Rio Diaz-Cojuangco's Last Testimony

**BoyL3** · October 16th, 2004 10:48 AM

RIO DIAZ's Testimony (Aug 17,2003)

Six months ago, my family was preparing for my funeral, but I stand here
before you today by God's grace because He still has a purpose for my
life.

Let me share with you my story.

In April, l99l, I began to host Eat Bulaga!, a noontime show that brought
me fame beyond my
wildest dreams. I earned good money while I made people laugh. What a
blessing!

October of l993, I met Charlie. Single and good-looking, this guy has a
terrific sense of humor, a
man with a big heart. "Kung sa beauty contestant, beauty and brains." At a
certain point in our
relationship, we both knew God brought us to be together...for life.

In August, l994, we were married. After four wonderful years of marriage,
God blessed us with two
children, Claudia and Jaime. Thirteen years
earlier, I was blessed with a son, Ali, from a previous relationship.

May of l998, Charlie became Congressman and I became Vice Mayor of
Pontevedra (Negros Occidental).
November of the same year, during a routine check-up, they discovered some
abnormalities in my
stomach area which, the
doctors said, could be solved by a minor procedure.

A few days later, my supposedly one-hour surgery turned out to be a
six-hour-and-a-half surgery. I
was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.

Cancer?

No one had cancer in the family. My life flashed before me. My world
suddenly caved in. The
doctors were quite frank. They told us that I had only a couple of months
to live. Stage 4 cancer
is like a death sentence.

As my doctor was speaking, I didn't understand a word he said because all
I could think of was
Charlie, my children, my family, my in-laws. would whisper, Lord, help
me...help them, Lord!

They're all suffering. I don't know how to comfort them.The day before my
first chemotherapy, I
said, Lord, just tell me you're in control. Tell me that no one made a
mistake and I'll be fine no
matter what, Lord. Somebody gave me a devotional book entitled Streams in
the Desert which I read
at 3 o'clock in the morning. It said, This is my doing.

Your weakness needs my strength and your safety lies in letting me fight
for you. You did not come
to this place by accident. You are exactly where I meant you to be. You
were so busy that I could
not get your attention and I wanted to teach you some of my greatest
truths. The pain will leave
you as soon as you learn to see me in all things. These words became the
pillow on which I rested
my weary head.

I surrendered to God all my fears, all my burdens and my family as I began
my journey of trials. I
focused on His promises as Jesus said, Surely I am with you always.

By God's gracious mercy and beyond all medical explanation, after six
months of chemotherapy I
went on remission. Eight months later, the cancer was back. More surgery,
more chemo. And then
again, God allowed healing for me. The best lesson I am learning from this
is how God allows us to
enjoy life with His moment by moment of grace. My third bout with cancer
entailed three different
chemotherapies infused at the same time. The Lord allowed me to learn to
NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER GIVE
UP...PUT YOUR HOPE IN GOD.

Three times, I was at the threshold of death. Medicines and
state-of-the-art treatments were not
working anymore. Not all the money in the world nor the best doctors on
earth can make us live if
God doesn't want us to. During those times, God comforted my heart with
these verses: Why are you
downcast o my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I
will yet praise Him my
Savior and my Lord.

But let me tell you about my latest brush with death. After spending
Christmas with my family here
in Manila, I left for San Francisco in January of 2003 for my check-up. I
knew there was something
terribly wrong with my body. I had sleepless nights; I was steadily losing
weight; I couldn't eat
anything.

By the time I had completed all my tests, I was only 96 pounds. My doctor
said, The cancer has
spread. You need to be confined in the hospital. Your food passage is
completely blocked by the
cancer. I don't know how much time you have. Not much. Maybe a month. But
I promise you will not
feel the pain.I hugged Dr. Fisher and thanked him. I told him, Don't be
sad. I know God is in full
control of my life.

I went home that night to make some arrangements and my daughter was fast
asleep. I knelt down by
her bedside and I cried, Mama loves you so much
that it hurts. Lord, you know how much I love my Ali, my Claudia and my
Jaime. You gave them to
Charlie and me and I thank you. I know in my heart that Charlie will love
them and watch over
them. Lord, take care of my husband because I love him very much. But much
more than this, it
comforts me to know that I could never love them as much as you love them.
I thank you, Father
God.

Charlie remained by my bedside day and night, caressing me, talking to me.
It pains me to think
how much our husbands or wives suffer the fear oflosing us.How blessed I
am to know how much my
family and friends love me.

The Lord allowed me to experience deep, deep, sleep. I have never ever
felt that kind of peace, a
peace that surpasses all understanding. Dr. Fisher explained to Charlie
that my nourishment would
come from a bag of liquid attached to me, which has to be administered on
a daily basis for life.
I would never be able to eat or drink again.

Surgery was ruled out, so was radiation. As a last recourse, it was
suggested that I do the
mildest chemo but if I so much as cough, he would remove it and just keep
me comfortable. I was in
awe when I was told how many people were praying for me.
By God's sovereign mercy, I never coughed. One month later, my cancer
level went down by half. I
am now only a few points away from being on remission.

And as if this weren't enough, God's incredible bonus is that I am back to
my full diet. I can eat
and drink anything now! Once again, the doctors were amazed. Yes, isn't
our God amazing? God
spared my life when Stanford doctors had given up on me.

In my heart, I knew why. God allowed this miracle in my life to show us
how gracious He is and
what a powerful weapon prayer can be. And that God can perform miracles in
our lives, if you let
Him. I will never fully understand God's ways but I do know that God has a
purpose for each of us.
When God calls you to live for Him, He will invite you to be a part of
something much bigger than
yourself, something that requires the very best of you, something that may
outlive you. When God
calls us to a powerful vision, it may transcend safety and it may
transcend common sense because
it is all about Jesus Christ. Without Jesus, we will not make it!

Do we know, do you know, what God wants you to do with your life? If you
are uncertain of God's
will for your life, surrender all your plans to Jesus because God's plans
for us are perfect.

The cancer in my body, I did not choose. But in God's sovereignty, He
allowed this affliction in
my life. But I ask you, what is the cancer in your life?

Is it the cancer of unforgiveness, jealousy, lust, anger or bitterness
that you are holding on to?
What are the wrong choices you continue to make because they give you
temporary pleasure but can
permanently destroy your -your husband or your wife or your children or
your circle of influence?

If you are going through a time of terrifying darkness and despair, or are
plagued by doubts that
are slowly eroding your hope that things can get better, I urge you to
surrender it all to God;
give Him full control of your life. It is the only way to live.

Lord, forgive me for all my sins. Jesus, come into my heart; be my Lord
and my Savior. In Jesus'
name, I pray. Amen.

Friends,

Get inspired with Rio's story like me. It just occurred to me that I am
also too busy with my life
& work right now. Oftentimes, I forget to pray and thank the Lord for all
the blessings that I
receive. I even keep on complaining that what I have is never enough. I
keep on questioning Him
with all the unfairness that I observe and demading for a lot more. I dont
have any idea on the
plans that he has for me because I am usually blindfolded with my own
desires - desire for luxury,
power & control,recognition, & comfort. I think I must also start
surrendering everything to Him
and let Him lead me. Didn't you guys notice how exhausting our lives are?
I always feel like I' m on
a race and catching the leading car! How about you?

I wont wait for a cancer to strike before I will recognize God's plans! I
wont promise anything
but I'll do my best!

**CaRGirL** · October 16th, 2004 10:55 AM

she will surely be missed...

she was a person who was determined to live her life to the fullest.

i admire her for being strong for herself and her family...