Ronald’s journey of faith

Sister Rose Remigio of Joso Church sent the following urgent FB message last January 31, 2015: "A PLEA FOR A PRAYER BRIGADE!!! OUR BROTHER, RONALD SAN JUAN NEEDS OUR PRAYERS FOR IMMEDIATE MEDICATION AT THE MOMENT BUT WAS DENIED BY THE AIRLINE DOCTORS TO FLY TO THE PHILIPPINES DUE TO THE AIR PRESSURE RISK THAT MIGHT DAMAGE HIS CONDITION. HE COULDN'T BE TREATED ANY LONGER IN JAPAN. OUR UNCONDITIONAL FAITH AND PRAYERS ARE THE ONLY RECOURSE TO ASK GOD FOR WHAT IS THE BEST FOR RONALD. LORD, BY THE POWER OF YOUR NAME, KEEP YOUR EYE ON OUR BROTHER RONALD!"

Who is Ronald San Juan? He is a 29-year-old Filipino from Bicol, now confined at the Tsukuba University Hospital in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. His journey of faith versus Hodgkin Lymphoma started from 2005. As of this writing, Ronald is still in the hospital, unable to speak, move, and open his eyes fully but still evidently fully aware and interacting with his family and visitors through occasional sounds and slight opening of one of his eyes!

Before he lost his voice and mobility this week, Ronald told his wife not to give up, even if there was only 1 percent chance of survival for him, and to continue to believe together in God's plan for him and their family. Ronald continues to be surrounded by a very prayerful family who gratefully acknowledges and believes that everyone's prayer to God continues to give Ronald his strong will to live and his strong faith to hold on to God. Every prayer, an added breath for Roland, every prayer, an added strength for Roland, every prayer, an added source of support for their faith in God together.

Can you all please find time to pause and offer prayers for Ronald and his family?

Please also allow us to have Ronald tell you himself portions of his story which is posted in a website (http://gladpdungca.wix.com/ronaldstreatmentfund) created by his family for him. The family and Ronald hope and pray that his journey of faith, together with Glenda, his very supportive wife, his parents and siblings, will touch others to firmly stay in complete faith in God and His love for all.

Here are some excerpts as directly shared by Ronald:

"It all began in October 2005. I was so happy that I finished my BSBA legal Management course in AdNU (Ateneo de Naga University) in advance and at the same time my petition papers as a nikeijin (second generation Japanese descendant) in Japan were released. I can finally help my family who is going through a financial crisis. I am the eldest among five siblings and everyone was studying in private schools. It was tough for my parents when our tuitions had to be paid at the same time every month. My parents would have had the opportunity to work in Japan way back in 2000 but they have decided to stay. For them, we were at the very crucial stage of our development and they value education more over money. Overall, we were happy but finances were a bit difficult. This led me to a decision of going to Japan to somehow lessen the financial burden. It was my immediate and concrete plan but I never realized God has another plan for me.

"The unknown enemy"— One afternoon, I accidentally touched my left neck and I felt a small lump...I was shocked and frightened but the doctor told us it was only fatty tissues and nothing to worry about and gave me the signal that I could finally go abroad… my father tried to convince me to seek for a second opinion in Manila but I refused to for I was already decided to pursue my plan.  And within me, it was also out of fear and unfamiliarity with the situation. A firm decision made by a 20-year-old hard-headed son.

"DABDA" (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance) — It was December 12, 2005, winter season, when I arrived in Japan. I worked in a rubber factory on night shifts from 5 p.m. till 2 a.m. After two months, I was able to send money to my family. One day, I noticed the mass in my left neck was larger than it was before but I didn't give it a serious thought. I was confident that it was only some fatty tissues. After two more months, I experienced persistent cough and lost weight drastically. That was when I decided to go home in May 2006 to seek for medical attention… another biopsy was conducted and the result shown that it was a malignant tumor (Hodgkin's lymphoma). I was speechless, shocked and it seemed my world has crashed down. No matter how my family tried to comfort and encourage me, I could not help myself but to question Him and eventually got angry. "Why me? All I wanted to do is to help my family. What have I done wrong?!" These were my words when I cried heavily to my mother...

"Turning Point" — After I finished all the preparations for the planned 6 cycles of chemotherapy, we went to SM San Lazaro. I decided to look for this certain book when I accidentally passed by the religious section,  noticed this book – Purpose Driven Life – and opened it accidentally on Day 14 – "When God seems distant." I was about to close it when something in my mind was telling me not to. I read it and tears ran down over my face. All my doubts, questions were answered by Him. It felt like He was just standing and comforting me at that very moment. When my mother saw me she asked why I was crying...I just told her I was ready to face this one. After six months of 1st-line chemotherapy (and  with) a second line chemotherapy and radiation therapy for another six months, all the tumors were gone but I was advised for a regular scan every six months. For 2 years, I was cleared from cancer."

However, as Ronald narrates in their website, the cancer came back again and again and until now, continues to challenge him and his family who remain strong in their faith that God listens to prayers, including yours please!