Last Post for 2011

I'm not the type of person who would spend money just to buy an expensive coffee. But someone told me that I should enjoy life, try new things and to spoil myself. So before another year ends, I bought myself a Starbucks planner. It means starting a new chapter in one's life.. a new beginning.. an opportunity to change what's wrong.. to ask forgiveness.. to forgive others.. to spread love and thank God. Hopefully, I can inspire more people and let them know what SLE is. Goodbye 2011. Good vibes 2012! :)

Heroine of Happiness

You can achieve HAPPINESS if you'll learn how to appreciate what you have. If you're looking for the right way on how to be happy - you just need to set your mind that you deserve to be happy. Refuse to entertain any negative thoughts in your life. Keep in mind that you are the director of your own life.

lalalalove.

There's so much LOVE in this world. 

All we need is to feel it. 

Everyone's Dream :)

Look what I've got. :) 

I promised to myself that someday I will be able to travel to different places. I should have a stress-free vacation and this should be exciting and fun. Wishing that time will allow me to do anything what I want. *crossed fingers*

Existing in Spite of Adversity

in TIME.

"We've got a day. 

There's so much you can do in a day." 

- In Time (2011)

Spend each day with love and forgiveness. Things may not happen the way we want it but the best way is to accept it. Do not overthink things for these may lead into problems. 

Registered Nurse

When I was a child, I usually say to myself and to the people around me that I want to become a teacher someday. It's funny to reminisce every moment of solitary play, talking with myself, holding a stick, and writing alphabets in the blackboard. But, who I am right now? I am a Registered Nurse and very proud of it. To spend my remaining days with the people in the community is one of the most fulfilling moments in my life. Unexplainable feeling. Love for work. Serving others. ♥

Lesson for this Day

"There are things that we cannot change and the decisions that others make is one of those. And in all honesty, a person cannot be in a healthy relationship unless they are ready and happy with themselves first. And there is no harm in that. Everyone is different. But as for others, it is EXTREMELY hard to just sit back and wait. And they do not have any obligation to do that. We are free to take care of ourselves and our needs. We can handle this and everything else that comes our way. EVERYTHING happens for a reason. And as such, problems too have happened for a reason and we will learn and grow from them."

and yes.. I'm learning from other people. Thank you for the wonderful advice. 

REFLECTIONS

Today, I asked God to give me an understanding heart and a matured mind. I feel so bad with many things right now and can’t find the reason behind it. I don’t know. I really don’t know. I don’t know what to do. I don’t have any idea what will be the right move, the right decision and right answers to my questions. So I spent 2 hours in the church a while ago.  I cried. I talked to God. Then He answered me. He reminded me of these quotations.

·   Never conclude. Never assume. Never expect.

Never ask questions to someone if you’ll just control the story without even knowing what really happened. Learn to listen to someone without doubting what he says. Learn how to trust. Learn how to forgive. Don’t be a paranoid person and never make your own problems. If that would be the case, you’re just punishing yourself.

·   Enough!

If you think you already gave your best, please remind yourself that you’ve given everything and it’s time for you to stop. Stop acting that you’re someone’s Mom or Dad. Let someone do what he/she wants to do. He/she has his/her own life and you do not have the right to own it. Learn how to grow up. Do not be a hindrance to someone’s growth.

·   Love and love until it hurts. Love and love until it hurts no more.  -Mother Teresa

It applies to everything. Love for self. Love for others. Love for bf/gf. Love for family. Love for work. Love for everything.

·   When you love, don’t expect anything in return from that person. Love unconditionally.

The quotation says it all. Just think that God gave His only Son to us. Jesus sacrificed Himself for the whole world and yet people chose to live as sinners. But in return, Jesus still shows His love to us. He loves us without conditions. He works in mysterious ways.

Problems do come in our lives. We just need to learn how to handle them.

REFLECT. PRAY. TALK TO GOD. 

It works. I received God’s comfort this day. Thank you Lord. I love you po!

