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In her arms: Mom has carried paralyzed son to school for 15 years


There's nothing quite like a mother's loving arms, and no one knows that better than Juan Carlos Argarin.

The 22-year-old is carried to school every day by his mom, Cristina—he is paralyzed, so his mother had to function as his “legs.”

 


Juan Carlos’ legs were paralyzed when he was five.

He was playing sipa-sipa when he was accidentally shoved. He fell to the ground and was unable to walk for a full day.

Apparently, his spinal cord was damaged during the accident so he needed surgery.

But even after treatment, Juan Carlos was unable to walk again.

For three years after the incident, Juan Carlos stayed home. He was ashamed because he needed to be carried whenever he needed to go out. He also envied the other kids who played outside.

However, he and his mother persevered to get him to class every day.

It was easy when he was still in elementary, but as he grew into a teen and then a young adult, he became heavier.

Cristina couldn't see the merits of using a wheelchair, saying that the school only has stairs.

Life only got harder for the two.

Every morning, Juan Carlos wakes up early to get ready for school. He crawls and drags himself to the bathroom, where Cristina helps him onto a chair so he can bathe.

The Argarin family lives in a downhill place. To get to the road, they have to climb 40 steep steps.

Cristina recalls that when her son was in Grade 5, they repeatedly fell down the hill one rainy day.

"Sabi ko, 'Pag pangatlong beses na nalaglag pa tayo, huwag ka nang pumasok.' Pero nagagalit siya, ayaw niya. Basta siya, papasok siya kahit bagyo pa ‘yan, ganun siya bilang estudyante," she said.

Cristina's younger son Paolo has also taken to carrying his big brother. Paolo had to quit school to take care of his kuya, while their father works as an electrician in Taguig.

"Minsan po nahihiya po na ... kasi ang laki-laki ko na po nagpapabuhat pa ko," Juan Carlos said.

Carrying her son is never easy for 55-year-old Cristina. "May bag pa dito tapos karga ko pa siya. As in masakit sa likod, nakakangalay kasi lalo na't ang libro niyang dala araw-araw minsan dalawa, makakapal, minsan tatlo. Lahat yun nasa bag niya, karga ko lahat yun. Karga siya, karga ko rin yung bag niya, ganun po kahirap,” she said.

"Hindi naman pwedeng talagang sumuko. Sabing ganun nga e lahat gagawin ng ina para sa anak," she added.

"Hanggang gusto niyang mag-aral, hanggang kaya ng katawan ko, hanggang kaya ko siyang buhatin, hanggang gusto niya," she continued.

To his classmates, he is "Kuya Juan." His best friend, Jaim, also carries him around willingly.

He said Juan Carlos and his mother are both an inspiration because of what they have to go through every day.

"May time din po na gusto ko na din pong tumigil kasi nga po nahihirapan na din po ako at saka minsan may family problem. Pero iniisip ko na lang din po paano pala pag once na nangyari din po sa akin yung kalagayan na ganun, syempre po pipilitin ko na lang din pong pumasok kasi dahil din po kay Kuya Juan," he said.

Diagnosis

It has been 15 years since Juan Carlos visited a doctor. Because of this, the KMJS team brought him to an orthopedic institution.

It was then they found out that his paralysis was not because of the accident, but because of Pott’s Disease, a form of tuberculosis that affects the vertebrae.

Despite all this, Juan Carlos has a dream—to become a computer engineer— and he is one step closer to it because he has graduated Junior High School.

 


A surprise performance was prepared for Juan Carlos and Cristina. After Juan Carlos received his award, Cristina was also honored for her unfailing dedication to her son.

The KMJS team also prepared a surprise for the two: a scholarship for Juan Carlos and a job waiting for him after graduation.

For Juan Carlos and Cristina, this is the light after the tunnel; proof that there is hope, no matter how heavy your burden is. — LA, GMA News

Tags: kmjs
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