"When you were born, you were so cute and small; but I didn't know you. I was wondering whose child you were," paloko na saad ni Joan Mercader sa anak niyang si Calvin.
Mas madali na para kay Joan and Calvin ang tumawa ngayon. Ito ay dahil sa wakas, natapos na rin ang malaking pagsubok sa buhay nila.
"When you were born, you were so cute and small; but I didn't know you. I was wondering whose child you were," Joan Mercader jokes with her son Calvin. Source: Joan Mercader
Dalawang taong gulang lang si Calvin noong nagkaroon siya ng childhood leukemia. Noong mga panahong iyon, nag-apply ng student visa sa Australya si Joan; ngunit pagkatapos nilang malaman ang pagsusuri ng mga doktor, hininto ni Joan ang kanyang application para masamahan niya ang kanyang anak habang ito'y nagpapagamot.
Tinawag na "golden boy" si Calvin. Siya ang pinaka-unang apo ng kanyang lolo't lola. Dahil dito, hindi alam ng buong pamilya kung papaano nila madadaanan ang pagsubok na ito.
"I remember waking up the morning after the diagnosis and, realising it wasn't a dream. That was the hardest part - realising it wasn't a dream," saad ni Joan.
Ang katotohanan ng sitwasyon ay naging mas mahirap pang tanggapin ng magkaroon ng stroke si Calvin. Sinabi ng mga doktor kina Joan at sa asawa nitong si Monch na mababawian na ng buhay ang kanilang anak.
Due to treatments and a weakened body, Calvin's teeth fell out and he had to wear a mask. Source: Joan Mercader
"I couldn't process it. When I realised that I might not see you grow up, I thought I would go crazy. When I drove you and Dad to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), I felt there was a very thin line I could cross and just go crazy; but I couldn't leave you," saad ni Joan kay Calvin.
Sa kanyang di pag-iwan sa anak ay naghatid ng isang milagro para sa pamilya.
"[When I entered the room,] you were pooping and then you said, 'Mommy I'm hungry' and you demanded I give you food. Everyone was looking at you in wonder because suddenly you were talking again," kwento ni Joan kay Calvin.
At gamit ang lahat ng lakas na mayroon siya, nag-apply muli si Joan ng student visa patungong Australya noong apat na taong gulang si Calvin.
Joan and her classmates from Nursing school. Source: Joan Mercader
Pagkatapos ng tatlong buwan ng pag-aaaral, nakuha ni Joan ang kanyang Registered Nurse (RN) license at, nakahanap din siya ng employer sponsorship. Mula sa pagkamit niya ng work visa, isang taon at kalahati rin ang tinagal bago niya nadala si Calvin sa Australya. Ngunit dahil may sakit pa si Calvin noon, tourist visa lamang ang nakuha niya para sa bata.
"When I got you, you were on a tourist visa, but your dad was on a work visa, under my visa. So alternating between me and Dad, we would go home with you every three months. We would get your tests done and then we would come back. It was hard because we were always apart," saad niya kay Calvin.
Ngunit natapos din ang paghihirap ng pamilya. Pagkatapos ng limang taon ng chemotherapy, dineklarang cancer-free si Calvin.
Ngayon, tahimik at masayang nabubuhay ang pamilyang Mercader sa Melbourne.
Hard days came to an end and, Calvin was eventually declared cancer-free. Source: Joan Mercader
"I am grateful for you, your sister and your dad," saad ni Joan kay Calvin, "We have such a good life, don’t we?"
BASAHIN / PAKINGGAN DIN
"I am grateful for you, your sister and your dad. We have such a good life, don’t we?" Source: Joan Mercader
