KWENTONG PASSION
KYLE DOMINGUEZ: A Brain Tumor Survivor And The Important Values He Learned From Sports
Sep
Written By: Zerjosh Serrano and Paul Tamayo
Kyle Dominguez first enrolled at Passion Sports in 2017. It was a summer camp at Cavite, and since he was living near the venue, Kyle grabbed the opportunity to learn basketball under the great coaches of Passion Sports that includes former PBA player Rob Labagala, who is also its founder.
Kyle was 14 years of age during that time, and just like most kids at the camp, he truly loves the game of basketball. In a recent interview with Passion Sports, Kyle said that he started playing during his elementary days. He and his family were still living at Olongapo back then. Kyle also mentioned that he, his brother, and their father, who is an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), would always try to watch live PBA games whenever possible.
“Noong elementary ako nag-start maglaro. Nasa Olongapo pa po kami noong una tapos lumipat din kami sa Cavite. Doon na po ako nagkaroon ng interest sa basketball kasi nakikita ko yung mga schoolmates ko na naglalaro palagi. Noong fourth year ko sa high school, nakasali po ako sa varsity.
Yung daddy ko rin po at mga kapatid niya palagi may kwento noon na dati naglalaro sila ng basketball noong bata pa sila. OFW po si daddy pero kapag umuuwi siya, nanonood kami ng live games sa MOA Arena. Dahil doon, nagkaroon na din ako ng interest maglaro.”
So everything was going well for Kyle. He was a young kid who grew to love basketball by either playing it or watching his favorite players perform on the court. He was a regular participant in Passion Sports until the end of one year-end camp around December 2018. Kyle complained of having double vision in his left eye.
“Apat na camps na po yung nasalihan ko sa Passion Sports. Then noong year-end camp namin in 2018, doon na ako naka-experience ng double vision. Nahihirapan na po ako maglakad by that time. Kaya pina-checkup yung mga mata ko bandang end ng December. By January, nagpa-checkup na kami sa St. Luke’s, including MRI. Doon na nila nakita yung sa brain ko na may tumor po.”
Kyle went through an operation in January 2019, and continued his chemotherapy sessions until the next year. By the end of January 2020, the doctors eventually gave him the thumbs-up sign and stopped his sessions. It means that Kyle has completely recovered. He is still taking medicines right now to maintain his health, but he survived the most difficult phase of the disease.
Kyle was only 16 years old when he learned that he has a brain tumor. To go through that ordeal, it requires a special amount of courage and faith.
“Nagulat po talaga ako noong una ko malaman kasi that time, kakatapos ko lang sa basketball camp sa Passion. After that, hindi ko inaasahan na bigla ako magkakaroon ng sakit. Pero talagang pinagdasal po namin yung kalagayan ko. Si God lang po talaga yung nagbigay sa akin ng lakas ng loob. Kahit sobrang bigat ng pagsubok, naniwala po talaga ako sa Panginoon. Thankful kami na naging successful yung operation. Para sa amin, miracle yung nangyari.”
Kyle also reiterated that the values that he learned at Passion Sports helped him maintain that positive mindset in dealing with his health problems. He said that aside from gaining new basketball skills, Passion Sports also taught him the essence of praying and having faith when big problems come his way.
On top of that, it’s also through Passion Sports that he learned the value of respecting other people on and off the court.
“Ang Passion Sports na motto po kasi ay Pray, Study, and Sports. Tumatak po talaga sa utak ko yun, hindi ko po nakalimutan.
Through Passion, natutunan ko rin rumespeto ng ibang tao, kahit teammate ko o hindi. Para sa akin, nakikita ko talaga ang basketball na isang paraan para makabuo ng pagkakaibigan. Nakakagawa tayo ng bagong community na nakakatulong talaga po para sa amin.”
Along with the values that he learned from Passion Sports, Kyle also mentioned that it was his family that kept him motivated and kept him going. He knows how many sacrifices and sleepless nights his parents have endured just to take care of him, and Kyle wants to return the favor by exerting his full effort in his studies.
“Nakita ko din po yung paghihirap ng mga parents ko noong mga panahong may sakit ako. Noong kailangan ko sila, nandiyan lang po sila palagi. Gusto ko po makabawi sa kanila, hindi ko man maibigay lahat pero kahit papaano, ginagawa ko naman yung best ko sa pag-aaral. Deserve po ng mga magulang ko na makabawi ako sa kanila.”
Now that he is fully healthy and completely recovered, Kyle also believes that God has a purpose on why he went through those difficult times. Kyle knows that he should not take that for granted, and that he should be a role model for other people to follow.
“Madaming beses na tinatanong ko ang sarili ko kung bakit ako nakaranas ng ganoong sakit? Bakit ako nasa ganitong kalagayan? Pero alam ko po na may purpose si God kung bakit nangyari sa akin ito. Yung sakit ko din yung nag-lead sa akin na magkaroon ng mas matatag na paniniwala sa Panginoon.”
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