A story of strength and resilience
- EPCALM
- Feb 27
- 2 min read
Patient Stories Series
(No. 16)
Amid the challenges of leukemia, Mark Joseph V. Bernardo stands as a testament to resilience and hope. Diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in March 2021, he has faced a whirlwind of anxiety and fear, yet he continues to walk a path laden with courage and determination. Day in and day out, he navigates the workings of his illness with a strength that inspires everyone around him.
From his early years in Pulong Buhangin in Santa Maria, Bulacan raised by his loving, yet ailing grandparents, he has known hardship. Despite his parents’ incapacity to look after him, he forged ahead – finding sustenance in the bonds he shares with his siblings, Mary Jane and Rolando Jr. They remain to be his lifesavers, offering him a sense of belonging, and constant love and care.
Even as he copes with the physical and emotional onslaught of leukemia, Mark Joseph remains active and self-reliant. He often goes to Metro Manila to follow-up on medical assistance offered by government and private sources – trips which have tested his tenacity, patience, and perseverance. He has also sought many employment opportunities with a strong spirit, ready to adapt to whatever the job requires.
It was his Aunt Mora who helped him finish college, and who prodded him to attain his dream of becoming a schoolteacher. Although his aunt passed in 2018, his firm resolve to fulfil his promise to her drives him to pursue a Teachers’ License someday. He still lives with his grandparents, who are now being cared for by his father’s siblings.
As he continues his oral chemotherapy treatment, he diligently processes paperwork for medical assistance. The days are filled with challenges up ahead, but he nonetheless takes every difficulty in stride. His newfound friends from the “CML Family” in his hometown, as well as the EPCALM Foundation, are always ready to provide him with a sense of community and empathy.
Mark Joseph’s story is one of hope, unyielding perseverance, and the unbreakable bonds of family and friends. He fights not merely to survive, but to thrive in a future where he can see the fruits of his aspirations, and honor the sacrifices and support of those who continue to stand by him. (By Ralph Vale Joshua I. Solidum)
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
As a non-stock, non-profit organization, EPCALM Foundation needs your support for us to help our brothers and sisters who are living with adult leukemia, as well as their families. You can make a difference in their lives as they journey through the disease. Through your genuine act of kindness, we can provide them much-needed resources as they start rebuilding their lives.
To donate, you can either use PayPal (if you have a PayPal account) or you may use your debit/ credit card. Thank you very much!
Click this link to Donate:
BPI- St. Luke’s QC Branch:
Account Name – EPCALM Adult Leukemia Foundation of the Philippines
Savings Account No. – 3893 0612 57
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