Christmas this year was exceptionally special for rapper-host Francis Magalona and his family. Francis, who was diagnosed with leukemia last August, was permitted by his doctor to momentarily leave his hospital bed last December 24 to spend Christmas Eve at home together with wife Pia and their eight children.
In a phone interview with Startalk's Butch Francisco and guest host Ricky Lo yesterday, December 27, Francis generously shared the details leading to his emotional homecoming.
"‘Di ba, I told you before, I did my third chemo cycle and then I did it last November 11 after our recording nung project namin ni Ely [Buendia]? On November 12, pumasok na ako sa ospital and after 43 days, I went home last December 24. I spent Noche Buena at home and then Christmas day lunch with my brothers and sisters."
SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE. Francis described Noche Buena this year as the "happiest Christmas ever."
Unknown to the public, the 44-year-old singer-composer recently survived a delicate medical condition days before he was dispatched from the hospital. "Akala ko kasi magki-Christmas ako sa ospital, e, because I had a very, very, very close brush with death last December 4. I went into septic shock and it was a very scary moment," confessed Francis.
He carefully shared the details: "Well. my blood pressure went down 35/20 and there was apparently bacteria in my blood. I was in the ICU for ten days, so it was a very trying moment and that day when I was there, all of my brothers and sisters were there. All of my sisters were there because, you know, any moment I could have passed away.
"That's how dangerous sepsis is, so I would like to share it with people who are watching right now that it's no laughing matter. It's the number one killer in the ICU according to Google. So, I was able to survive that and then, after that, my blood became stable again, and then I did one final bone marrow extraction last December 22, and then I was pronounced free to go home."
According to the widely popular Internet information database, Wikipedia, septic shock is a serious medical condition caused by decreased tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery as a result of infection and sepsis. The site further added that septic shock can cause multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and death.
Francis accurately hit it home when he mentioned the severity of the malady as Wikipedia took note that mortality rate from septic shock is approximately 50 percent.
BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT. Francis is scheduled for a bone marrow transplant. "My doctor said I'm in remission right now after my third chemo cycle. So, my next move would be to do the bone marrow transplant and I'm very happy to announce that I was able to find a match. One of my sisters from the States, we have the same tissue typing so she would be my donor," related Francis.
The upcoming New Year celebration will be no different from Christmas as Francis was still allowed by his doctors to welcome 2009 at home.
"We'll spend New Year at home and then on January 1, I'll be having lunch, like yong kuya ko galing sa States umuwi dito. He went home to have also his tissue typing. He wants to be a donor so he went home last December 20 so hopefully ‘yon magkasama ulit kami [for the New Year]."