A BED-RIDDEN KRIS AQUINO with sons James Yap Jr. (Bimby) and Joshua Salvador in California
Television host and actress Kris Aquino shared an update on her health situation on Instagram months after flying to the United States to get medical treatment for her autoimmune diseases.
Already battered by four autoimmune diseases, Aquino said she may have been diagnosed for a fifth autoimmune disease but this is yet to be confirmed.
In her social media post, Aquino, who is seeking medical treatment in Houston, Texas, admitted she continues to suffer due to her multiple health conditions, which have resulted in fatigue, sudden appearance of bruises all over her body, her inability to tolerate solid food, among other kinds of pain.
On Instagram, Aquino also posted a photo of herself with her sons Joshua and James Bimby Yap Jr. next to her.
In her post, Aquino thanked her friends and family in the Philippines for their prayers.
“BUT [I] remind myself Kuya [Josh and] Bimb still need me [and] mahiya naman ako sa lahat ng mga patuloy na nagdarasal para gumanda ang kalusugan ko if [I] just give up,” the actress said.
Kris disclosed that she and her family have moved to Houston, Texas where she will start her treatment, which includes chemotherapy.
“[I] am grateful to be blessed to have the means for us to move to another state, and have more tests done and go to other specialists; and finally start my immunosuppressant therapy,” she wrote. “There have been times I wanted to give up,” she admitted in her first Instagram post in over two months and reported by CNN Philippines, GMA News and other media in Manila.
“But I remind myself Kuya & Bimb still need me & mahiya naman ako sa lahat ng mga patuloy na nagdarasal para gumanda ang kalusugan ko [it would be a shame to all those who continue to pray for my health] if i just give up,” she added.
The 51-year-old has been diagnosed with four autoimmune illnesses – three were detected while she was still in the Philippines, while the fourth one was confirmed when she moved to Houston, Texas.
She previously said her conditions have been categorized by doctors as “life threatening.”
Aquino also bared in her latest update that “all [her] physical manifestations” point to a possible fifth autoimmune illness, although this has yet to be confirmed.
Still, Aquino said she is grateful to have been able to move abroad to undergo more tests and start her immunosuppressant therapy.
“I was warned that the safest form of chemotherapy (I don’t have cancer) that can be used for my autoimmune conditions will make me lose my hair. Hair will eventually grow back but permanently damaged organs won’t – so, dedma muna sa [for now, ignore] vanity,” her post read.
Among the health conditions the actress has been diagnosed with is Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangitis (EGPA), formerly known as Churg-Strauss Syndrome, which is an inflammation of the blood vessels.
Her doctor Niño Gavino earlier noted that without medical intervention, a five-year survival rate in EGPA is about 25%. With treatment, it is 62%.
Gavino added it would take at least 18-24 months before knowing if Aquino’s treatments worked.
“[I] am grateful to be blessed to have the means for us to move to another state, and have more tests done and go to other specialists; and finally start my immunosuppressant therapy,” she said as reported by GMA News.
She said she didn’t have cancer but shared she will need to undergo chemotherapy as treatment and that it may make her lose her hair.
“Hair will eventually grow back but permanently damaged organs won’t—so dedma muna sa vanity,” she wrote.
Kris then shared their family’s “love [and] gratitude” to their “new friends [and] guardian angels in Houston.”
