Light Through Darkness: Valerie’s Leukemia Journey

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Light Through Darkness: Valerie’s Leukemia Journey

This page is managed by Valerie and her siblings -- Ralph, Trixy, Renee, and Stephanie. My heart is for the youth and to disciple them to be like Jesus Christ.

Light Through Darkness: Valerie's Leukemia Journey is a page created with the intent of sharing our family's experiences about living and battling leukemia together. Hi, my name is Valerie Rose Chan, my friends call me Val, I’m 31 and from Legazpi City, Philippines. I am passionate about mentoring others to become servant-steward leaders. I enjoy teaching the Bible creatively in small groups, ministries, and the Church. And, with my love for coffee, I co-founded a business as mission called, Little Light Cafe. Last September 11, 2021, I was diagnosed with blood cancer — Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis. Since then, I’ve been in and out of the hospital often staying in for a month long due to treatments and low immune system. I’ve had countless blood transfusions and been through chemotherapies and immunotherapies. On November 26, 2021, I finally had my Bone Marrow Transplant with my elder sister as my donor. After this, I was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder called Pure Red Cell Aplasia, and my leukemia had relapsed. We’ve found out that my ALL subtype is Philadelphia Positive. I had to undergo salvage chemo and Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor medication. But praise God I achieved complete remission after 40 days and stayed in remission for one and a half years. Last October 17, 2023, my leukemia had relapsed and it was suspected that I was resistant to my maintenance medications. From then on I have been battling against the disease again and have been trying all sorts of cutting-edge treatments. I made this page as a platform to inspire others journeying with sickness, suffering, and sadness. I hope to share my journey and reveal the glory of God’s faithfulness and goodness despite the many trials we face daily.

10/01/2026

Many of you have been asking about Valerie’s health, and we would like to share an update.

Valerie has been in the hospital since December 25 as cancer cells were found in her spinal fluid. For her treatment she has to complete another cycle of 8 Intrathecal Chemotherapy sessions. Currently, she has undergone three sessions.

Sadly, her fourth session was scheduled twice but was unsuccessful both times due to difficulty accessing her lumbar area. The doctors were unable to insert the needle needed to deliver the chemotherapy because the surrounding tissues have become hardened, preventing the needle from passing through. Because of this, she has not been able to continue her treatment for now.

As an alternative, the doctors have presented the option of a surgery called an Ommaya Reservoir. This is a small dome-shaped device that is surgically placed under the scalp and connected to the brain. It allows chemotherapy to be delivered directly into the fluid around the brain and spine without repeated spinal injections. While this could make treatment easier and more consistent, the surgery carries risks, so we are earnestly asking God for wisdom and guidance as we consider the next steps.

Valerie needs continued treatment to prevent the cancer from spreading to her brain, but we are also holding on to hope for other options that may be less critical for her condition.

Please continue to keep Valerie in your prayers. She has been experiencing severe headaches and frequent vomiting, and she is currently receiving morphine to help manage the pain.

Thank you for your continued love, prayers, and support.

- Renee

30/11/2025

SOLD OUT!!

✨ 𝐀 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞 – 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭!✨
Our newest batch of homemade cookies is out, and every jar you purchase helps support Valerie’s healing journey. 🤍

🍪 Flavors Available:
• Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
• Classic Choco Chip Cookies - SOLD OUT!

💰 ₱𝟑𝟎𝟎 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐞 𝐣𝐚𝐫

📦 Delivery:
Available within Metro Manila via Lalamove or Grab Express

📍 Pickup Location:
Benavidez Garden Condominium

📩 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬!

Thank you for being a light in this season. Your support means so much. 🫶🏼✨

06/11/2025

Valerie is unfortunately back in the hospital as her leukemia has returned. She is currently undergoing her Hyper-CVAD chemotherapy regimen and will be hospitalized for several days.

Her platelet count is dropping, and she urgently needs blood transfusions. We are looking for A+ Platelet Apheresis donors who are willing to donate this weekend and next at St. Luke’s Medical Center (BGC or QC).

If you are able and willing to help, please send us a message. Thank you!

16/10/2025

📚✨ Books for the Soul, Hope for Healing ✨📚

Dear friends,
I’m opening my second online Bible and Christian book sale featuring Bibles, devotionals, theology books, and stories for kids and families. Many of these titles have deeply comforted and strengthened me in my leukemia journey, helping me see light through the darkness. 🌿

Every purchase you make goes directly to support my medication and hospital fund.
Your book purchase doesn’t just bring wisdom and hope to your home, it also helps me continue this journey of faith and healing. 💛

🕊️ Click the photos for more details about each book and the price.
📦 Delivery options:
- Pickup at Benavidez Garden Condo or UEC Philippines
- Nationwide shipping via J&T Express
- Same-day delivery via Lalamove (Metro Manila)
- Delivery fee to be shouldered by the buyer.
- Payment via Gcash or Maya

Just send us DM or just message this page for orders.

Thank you for being part of this story, for helping bring Light Through Darkness. 🌤️

-Valerie

27/09/2025

✨ Speaking at St. Luke’s Blood Donor Recognition Day ✨

On September 1, I had the honor of speaking at St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City for their Blood Donor Recognition Day. It was a truly humbling experience to stand before the very heroes whose generosity sustained me through my battle with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL).

