Robbie’s Beautiful Journey of Faith

GRACE CERA ANDRES

I got widowed on November 30, 2022. Robbie was diagnosed with cancer in October of the same year. He fought hard and fought well for just a little over a month. He passed on after 26 days. He must have felt some pains months prior, but he almost always dismissed them as ‘growing old pains.’ Cancer was perhaps far from his mind as we lived a healthy lifestyle. In Ilocos Norte,  all meals are punctuated with vegetable dishes. Robbie never smoked, did not drink, and, since his bypass surgery in 2005, practiced a strict diet. He had regular check-ups and blood chemistry exams. Despite all this, he still developed cancer.

‘The Lord must have prepared us for this!’ he uttered on learning the sad news. Later, he’d share, ‘I am happy with the life the Lord has given me. I have used everything to serve Him. I didn’t bury any on the ground.’

The discovery of Robbie’s cancer came like a breeze. Nodules were found in his chest x-ray. Immediately, a chest CT scan was done. Metastasis was discovered in the liver. Then I recall once he told me that God plays favorites. ‘Yes, I believe that; I’m one of his favorites!’ he answered when I brought the memory to his recollection.

‘He will heal me, don’t worry. He will change my cancer cells into new ones. Nothing is impossible with God. He is the greatest healer!’

Such unshakable faith!

After a negative RT-PCR test, Robbie was confined at the UP Philippine General Hospital. Dang, our dentist-daughter, had to care for Robbie, as senior citizens were not allowed to be patient companions. I could visit him only for 15 minutes a day. My heart sank! I could not do anything but work to take care of the bills. We were not financially prepared for the sudden turn of events. I could only cling to the Lord and entrust everything to Him.

As PET scan results came in, we were shocked to quiet, ‘Wow! That fast!’ The cancer had spread to the brain, the spine, the lungs, the liver, the pancreas, the kidney, and the pelvis. Dear Lord! I did not have the courage to send him the links. It was his oncologist who showed him the results of his PET scan.

Robbie never ran out of things to be grateful for. ‘My cancer has been such a blessing,’ he would tell our children. ‘A lot of people are now praying for me!’

I was allowed to be the second companion after things turned from bad to worse. Robbie underwent radiation of the brain. He suffered from severe diarrhea, and this zapped out all the strength he had. He could no longer carry himself, and they started to feed him through a nasogastric tube (NGT). I joined Dang to care for him during his last ten days.

He was a most patient patient. He took all those daily pricks without complaint. He’d say ‘I love you!’ for the littlest things. He’d be happy talking to all who visited him. He’d be forever grateful for all the blessings. He never complained about anything… NEVER!

He took all the pain when pain relievers were delayed. He’d say that it was only pain and that it would eventually go away.

It was then that I indeed saw a man who, despite his worsening condition, never gave up on God. As I embraced him one morning, Robbie shared, ‘I am on the mend, Sweetheart! I feel God at work making new cells within me!’ All these, he said, even if he knew that his platelet was dropping, his stomach was distended, and his legs were swollen. He asked for morphine when in pain. Robbie was fast deteriorating! Two days before he passed, he raised his hand victoriously, saying, ‘Matira ang matatag!’ (Long live the brave!)

Robbie fought with great faith! He remained unfazed. And ’til his last breath, I saw faith at its best when he was weakest! I shall never forget this beautiful journey of faith! I only have gratitude in my heart that the Lord prepared us spiritually for this. I honor Robbie through this article and am honored myself at the chance to be able to share it.

So many people have a similar story. But a tale becomes different when it becomes your story! Only men and women of great faith would consider terminal sickness a blessing. Robbie taught me that!