Sudden Thoughts

Praying for more days, weeks and years to be in this world.. to experience life.. to be with the people I love.. to meet different people in the community and learn from them.  

EVERY SECOND COUNTS.

STRANGER

As a member of the Nurse Corps of Philippine Red Cross, I was tasked to recruit and organize 44 volunteers each barangay in Guagua and Porac. Everyday I can meet different people, discover things I never encounter before. One day, a man asked me about the description of my job. We talked about life and about people. Then he said, "kung ako tatay mo, ipagmamalaki kita". My heart cried. Ganun pala feeling na makarinig ng ganun. Ang saya lang. :) 

perfect combination :)

My doctor told me that I should drink milk every breakfast and dinner. :) btw, hindi Anlene milk ko. yan lang favorite ko ginagamit na baso. haha :))

Always First. Always Ready. Always There.

 

"Siamo Tutti Fratelli"

(We are all brothers.)

from: Jean Henri Dunant :)

I am blessed to be a part of the RED CROSS family. :) This is my dream.. my passion. I love what I'm doing right now - serving and helping. And SLE can't stop me from doing what I love.

Know Thy Rights

 Since I am a member of the Lupus Foundation here in the Philippines, I am updated with the current news and studies about SLE. I found out people with disability due to chronic illness - a disease that is long-lasting or recurrent like lupus / SLE or rheumatoid arthritis - can now avail of benefits such as discounts for products and services that they need, inclusive of transportation, medical services and products, and basic commodities. This was realized by Republic Act 9442 amended RA 7277 -- the country’s Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.

So, I research for related articles and for the requirements needed. On the first week of September, I decided to go to DSWD office in our municipal hall. I thought it would be difficult for me to get an application form but I was wrong. Ma'am Pineda gave me one then asked me to present a clinical abstract from my doctor and to bring 1x1 pictures. I didn't waste my time and prepared the needed documents. Last September 26, 2011, I got my Person with Disability ID wherein I can get discounts for products and other services. 

Visit http://www.ncda.gov.ph/ for more detailed information about this law. Know your rights. 

To Participate or Not?

My doctor gave me something to think about. He opened a topic about this BLyS and BAFF and explained it to me. Currently, they are doing a clinical trial about this BLys-BAFF and their subjects are lupus patients. He asked me to do research first before deciding. He also asked for my Mom’s consent. If ever I’ll pass the screening, the treatment process will be every two weeks and drug will be administered via subcutaneous route. 

WHAT IS BLyS or BAFF?

BLyS or BAFF in Lupus and Other Autoimmune Diseases

B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS), or B cell activating factor (BAFF), has been associated with a wide range of B-cell mediated autoimmune diseases, including lupus, lupus nephritis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Sjögren’s Syndrome, Graves’ Disease and others. BLyS, or BAFF, is a critical survival factor for B cells, and is required for B cell development and maintenance. Its involvement in B cell survival has been demonstrated in animal studies (Kalled 2005) and in human (Avery 2003) in vitro studies. BAFF is primarily expressed by macrophages, monocytes, and dendritic cells; BAFF receptor (BAFF-R) is expressed primarily on peripheral B cells. BAFF is specifically up-regulated in human and animal models of autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren’s syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis (Gross 2000; Cheema 2001; Zhang 2001; Groom 2002; Kawasaki 2002). These finding suggests that high levels of BAFF may cause excessive survival signals to auto-reactive B cells, possibly as they pass through a critical tolerance checkpoint while maturing in the spleen. Inhibition of BAFF is expected to block stages of B cell maturation, and subsequent antibody formation. Through this pathway, a BAFF antagonist could potentially modulate a variety of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.

Although the cause of lupus is still not completely understood, B-cell activation and auto-antibody production are known to be central to the process. Evidence has emerged that over-expression of BLyS plays an important role in this disease process. In preclinical studies, transgenic mice created to over-express BLyS begin to exhibit symptoms similar to lupus. In addition, treatment of these same mice with BLyS antagonists appears to ameliorate the disease.

Source: http://anthera.com/science_blys_baff.asp