"tomorrow was never promised"

30.Jan.2024

Does the quote “tomorrow was never promised” sound cliché to you? Read on and reflect with my hopes that you will be enlightened to live your life everyday while you have the chance ( Carpe diem )

I lost my best friend Anna, over her battle with uterine cancer; In the blink of an eye, life has taken an expected turn, reminding us of its fragility.

April 2023, I was with Anna when she had her laparoscopic hysterectomy in Prime Hospital Dubai; few days after her recovery, the surgeon told us about the nerve-racking news, she has cancer! The staging was never known yet as she had to go for PET CT Scan first.

Despite being overcome with waves of emotion, we tried our best to think reasonably. Days after Anna was discharged from the hospital, we abruptly arranged the visa of her niece, so she can support Anna during her treatment.

July 2023 was her first session of chemo, prior to this, she sends me message saying she would want to join me in my Japan trip, “tol gusto ko sumama sayo sa Japan, pwede ba?”  to which I replied, “maloko ka tol, ide delay mo ba yung chemo mo para maka travel? “ Though I would love to travel with her, the scheduled chemo can’t be put on hold.  I told her to finish her sessions, then we will plan for Europe tour instead 😊

August 2023, at the height of summer in Dubai (which is extremely hot), she asked me if we can go to the beach. I know she would just want to be somewhere else other than the hospital room, but the temperature outside would make her situation worst.

October 2023, we meet up over dinner. She can barely eat. Her stomach got bigger, and she told me that consuming even a little portion of food would make her feel bloated.

1 November 2023, she visited me in the hospital when I had my surgery; that time, I noticed how she lost so much weight; she stayed for like 10 minutes saying she would just want to check if I was okay, and that she felt tired and would want to rest.

Anna’s battle with cancer was marked by countless hospital visits, chemotherapy sessions, and moments of uncertainty. However, she faced her ordeal with an indomitable spirit. Anna, I must say, is a force of nature!

I loved how she would dress up and send me photos of her OOTD (outfit of the day) whilst going to her chemo sessions; she would always put up a brave spirit. 

18 November 2023, I called to check up on her. I told her that I was having some pain too due to my surgery. I suddenly felt desolate whilst talking to her; she uttered ‘at least tol, ikaw magaling ka na. Ako hindi ko alam kung hanggang kelan ko pa kakayanin  lumaban”, to which I replied, tol, me awa ang Dios. Bahala ang Lord sa atin. Sa mga panahon na hindi na natin kaya yung laban, ibigay na lang natin sa Lord.

Our convo was interrupted by her continual coughing; she had to hang up the phone, so I told her that I will be calling again tomorrow.

As soon as I closed the line, I started crying; my heart felt so heavy, and I couldn’t understand why. I immediately called our common friend, Rhosel, and told her to check up on Anna  as I felt something strange.

The feeling that I am about to lose my best friend ☹

19 November 2023 it was a Sunday, so like every single Sunday, I shared the link for online church to Anna so she could attend. I had sent numerous messages to her, but she didn’t respond. She has read all of it, but no response.

After the church service, she finally replied and asked if she could speak to me. Feeling something was odd, I immediately called her.         “Tol, I am going home”;    WHY and WHEN are the only words that came out of my mouth ☹ “ the doctor said that the chemo and radiation is not helping anymore, and that there is nothing they can do , she said.   It hit me so hard that all I could do was break down in tears.

She kept the truth about her cancer stage from me. It was Stage 4 already.

Same day in the afternoon, Rhosel called me so we could go together and visit Anna in her flat. She was surprised as we are, her appearance has changed a lot; her health has deteriorated; her oxygen level is going down and that she would need to travel asap, so she could make it to Philippines.

22 November 2023 Night before her flight, we were in the hotel where she checked in. As promised, I cooked her favorite “sinigang na salmon” where she was able to eat a lot. After her dinner, I sat beside her and encourage her to hold on to her faith; I called our Pastor and prayed for her over the phone.

Though she wouldn’t want people to know about her condition, I insisted on letting our former colleagues and  boss know about her sitch so they could pray for her.

Prayer does really work! Her oxygen level stabilized.

That moment, all I am asking in prayer is that may she able to make it through her 8-hour flight to Philippines.

Before leaving the hotel, I hugged and kiss her in the head, I hold her hand and told her to lift everything to God; and that I would be expecting to see her return to Dubai so we can fulfill her dream to travel to Europe.

As if she knows her appointed time, she told me ‘ baka ikaw na lang tol, e Europe mo na lang ako ha? “then I hug her again and promised that I would message her everyday even she is in the Philippines.

23 November 2023 She was able to make it home.

06 December 2023 She was rushed to the hospital due to difficulty in breathing after which she fell into coma; her mom and brother witnessed how she was fighting to live whilst she was being resuscitated.

07 December 2023

Her brother sent me a message that Anna did not manage to wake up anymore, and that the vitals had dropped.  Immediately, I called her brother and was able to see Anna through videocall; mom and his brother were already crying. Kuya placed the mobile phone near her ear hoping she could still hear me. “Tol, pag hindi na talaga kayang lumaban, pahinga ka na tol. Pahinga ka na.  I broke down in tears as she died.

Everything happened in the span of 8 months ☹ The plans that I had with Anna will no longer come to fruition; the future will never unfold as we planned. 

Anna’s story had me to delve into the significance of embracing the uncertainty of tomorrow and finding joy in the present. Understanding that tomorrow was never guaranteed, it motivates me to seize the things presented to me today; not putting off meeting with loved ones, take a hearty lunch with family, celebrate special occasions, laugh with friends, buy yourself gifts,  and a lot of small things that actually matters.

Her story highlights the importance of appreciating the simple joys in life. Embrace each moment as a gift and prioritize what makes you genuinely happy. 

DO what makes your heart sing ! DO IT NOW !

"LIFE is FRAGILE. We're not guaranteed a Tomorrow, so give it everything you've got."