I AM...

I am Maria Kathrina Lopez Yarza. I am Kcat. I am Tack. I am 30 years old.

I am Sick, but I am still me.

In August 2004, I was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) a very rare genetic disease. Neurofibromatosis Type II is an inherited disorder and the main manifestation of the condition is the development of symmetric, non-malignant brain tumors in the region of the cranial nerve VIII, which is the auditory-vestibular nerve that transmits sensory information from the inner ear to the brain. Later on, we found out that I have the type 1 (NF1) as well.

My Neurosurgeon, Dr. Willy Lopez, warned us that since I have a lot of tumors – mostly brain tumors, there is a possibility that I might turn deaf someday. Okay. It didn’t frighten nor got me worried; not a bit. If it’s bound to happen, it will just happen. One sleepless night when it all dawned in me, I cried. I cried because I felt like I need to; because I think that’s the normal reaction and what’s supposed to be. But truthfully, I was not really sure why I was crying. Ummm...  Just because… But I never questioned God WHY because I know from the start that everything has a reason and there’s got to be a reason for this. There is a reason. I’ll know the answer in time – in God’s time. After that one night, I continued living my life the way it was, should be and how I want it to be. My condition never hindered me from am doing or what I wanted to do. 

In January 2005, I underwent an open brain surgery but it was terminated because of the unsafe dura opening. I called it my open-close brain surgery, which left me with an undercut hairstyle. How cool is that? Haha!

And so I continued living my life as it is. I underwent Stereotactic Radio Surgery (SRS) in June 2005 to treat my 3 brain tumors. It was decreased in size to prevent it from growing and could cause more damage.

My treated tumors were on the swelling stage few weeks after my SRS. That went on for 6 months; and in that six months I continuously had headaches, double vision, poor balance, until I became so weak and my hearing was fading rapidly. I was in and out of the hospital until I was confined from October25 - December22. I underwent a VP shunting because I almost had a hydrocephalus from the stress that that the severe pain gave my head. And then I suddenly got so weak. The left part of my body was almost paralyzed and numb. My facial muscles won’t move and the right side feels numb. I can’t swallow properly and I was fed through a (NGT) tube. I didn’t have double vision anymore, but I have a very poor vision.

I was supposed to undergo thorasic surgery for the insertion of tube to drain out the pus in my lungs caused by pneumonia. But God is great, I was already in the operating room, the nurses already prepared but when they checked the scans again, my thorasic surgeon declined the procedure, the pus were gone. I was wheeled back in my room.

After almost two months in the hospital bed, I begged my doctor to discharge me. I didn’t want to spend Christmas in my hospital room, away from my family and friends. Five days before Christmas I was allowed to go home. I went home with the tube on my nose down to my stomach for my liquefied food intake, since I still had difficulty in swallowing solid foods.

On January 2006, I faced the New Year with a new world, a world without sound. Silence. When my mom talked to me and broke the news that I won’t be able to use my hearing aid anymore, I simply replied with an “OK” and just accepted it. I was not sure if I was just in denial I didn’t think about it that much. Until Holy Week of that year, I had an anxiety attack because everything dawned in me that I was really sick, that I could not move freely that I was so weak. My eyes were so blurry; I could not chew and swallow my food properly. I was already completely deaf. I could not sleep, I wanted the world to stop and wait for me. I felt so useless. I was sad, weak and couldn’t sleep. We even sought the help of a psychiatrist to help calm me down with medicines.

I was waiting for Easter Sunday, but I have no idea why. I just kept on reminding everyone and chanting, “On Sunday. On Sunday.” I just want it to be Sunday, but why? I got to be out of my mind. It felt like the world is moving so fast and I wanted it to stop or slow and wait for me, but of course that won’t happen. I want to scream, “wait for me world!” I wanted to give up. It felt like I was just waiting for death to come after me. And then Monday after Easter Sunday, a miracle happened again. I felt better – Spiritually and Emotionally. During breakfast, I told my mom, “We will get better. (My mom has Lupus) I will do everything that I can despite of my disability; Everything has a reason, LIFE MUST GO ON.” She asked me if I just said that to please her because she told me to. No, this is what I want. I want to do what I really want. I want to do what I can. The world won’t wait for me; I have to live with the world because I am still alive. I felt really grateful for my life.

I

I've decided to continue living my life; the way it should be and how I want it to be..

I can’t but I CAN. There are lots of things I cannot do anymore, but there are also a lot of things I can still do. If I can, then I would. I’m sick. I’m Deaf. So what? I’m not really bothered by it anymore. There’s still a chance that I’ll be able to move my left body and walk again. As for my hearing, I have fully accepted the fact that I’m already deaf and there’s really no assurance for me that I would be able to hear again. When an NF patient like me becomes deaf (since the auditory nerve was damaged already because of the tumor), it really isn’t possible to restore the hearing. I accepted it, but I never lose hope. I wasn’t sure what that is. I just know there could be even a little hope, I just don’t know what that is. Maybe it’s the acceptance? Maybe.

Deaf forever? Sounds scary huh? Not really, or maybe I just don’t think about it. Actually, I don’t really think about the things I can’t do, instead I concentrate on the things I can and would do.

From then on, I, together with my family and friends, just let each day go by. I started to have my regular rehabilitation at the Phil. Orthopedic Center to regain my strength. I am left-handed and my left arm, hand and fingers won’t move, I practiced using my right hand and went back exploring my craft in artworks through my computer, and did self- study thru the internet until I developed my skills in graphic designs again.

In no time, I was back with going out with my friends and family. I was back with my “gimikera” self. Gimikera on wheels, this time. Haha! And of course, you can always see me in front of the computer; designing, blogging, chatting with my friends and surfing the internet. Just like what I used to do. Life goes on. 

