It might have never have occurred to Jorieta Pocais Pa-ayen that she would never find her name in the papers, except perhaps when she would pass the board examination for certified public accountants. Not until last November, when she was diagnosed with cancer that derailed her review and forced her to skip the board examination.
In the thick of her fight against metastatic melanocarcinoma, a type of cancer that spreads from a tumor, the 22-year old graduate of the University of the Cordilleras acceded to have her plight published, hoping Samaritans out there would respond and prop her up.
Before dawn last Wednesday, she succumbed to the complications of the big C while confined in a hospital here.
“She bravely fought for her dreams and we all stood by her side, doing and giving the best we could so she could find deliverance,” her dad, Stephen, said at the wake Wednesday night.
Beyond the efforts of kin, he was referring to generous souls, some of whom they never met, who enabled his second of five children to undergo six chemotherapy sessions.
“There was this government official who shared P10,000 but declined to give his name,” Stephen said.
Through the representation of Punong Barangay Edward Aclopen, a cooperative matched the amount as Jorieta was preparing for her fourth chemo, pegged at P16,000 per session.
Before dawn last Friday, the girl’s remains were transported to Otucan, Bauko, Mt. Province for the burial within the family’s residential lot.
“Instead of resting her here in the city, we decided to bring her home where we could see to the upkeep of the grave,” Stephen explained. – Ramon Dacawi.