First Time To Travel Abroad!

Ederlyn Placa Start Date: Jan 11, 2020 - End Date: May 9, 2020
  • New York, NY, United States of America

My Travel Story

by: Ederlyn Placa Start Date: Jan 11, 2020 - End Date: May 9, 2020
My Travel Story:

Thanks for taking your time to check and read my story. Hi my name is Ederlyn, I’m 23 years old and I live in the Philippines. I’ve never experience to visit any countries aside from my beloved country the Philippines. One of my dreams was to experience to travel—to see and feel the other side of the world. But because of unfortunate events, hindrances, problems and blockages, that dream is far beyond unreachable.

I got sick last 2018, while I was studying my college course (as a premed student). But before that I actually took a 2 years hiatus from schooling because of financial problem, and by some luck and blessings, because I got a job, I return again from studying “yay!”. Fortunately, again after I’m about to enter my internship, the universe tests my strength and faith again. I was diagnosed of nephrotic and nephritic syndrome; it took me one year to get diagnosed what’s causing the deterioration of my kidneys. And it was a struggle financially, emotionally and physically. All the pain I’ve experienced, my life become stagnant, fearful and blue (I was always at the hospital for check-ups, laboratories, charities to asked for financial assistance.) because I don’t have any medical insurance, everything needs to pay in cash and all the laboratories and medications are so expensive. And because of that I need to give up my dream again to finish my studying.

By November of 2018 that is the day I couldn’t forget. I experienced an extremely painful abdominal pain (that kind of pain wherein my soul wanted to detach from my body.) -That’s how I describe that pain. I’ve seen myself so afraid and super not ready to let go of my human life, I started begging and praying to Jesus and I did all my best to cling on even though the pain is unbearable. I luckily convinced the Lord and I survived that day. The unfortunate events didn’t stop from that day, by December of 2018 my doctor reported the bad news, that my kidney function (GFR level) is just 10 percent stage 5 chronic kidney disease, and my potassium level was too high that could lead to hyperkalemia or some chest pain in the heart. Every time I go to sleep, I was so afraid to fall asleep, feeling some extreme anxiety and fear that my heart would stop from beating. The fear of death had changed, after I was worshiping and praying to the Lord for total healing,—I had this major epiphanies  and realizations of surrendering all my pains, worrisome, problems, and keep all my faith and hope high. A total surrender to the higher power, I suddenly felt a relief and pure joy that is indescribable.

By January of 2019 because of change of diet and taking good care of myself some of my lab results improve. I’m still sick and in medication but I’m so grateful that I’m not on dialysis or transplant. Some days I’m sick, experiencing pain on my kidneys but overall, I’m surviving every day as a CKD patient. Discipline, dedication, self-control and prayers are my main antidote for my healing.

I made this fundraising because It’s been awhile since I experience adventures, I don’t have any spare money for any other activities anymore, I’m working at home as a transcriptionist, virtual assistant and online tutor but the salary is just enough for my medications and check-up fees. Peso money is very different from dollars and the amount of money needed for traveling to any country was very expensive and cannot be afford by someone like me. And recently I’ve been daydreaming of traveling and visiting different countries, I’ve never been to any location aside Philippines, never experience riding an airplane, and one of my desires is to travel my dream destination and that is New York City. NYC is very expensive, but whatever amount of money I could accumulate in this fundraising, I’m going to save that up, or use it to any other affordable destination that I could afford like Bali Indonesia. I don’t know?, I just wanted to feel what it feels like to travel to other country. My life has been like a story in a movie and I want some happy memories that I could treasure in my heart forever, also I love photography so I’d like to capture pictures of happy experiences. I hope you can help and support me make this experience and dream possible. I know my fundraising seems like unnecessary, but I’m happy for taking your time to read this, I’m grateful in advance to share this very vulnerable story of my life, thank you so much for reading. Love and gratitude, Ederlyn.
  • New York, NY, United States of America

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