What would you feel when you found out that your cousin, who is so close to you like a sister, was suffering and in pain? It hurts, right? Seeing someone close to you in pain, you couldn't do anything but cheer her up and pray to the heavenly father to give her more strength to fight the battle she has been through. It is so painful to watch someone in pain. It feels like we're also feeling the pain, the same as what they feel. I couldn't help myself not to get emotional while writing this one, as the words and letters are all about her.
My cousin is suffering from a disease called Lupus, or systemic lupus erythematosus. It is an autoimmune disease that can cause joint pain, fever, skin rashes, and organ damage. What's worse is that this disease doesn't have a cure yet. A chronic disease that doesn't have a cure and will slowly weaken your body. Treatment and maintenance can help to prevent lupus from triggering, but it will still remain in your body and will never go away. Only a miracle can cure someone who's suffering from lupus.
It all began when she was in 11th grade. It was the last day of school. She was admitted to the hospital because she wasn't feeling well at the time. They assumed it was just a regular fever and bodily soreness at first, but it wasn't until the symptoms worsened day by day that the doctor diagnosed her with lupus. I'm saddened that she wasn't able to walk throughout the stage and accept her honour student award since she was still in the hospital.
She is my cousin who is the best of all my cousins. She is my companion, my go-to buddy, and a friend who is only one call away. She's sweet, humorous, talented, and intelligent. When I go to their house and ask her to accompany me, she never hesitates and follows me wherever I go. Even if it was already dark when I needed to print something for school and the computer shop was a couple of blocks from our house, she would always accompany me. The most trustworthy person on the planet!
She was told to put her studies on hold for a while and relax so she wouldn't be worried, but she insisted on continuing her studies. My uncle couldn't stop her from enrolling because it had always been her ambition to complete her education and become an engineer. Fortunately, the modular class had begun, so my uncle agreed to let her enroll, but only on the condition that she not be stressed. She was overjoyed since she had completed her senior year of high school and was now in her first year of college. She had hoped to enroll in an engineering course, but there were no slots, so she opted for BSIT.
Everything went well; she was able to go out again and hang with us. She's back to being a normal young lady. She was able to travel again, but just from her house to the university. We both went to the same university, and it's an hour away from our house, so we need to ride on a bus to get there. She was able to do performances and other activities again, just like a normal person would do without illness.
But then just yesterday, her lupus suddenly attacked again. It was so painful to watch her suffer from it. If only it could be cured right away. She was crying and telling my aunt to admit her to the hospital because she said she couldn't take it anymore and she was in so much pain. She wanted to have dextrose on hand. She was admitted in just a day because the doctor would no longer accept her in the hospital and suggested that she be admitted to a bigger hospital where they had everything she needed. She was sent back to their house, and then again just this afternoon, she told her father to bring her to the hospital. Luckily, our neighbor, who has a van, was still around and gave them a ride to the city. She was admitted to the private hospital where she had been admitted before.
That is why I couldn't help but get a little teary while writing this one. All of us here were so sad. Our mood suddenly changed when we found out that her illness was getting worse. She was the most loved cousin by all of our aunts and uncles here. The kindest one. You know what's more painful? When she told our other cousin that if she died, she didn't want my cousin and us to cry.
We're still hopeful that everything will be better and that she will be able to hang out with us again. We know she's a strong woman who will fight off the lupus in her body. We strongly believed in her. I am asking you guys to please pray for my cousin so that she will be okay. I know that prayer is the strongest and most powerful of all.
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Sana maging okay sya soon. Fighting lang and praying for your cousin recovery.