Our Greatest Blessings . . . . . .
They say when it rains . . . . it pours . . . . ..yes, indeed . . . When our Dearest Lord showered us with his blessings, it came in two folds .. . and we are so very lucky to experience this shower of blessings . . .

Our first greatest blessing was when my wife Juanita “Nette” De Guzman Nucum had her very successful kidney transplant operation in April 25, 2007. She was very lucky to have immediately found a kidney donor after her niece who volunteered to donate one of her kidneys failed after a series of tests. Doubly lucky because our very own Batchmate Ms. Precy Magsino Pitpitan and her husband Bennie were able to perform a series of tests most important of them was the antibody test, before Nette’s scheduled transplant. This proves to be the most severe test that will show if the donated kidney will not be rejected by the body of Nette. Todate, Nette has just celebrated her second (2nd) year anniversary from that operation and continuous to be in the pink of health. The latest anti body test again conducted by our Batchmate Precy showed good results with no signs of any rejection.

With her new kidney, she had a new lease on her life. She is back to her work, back to going to churches hearing mass, making visits to our Blessed Sacrament, attending prayer meetings with her Cenacle Group (Batchmates and all our kumares- Ninfa, Lady, Tecla, Nelly and Carol) and most of all, back to her ballroom dancing.

Thanks to all you our dear Batchmates who unselfishly offered prayers and financial support for Nette. To Pres. Edith and Classmate Gil for the N95 masks, thank you so much. You were there when we do really needed you. We can only repay your kindness with our continued prayers for you and your families.

Truly our Dear Lord is kind and merciful . . . before Nette’s operation, she had twice a week dialysis sessions. She was previously confined due to low sodium, 2nd due to blood intoxication and 3rd for having had bacterial (sepsis) infection while undergoing dialysis. I then thought that we had been given the greatest and heaviest challenges in our lives. . . our savings had been drained. It seems that, I can no longer see the light at the end of the tunnel. But then, our Dearest Lord, our Greatest Savior and Redeemer answered all of our prayers . . . As Nette was undergoing operation, I repeatedly prayed the rosary. . . it was a Wednesday and it was the “Glorious Mystery” . .. as I was reciting the mysteries, I finally realized why Nette wished to have her operation on a Wednesday or a Friday .. . . The Five Glorious Mysteries were all for her. . . as if the Holy Spirit Descended on her and the medical team who performed the operation, because immediately after the new kidney was attached to her, it already functioned, to the delight of the medical team.

The 2nd greatest blessings in our lives, was the birth of our first “APO”, our bundle of joy who have given new meaning to our lives. It was February 29, 2008 (a leap year) when KYRAN CHURCHILLE SORIANO NUCUM was born, almost a year, after Nette’s kidney transplant operation. Please note when Nette was still recuperating from her operation, we were reminded that children are prohibited in our house, this was because, children have more viruses than adults. Hence, Nette could not yet then get near his Apo. She was so eager to get hold of him, hug and kiss him, but NO. . . she has to wait for some more months . . .she can only see him at a distance.

We are very proud to say to that we are now certified “LOLO’S AND LOLA’S to our good looking “Apo”. Budoydoy as we fondly call him brought laughter and happiness into our house. The once very quiet residence is now filled with his voice whenever he cries and asks for his bottle of milk.

Kyran Churchille or Budoydoy for short celebrated his ist birthday last March 1, 2009 at the Villa Angela Clubhouse. Budoydoy was very lucky to have as guest some of our ever loyal Batchmates – kumareng Ninfa and children, Kumareng Bing DJ Santos and family, Ester Mallari, kumareng Tecla Castro, Kumareng Nelly Feliciano and family, kumareng Let David Yumul and husband Pareng Bobot (fresh from USA). Pareng Bobot provided us the much needed medical supplies when Nette had her operation.

Yes, we had our Greatest Blessings . . . . and we cannot ask for more . . . .