Over the past years, I’ve endured five relapses, two stem cell transplants, countless rounds of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and numerous blood transfusions. In every stage of my fight, each bag of blood I received was more than a medical necessity. It was hope in liquid form, strength for another day, and a reminder that I was not fighting alone.

As I shared with the donors that day, my journey always draws me back to the ultimate act of sacrifice: the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross for our salvation. When donors give their blood, they mirror Christ’s love by laying down a part of themselves so that others may live.

In John 15:13, Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

To all blood donors: you may never know the names or faces of those you help, but your generosity writes you into our survival stories forever. You are instruments of God’s love, reflections of Christ’s sacrifice, and true heroes of life and hope.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for the life you’ve given, not just to me, but to every patient who received the gift of your blood. 💞

May God bless you all abundantly.

26/09/2025

This September has been a tough one for my brain. 🧠 Twice, I suddenly lost the ability to read, had vision problems, severe headaches, and difficulty speaking. Tests showed bleeding in my brain earlier this month, and just recently, small strokes and reduced blood flow in some areas.

From September 5 to 7, I had a severe headache and kept sleeping to ease the pain. Then, on the night of September 7, all the letters on my phone suddenly became jumbled. I couldn’t read. I couldn’t spell. It was frightening. We immediately informed my neuro-oncologist doctors and went to the hospital the next day.

A CT scan revealed a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which means there was bleeding in my brain. My doctors performed a lumbar puncture to check the pressure inside my brain, which was high at 27. They drained some cerebrospinal fluid to relieve the pressure. After two days, thank You, Lord, my dyslexia symptoms reversed. I could finally read again, though slowly. My treatment continued for a week to drain the blood and fluid from my brain, and then I was discharged.

The following week, I was at home recovering in isolation after catching RSV (cough and colds) and a C. diff gut infection. Thankfully, with a few days of medication, I recovered and was able to go out and worship on Sunday.

But on September 21, after Sunday service and my sister-in-law’s students’ piano recital, I suddenly developed vision problems, imbalance while walking, and difficulty with comprehension. I couldn’t answer properly and kept forgetting words. After contacting our doctors, I was rushed back to the hospital for an MRI.

Here is what they found in simple terms:
• No bleeding or hydrocephalus (fluid build-up) in my brain.
• Small strokes called acute infarcts in the left thalamus and lentiform nucleus, which are areas that affect processing of information and movement.
• Areas of swelling and reduced blood flow, also called ischemia, in parts of my left parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes, and possibly the left cerebellum.
• Some white matter changes that are stable and likely related to my past treatments.
• A small pineal cyst that is not dangerous.

Overall, my doctors see signs of small strokes and reduced blood supply in some brain regions, but thankfully no bleeding or fluid pressure.

These findings explain some of my headaches, vision issues, and slower thinking. It does sound scary, but I see it as another reminder of God’s sustaining grace. Even when my body feels weak, His strength carries me through. I continue to hold on to hope, trusting that every step, even the hard ones, is part of His greater plan for my healing.

Looking back, I also see how God already went ahead of me. He prepared a hospital room, opened the MRI schedule right when I needed it, and gave wisdom to my doctors. Without His guidance, we would not have caught this early. Truly, His hand has been over every detail. ✨

As I train my brain to create new pathways, I am grateful that I can read God’s Word again and even enjoy listening to audiobooks.

My doctors keep saying, “Val, you are unique!” 🫶🏼 I pray that my journey encourages you to keep trusting in the Lord’s sovereign plan and see how Jesus’ power shines even in medicine.

Please continue to pray for my recovery and that I may be discharged soon from the hospital. 🫶🏼✨

- Val

01/09/2025

🌟 TOTE BAGS FOR A CAUSE 🌟
Supporting My Ongoing Battle Against Leukemia 💛

Update on Valerie'shealth: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Bxa8mk2aR/

👜 Design: “God is Above All Things”
🎨 Colors: Available in Navy Blue and Maroon
💸 Price: Only ₱300 each
🚚 Delivery fee to be shouldered by buyer
💛 Proceeds will go directly to my leukemia treatment and recovery

Your purchase means more than you know — it’s a piece of encouragement you carry, and a piece of hope you share with me.
📩 Message us to order or support!

With love and gratitude,
Valerie Rose Chan

16/07/2025

Dear family and friends,

We’d like to give you an update on Valerie’s condition.

Last July 10, she had severe back and chest pain, and we had to bring her back to the hospital. A biopsy was done and results showed 58.5% leukemia blasts in her bone marrow. Her blood tests also showed 39% atypical mononuclear cells, and her white blood cell count is high.

Because of this, she’ll be starting treatment again through:
IT Chemotherapy
Hyper-CVAD (an intensive chemo regimen)

These treatments aim to remove the leukemia blasts from her system. It’s going to be a tough journey once again, and she may experience side effects—so we’re asking for your prayers and support.

Please pray with us:
1. That the chemo will be effective in clearing the leukemia.
2. Strength and grace for her mom, Yolly Tsi as she cares for Valerie in the hospital.
3. That Valerie stays free from side effects and infections.
4. For her appetite to return and improve.
5. Emotional and mental strength and peace.
6. Provision for medical and daily needs.

Thank you so much for standing with us. We deeply appreciate all your love, messages, and prayers. Still, we trust in the Lord.

- Renee

Address

Manila

Website

https://www.valerierosechan.me/

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