"I really want to stay alive... I refuse to die."
This was the remark of television host and actress Kris Aquino on her 53rd birthday on Wednesday, February 14 as she revealed her worsening health condition due to several autoimmune diseases.
Interviewed on the February 14th episode of 'Fast Talk With Boy Abunda,' she opened up about how the next six months will be crucial for her after her recent blood panel showed that her condition is getting worse.
She revealed her hemoglobin count dropped to an alarming 8.7 (the average for women is between 12 and 16) and needed to take medicines that are not available in the Philippines.
"Three weeks ago, I had my regular blood panel. Parang ang ginagawa roon ay... I don't wanna call it a blood panel; sabi ko, blood donation ang ginagawa ko sa dami ng kinukuhang dugo sa 'kin each time," Aquino revealed.
"Hindi maganda 'yung three weeks before. He, Dr. John Belperio, who is a physician in UCLA -- he actually does very complicated surgeries, gumagawa siya ng mga lung transplant because may tama na 'yung lung ko from my autoimmune illness na Churg-Straus, that is because may comorbidity na ako tapos tinamaan ako ng COVID while in Houston when we first arrived here -- siya bale 'yung lead physician ko together with a rheumatologist, si Dr. Khan, they're both from UCLA," she added.
"What is alarming was that sobrang bumagsak 'yung hemoglobin ko, that's part of our CBC panel natin. I'm trying not to go too medical but 'yung hemoglobin kasi is very important kasi 'yun 'yung may dala nung oxygen doon sa ating mga red blood cells," Aquino continued.
"I fell to below 9 (gm/dL), it is the first time na na 8.7 (gm/dL) ako. In other words, kung nasa Pilipinas ako, binibigyan na sana ako ng blood transfusion, and when you have autoimmune (diseases) 'yung tinitingnan mo doon 'yung inflamatory panels that means kung ano 'yung mga namamaga sa loob namin," she added.
The host actress also shared that her right lung is now affected with several light scratches as an effect of Churg-Strauss syndrome, her third autoimmune disease.
"Magang-maga 'yung sa mukha ko and marami akong rashes. I sent that to you (picture) because unfortunately mayroon akong panlimang autoimmune condition na naghe-hello ngayon. If you'll allow me, I'll start in 2018 na-diagnose ako with autoimmune thyroiditis and chronic spontaneous urticaria. 'Yun you're familiar with kasi nakikita mo na minsan papasok ako na puno ng pantal 'yung katawan and mayroon akong mga after malalaking mga pasa," Aquino said.
"That is something I went through. It was already being treated in 2022 -- Xolair, that is another biological na gamot -- but then it was in April 2022 na lumala and na-diagnose 'yung Churg-Strauss. 'Yun ngayon 'yung pinaka-kontrabida sa buhay ko. Ang problema it was diagnosed nung nasa phase three na ako and that's the last phase," she added.
With the muscles around her heart swollen, Kris said it limits her work around the house.
"Our heart is surrounded by muscles para maprotektahan 'yung puso, 'yung muscles na 'yun that is surrounding my heart, magang-maga sila. Para mas maintindihan ng tao, kung naglalaro ka ng sports, kung natapilok ka habang naglalaro ta's may nanipa sa 'yo, nahulog ka, normally you pray that it's not a fracture, it's just a sprain. Pero kung sprain na 'yun nangyari sa 'yo, ano'ng mangyayari, mamamaga nang todo 'yung nasa labas. 'Yung sa akin, 'yung pamamaga, hindi lang sa labas ng puso kung 'di hanggang sa middle layer," she noted.
"Ang 'yung problem there is, my heart has to work ... kung 'yung sa 'yo normal na kailangan siyang tumibok para makahinga ka, makagalaw ka, gumawa ka ng mga normal na activities tapos 'yung heart rate mo would be for a normal person 70 to probably 90 range, ako maglakad lang ako ng banyo or mag-attempt dahil sinusubukan ko talagang magdagdag ng timbang, biglang 'pag ni-test na ako -- because I have a cardiac monitor dito sa bahay 00 biglang ang heart rate ko, 120. May point na umabot na dahil na-enjoy ko 'yung bathtub nung nagbanlaw ako it was 146."
Kris also acknowledged that she could have a stroke at any time, saying that the father's side of her family suffered from cardiovascular diseases
"I could have a stroke at any time. I have to relate this because of genetics. Ang lolo sa side ng dad ko, original na Benigno S. Aquino, he was 55 years old, when he had a massive heart attack and cardiac arrest, he died in my dad's arms and my dad that time was only 15 years old. That's only 2 years older than me," she said.
The next six months will be crucial for Kris as she will soon try a new biological medicine that could save her heart but she stands a big chance of suffering a cardiac arrest.
"I'm sorry na parang ang kapal ng mukha ko dahil ang tagal niyo na akong pinagdarasal but I really need it now because on Monday papasok ako sa ospital at may susubukan kaming biological na gamot... Kung hindi ito tumalab, I stand a very strong chance of having cardiac arrest, as in pwedeng in my sleep or kung anuman ang ginagawa ko, tumigil na lang 'yung pagtibok ng puso. May gamot na susubukan but there's a really big risk involved in that medicine because hindi binibigay 'yung gamot na 'to na hindi binibigyan muna ng steroids. You need it para hindi ka magkaroon ng anaphylactic shock," she said
"Bawat araw, especially now na birthday ko pa, pahiram na lang 'to ng Diyos — binigyan ako ng bonus. So whatever days are left, kung anuman natitira, it's a blessing," Kris said.
Despite complications in her condition, Kris revealed that she has a contingency plan for what will happen if anything happens to her.
"But I really want to stay alive. Sino ba naman ang sasabihin na handa na akong mamatay. I don't any of us can say that because Bimb is only 16. I made a promise to him na until he becomes an adult, I will really do everything. Lahat gagawin ko kasi 'di naman sikreto sa mga tao na ang kuya niya falls under the autism spectrum. Ako mismo, ako lang nagpalaki roon sa dalawa," she said.
In the end, Kris thanked God because people she didn't know or never met were praying for her, and promised she would not falter despite the incredibly small chance she'd return to showbiz.
"Hindi ko kayo bibiguin dahil sumuko ako. Wala sa pananaw ko sa buhay na puwedeng sumuko, kailangan lumaban. Hindi ko ipapahiya ang sarili ko sa inyo dahil binigyan niyo ako ng pinakamagandang regalo — pagmamahal, suporta at pagdarasal niyo," Kris said.
She expressed her love for her three older sisters, her friends in the Philippines, especially those who flew to see her, and to Boy himself for the opportunity to talk.
