initial negative findings, the symptoms persisted.
While the thought of their child battling cancer broke the hearts of Nob’s parents, the anticipated cost got them to a point of desperation. “My parents at that time did not have that much in order to pay for all of my medical expenses,” Nob said, as he described the turning point in their search for help from possible sources in the community. “We were watching television when we spotted an advertisement which was a public service announcement of Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko Foundation Inc.
Beyond the medical assistance, Nob appreciated the personalized care that Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko and its staff extended to him during his treatment. “The Foundation stayed by my side the whole time. They let me experience life as a normal person. Because of them, I was inspired to continue my education and I got to do my passion as well,” he said. “It was one of the reasons why I considered the battle with my illness worth fighting for,” he added.
Nob exited his chemotherapy in December, 2008 after three years of treatment. Now, he has been cancer-free for almost 14 years. Just recently, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology degree at Velez College on August 11, 2022. At present, he is busy preparing for his upcoming licensure examination in March, 2023.“My childhood dream was to become a doctor,” Nob declared. “But at this point, I do not see myself pursuing medical school.