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Nicole
Figueroa, the first patient to undergo BMT
at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center,
with her family and Dr. Francisco Lopez
(right), oncologist-hematologist and bone
marrow transplant specialist at Asian Hospital. |
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Among
the BMT survivors who were present at the reunion were
13-year-old Nicole Figueroa, the first patient to undergo
BMT at Asian Hospital and Medical Center. Nicole, who
was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), found
her stem cell match through her older brother Justin.
She’s now four years post-BMT living a normal, healthy
life and enjoying her teenage years.
“I’m thankful to the specialists at Asian
Hospital and Medical Center for taking care of me and
making me realize that I’m strong and could survive
my illness even with my young age. I am now looking forward
to more years of exciting teenage life,” related
Nicole. |
Even
doctors are not spared from the disease, but they display the
courage and heroism that’s truly inspirational. Dr. Melgar
Retirado, a 44-year-old surgeon from Sultan Kudarat who was
also diagnosed with AML, was grateful to his physicians at Asian
Hospital and Medical Center for giving him the gift of acceptance
and healing.
“Illnesses
like this make you aware that it can strike anyone. All you
have to do is accept and do everything that you can to survive.
I’m now one year and one month post-BMT, full of hope
and inspired to help others to survive their own battles with
the disease,” said Dr. Retirado, whose donor was older
brother Reynaldo, the oldest donor Asian Hospital and Medical
Center ever recorded for BMT.
During
the reunion, Dr. Francisco Lopez, oncologist-hematologist and
bone marrow transplant specialist at Asian Hospital and Medical
Center, reiterated the importance of BMT as the first step for
ultimate survival. “It is high time for people with bone
marrow-related illnesses to be informed that BMT should not
be their last resort, but must be their first step to ultimately
survive the disease.”
Through
its annual reunion, Asian Hospital and Medical Center hopes
to raise awareness among people afflicted with bone marrow-related
diseases to consider undergoing BMT procedures as first step
to treat their illness.
