Rein Reyes, the nine-year-old boy afflicted with acute myloglenous-leukemia died yesterday while his family was praying the rosary at the Ospital ng Makati.
Marymel Reyes, the boy’s mother, said she knew the end was near when he mentioned about seeing a “very bright light.”
Since being diagnosed with the rare form of cancer last year, Rein became blind as a result of two cysts in the head that almost made his two eyes pop out of their sockets.
“Bago po namatay si Rein, sinabihan niya ako na nakakita siya ng sobrang maliwanag na ilaw. Sabi po niya ay sinusundo na siya ng Diyos, Marymel said.
Help poured after the boy’s plight was published in Tempo and Manila Bulletin. One of the biggest donors was former Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Marymel said Rein confided that he was getting tired and getting weak because of chemotherapy.
“Lumalaban po si Rein, pero nung mga nakaraang araw ay sinasabi niyang pagod na siya,” she said.
After months of hospital confinement, Rein was brought home on Dec. 17 after doctors said he had become stronger.
Rein was able to spend Christmas and New Year with his family. He was so full of life and was so happy, Marymel recalled.
“Noong Christmas Day, bumisita siya sa mga kamag-anak naming at sinabi niyang miss na miss sila,” Marymel said.
She said the boy also went to his old school to attend his class Christmas party. “Many of his classmates were so happy to see him strong again,” she said.
But last Feb. 22, Rein was again confined at the hospital to the disappointment of his mother who was expecting him to get better.
Marymel thanked all those who helped them.
“They don’t know us, but they helped Rein — they are good strangers. These people were also the reason why Rein fought his rare cancer,” she said.
“I will always be thankful to them. They barely knew us, but they still helped us. I am also very thankful to former VP Binay for his generosity,” she added. (JEL SANTOS)