In August 2007, my mom told me to do some research on the internet regarding my vertigo because after all the therapy / rehabilitation I’ve been having, why is it that I cannot walk yet? We wondered. Maybe it’s because of my poor balance. I've already regain some strength, my facial muscles almost improved, I can already swallow solid foods, but I still can't walk. I can't even stand without assistance. So one night I decided to do some research. I used the keywords: neurofibromatosis, hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and I got curious about cochlear implant. Though I know that cochlear implant doesn't really work with an NF patient. I was just curious , that's all. Then more than what I was looking for, I stumbled upon Auditory Brainstem Implant (ABI). I remembered what my ENT doctor, Dr. Elmo Lago, told us after I became completely deaf: “Never lose hope, hanggang may tenga, may pag-asa” (As long as you have an ear, there’s hope). And incidentally stumbling upon ABI is a big HOPE! ABI is a hearing device especially designed for NF2 patients since cochlear implant won’t work with a damage auditory nerve due to tumors. I did a further research on ABI because I want it so bad! I really really want it! The sad part is, it is so expensive and we won’t be able to afford it. It’s shinning shimmering 1 Million Pesos (kaching-kaching), where are we going to get that huge amount? But I want it! Nothing is impossible with God, you just have to pray hard and of course do the best you can. I kept on thinking of ways on how to earn and raise funds. I’ll raise funds, but how? Then I told my mom, let’s sell shirts! “I’ll design it!” In that way, I’m not only selling shirts, but also sharing my talent. We started with 200 shirts. The demand increased to 500 shirts, 1,000, and so on. My hEAR Campaign and my story was even caught a couple of media’s attention. I was featured in some local shows. God sent me a lot of blessings and He sent me to be a blessing to others as well; I got to inspire a lot of people.

While I was doing my hEAR campaign, I was already having my assessment tests for ABI. I had an Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing and the result was positive. My auditory nerve is still functioning. Then I had Audiometric Test and my auditory nerve is still responding, but with a very high pitch sound, But still, that means that the nerve is alive and kicking! Dr. Derald Brackman of House Ear Institute in the US offered to review my case and gave his medical assessment when my mom emailed him regarding ABI (he is one of the principal authors of ABI and also manages NF patients), so my mom send my medical records to him. His opinion was to have me undergo the Promontory Stimulation Test; this is a clinical assessment whether the patient could benefit from a Cochlear Implant (CI). CI is a less invasive surgery since it's done just in the ear and not in the brain unlike ABI. According to him, my tumors are already stable following the radio-surgery treatment in 2005 and he can see a possible viable nerves based from my medical data. If the promontory stimulation test turns out to be positive, CI could be considered, and it was indeed positive! Then I had my MRI again to double check if my tumors are really stable. And it was!

I had my cochlear implantation on April 8, 2008, which was done by Dr. Charlotte Chiong, a

 fairy godmother with no magic wand or pixie dust, an angel with no wings; just medical

 knives & a heart of gold. 

I heard my first sound on May 16, 2008, it started with a ‘tuk’ sound

 and my brain is continuously adapting to the sound of the environment. I can now say, “I can already hear the noise of the world!” Yes, I hear every sound already, I still can’t understand it clearly though – just environmental sounds. It’s alright because it’s way better than not hearing at all, right? But there are times that I can recognize some syllables and I’m so thrilled every time.

In April 2011, a progressive tumor is caused my right eye to bulge out and I underwent a major head surgery to remove it and save my eye. 

During those times, the only problem that we encountered is lack of money for the medical expenses of the surgery and hospitalization fees. Albeit this predicament, there is always a way. All we have to do is to continuously move forward with faith in our hearts and let God lead the steps. And as what my Mom claims: “God is making it easier for us this time.” We never cease to be overwhelmed with all the assistance that we have been receiving through these God-sent angels from different places, of different ages, statures, and races.

On the day of the surgery, I have come prepared with my biggest weapon: FAITH. Faith in me, Faith in the people around me and the biggest FAITH IN GOD and it was a success! I immediately gained my consciousness right after being wheeled out of the operating room. I did not feel a single pain nor any discomfort after. My head did not hurt. I did not feel dizziness, heaviness and I did not vomit. I was discharged from the hospital in less than a week, sooner than everyone expected.

Neurofibromatosis is a continuing battle. We may never know when and if the tumors will strike again. There are still a lot to "get better” from. Besides, why do I have to worry? Worrying would just add to our burden. What I need to do now is to be strong and find ways to raise funds for my medical expenses. God is with me. His will be done.

Blessings came pouring. In 2010, I was chosen as one of the 7 finalist in the Cebuana Lhuillier’s Search for Happiest Pinoy. In the same year, I became the grand winner of Pagbabago blog contest sponsored by Nuffnang and Goldilocks. I have been invited to render a talk and inspire more people in different events and did a couple of TV, broadsheet and radio interview. To share all these blessings from God, I launched my “MAY Birthday Project” in 2007, where I ask my friends hospital necessities and toys a birthday gifts and distribute it to children’s & neurosurgery wards at Philippine General Hospital. It has been going on for 7 years now.

 At present, I have a regular column in Manila Bulletin, Students & Campuses section where I write about my experiences and endeavors and share my blessings, advocacy and outlook in life. 

I may not excel in anything, but I have achieved a lot. I am able to touch lives. 

I am able to share my talents. I am able to bring joy to people’s hearts. That after

The only thing that's instant in the world are foods, gadgets and appliances, but life isn’t. We have to live day by day. All I know is I’ll get better. I'm getting better; little by little, one at a time. The best way to live life is enjoy it, and I'm enjoying because life is the reason.

And so my life goes on…