A Journey of an OFW: From a Hardworking Migrant Worker to a Patient Suffering from a Rare Disease

It’s not that easy as what you think it is for every OFW who leaves the country and their families to work abroad to earn a living. In fact, behind every smile that you see on their photos is only a facade, trying to hide how difficult life it is for them, their struggle and trials…

Just as this story of a certain OFW named Marycris Evangelio del Rosario.  Her journey as an OFW was shared on social media where many netizens were touched by her unfortunate experiences while working abroad.

According to Facebook’s of OFW community, it was in 2008 that she left the Philippines to work in Qatar.  While working there, she endured long hours without eating meals, working almost the whole day from 6 am ’till 11 pm, 7 days a week.

In 2013, her employer brought her to London.  Unfortunately, she had not also eaten her meals on time as she had chosen to devote more time to work in order to earn more.  She is said to be a typical Pinay who is so hardworking that many employers prefer to hire Filipinos because of their dedication in work.

In May 2017, del Rosario suffered from goiter and was confined at St. Helier Hospital in the London Borough of Sutton.  Three months after, she was transferred to Royal Brompton Hospital.

It was in October of the same year that she was diagnosed to have a Castleman disease, a rare disease of lymph nodes and tissues where too many cells grow on it.  As a result, a person with this disease experiences difficulty in breathing, pain in the belly, making it hard for one to eat. However, this disease is not considered a cancer.

As of this writing, del Rosario is continuously fighting and holding on to her faith to her road to recovery.

Meanwhile, some comments reminded each overseas worker to love themselves as they take care of their health by eating meals at the right time. It is also a must that they save money for their future and to be wise in spending their hard-earned money for themselves, for their families and loved-ones.

The Facebook Post : 

Buhay OFW nga naman nakakaawa naman bata pa naranasan na niya ang ganito. Basahin ang estorya sa baba

BUHAY OFW’s !!!
Masarap nga ba o sakripisyo???

Marycris Evangelio-del Rosario
Taga-Anilao, Mabini Batangas
Kapanganakan – 25/12/1979

2008 – Nag – abroad sa Qatar ( working like a dog from 6am-11pm , 7days a week ) laging nalilipasan ng oras sa pagkain 
2013 – Dinala ng Amo sa London ( tumakas)… nagtrabajo – 7days a week kc sayang daw ang time dahil mahal ang rate per hour dito sa UK) nalilipasan pa rin sa tamang oras ng pagkain dahil nahihiya sa amo kc nga per hour ang bayad sa kanya Kaya ayaw tumigil sa Work kapag di pa Tapos ang time Na binayaran sa kanya. ( typical Pinay 

2017 / May – ( Sutton, Surrey) Nagkasakit – Thyroid disease – is a medical condition that affects the function of the thyroid gland (the endocrine organ found at the front of the neck that produces thyroid hormones). … In both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, there may be swelling of a part of the neck, which is also known as goiter. ( St. Helier,Hospital,Sutton , Surrey). Na – admit for 3months .

2017/ August- Nalipat sa Royal Brompton Hospital .

2017/October- Marycris’s Medical Doctor found out that she has this very rare illness name “ Castleman’s disease “ Castleman Disease

What Is Castleman Disease?
Maybe you’ve been having an odd sense lately of fullness in your chest or belly. Perhaps you’re a little short of breath or not as hungry as usual. Lots of things can cause you to feel this way, and it’s easy to shrug off vague symptoms like that. But make sure you check with your doctor, especially if you have HIV. These are also among the signs of Castleman disease.

It’s a rare condition that happens when too many cells start to grow in your lymph nodes — small organs that filter germs. After a while, hard growths start to form there.

Castleman disease isn’t cancer. Sometimes, though, it acts a lot like lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes. Si Marycris ay patuloy Na lumalaban At naniniwala sa HIMALA ng Dios at Kaalaman ng siensya ng panggagamot ng kakaibang karamdaman.

Aral para sa mga OFW’s:

Una – Mahalin mo ang sarili mo

Ikalawa – Bigyan ng pahinga ang iyong katawang lupa

Ikatatlo – Magtabi ng pera para sa yo

Ika-apat – Huwag kalimutang kumain sa oras

Ika-Lima – Huwag mong turuang maging Tamad ang pamilya mo

Ika-anim- Huwag mong tipirin ang sarili mo para Lang masunod ang bawat hiling ng mga kaanak At pamilya mo

Ika-pito – Huwag ibuhos ang tiwala sa mga mapagkuwaring kaibigan Na parang KABUTE lang ang peg

Ika-walo- Huwag ubusin ang lakas sa iyong trabajo … Baka pag May sakit ka na itapon Ka Lang Na parang basura, dahil di ka Na nila puedeng pakinabangan

Ika- Siyam – I-secure ang sariling kapakanan tulad ng mga Life Insurance, SSS, OWWA Atbp.

Ika-Sampo – Mahalin mong Muli ang sarili mo , sapagkat kapag nagkasakit ka Na diyan mo malalaman ang tunay na mga kaibigan At tunay Na intensyon ng pamilya ….

Mga ka -OFW’s ramdam ba nyo Kung saan ka dito??? 

Mga Ka pamilya – Huwag sobrang mag-demand At manggamit or lokohin ang mga OFW’s nyong kaanak baka one day multuhin ka Na lamang ng taong Akala mo ay ATM at ROBOT lang Kung iyong ituring …. Tao rin po kami may Puso at damdamin …. Marunong masaktan At mapagod pagdating ng takipsilim
By : Brandy Mendillo