Keep the Faith

“Unforgettable December 11, 2024. I could not move my arms, legs, my body was uncooperatively heavy. Tried to take a step, but like a candle burning to its end, totally weak, I fell on my butt. It was confirmed in the hospital that I had a stroke. I could not keep from crying in the emergency room.”

Iya was 63, had holiday lechon sessions and other pre-Christmas unhealthy eats before the stroke. “I had it coming,” she admitted.

Pretty, fair-skinned, always had a ready smile, and animated, Iya had suitors lining for her attention since her young age. She fell for one suitor, and had her first child at age 22. Before they could plan for a Church wedding, her partner died of aneurysm in his early 30’s. She had a 2nd child at 35 by another man, whom she did not marry until his death.

Her first child, slow to react and child-like, can only take contractual jobs, while her second child had bouts of mental disturbances. They were her greatest concern because of her physical disability.

In her helplessness, Iya realized her human plans can never work apart from GOD. Though active in a charismatic community, it was her stroke that showed her that GOD’s thoughts are better than her thoughts, GOD’s ways are far above her ways (ISAIAH 55:8).

Reality set in. Hospitalized for days, she cannot work, no income. No political sponsor, no barangay wheelchair. To get free medicines, a whole day’s wait was needed for a government doctor to write a prescription. Her words cannot be understood. She couldn’t stand by herself and was too weak to pull herself up, and grew heavier because of her sedentary life.

But GOD never left her. “Through thick and thin, JESUS was with me, with us.”

Somehow, she was on a wheelchair for two weeks and was recommended for a free rehabilitation program. Grace prodded her to be faithful to her treatments. From baby steps, to calculated turning around, Iya now goes to Holy Mass regularly, walks carefully with a cane, socializes, and somehow slowly claiming back her life, part by part.

Iya’s eldest child sells just about anything to help in their finances, and cares for her 24/7. She was wise enough to encourage Iya to do videoke so her speech now is almost normal. Her second child went back to working online and is the main breadwinner of the family.

Surrendering everything to JESUS, Iya is not embarrassed for how she lives her life now. Her regrets too, are all with JESUS – to eat healthily, to seek The HOLY SPIRIT’s counsel in everything, to trust in GOD’s Holy Will, to give time for spiritual reading, to be thankful for the lessons her stroke taught her.

If JESUS were here, Iya said that she would tell HIM, “MY DEAR LORD JESUS, I THANK AND GLORIFY YOUR NAME FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS YOU HAVE GIVEN ME. FOR GIVING ME BACK TO MYSELF, FOR MY FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND ALL THOSE WHO HELPED US, LIKE A TRUE FAMILY. AND FOR THE INTERCESSION OF MAMA MARY. I AM TRULY BLESSED.”

Seeing her friend who also had a stroke, and is despondent for being in a wheelchair, she keeps advising her – GOD is forever good, so – keep the faith!

TO GOD BE ALL GLORY FOREVER!

(By Yoki Bartolome)