Beneath the arches of a small chapel contained in the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Erlinda “Erlyn” Romarate Lucero held her husband’s hand and mentioned her vows on Valentine’s Day in 2025.
The ceremony was easy and chic, simply as she needed it. Flowers adorned the chapel. Principal sponsors, household, and shut pals stood beside them. The songs “By the Years” and “Promise of Love” stuffed the church.
That afternoon, her sickness stepped apart — and what remained was love.
Erlyn’s struggle with most cancers started in 2019, when she was recognized with stage 2 breast most cancers. She underwent surgical procedure, six cycles of chemotherapy, radiation, and years of medicine. However the illness returned. It unfold to her liver, then to her bones.
By 2023, medical doctors confirmed that she had stage 4 bone most cancers. That very same 12 months, she and her husband had been instructed that she had six months to a 12 months left to stay.
Throughout an interview in August 2023, Erlyn recalled how her husband reacted to the information.
“He was shocked,” she mentioned in Filipino. “As a result of even at first, we spent a lot cash and energy. He thought all of them had been all in useless.”
However whilst he struggled to course of the prognosis, Erlyn steadied herself. She was instructed she wanted extra chemotherapy, but it surely entailed extra uncertainty and threat.
“I’ll nonetheless struggle,” she mentioned. “I can’t inform till when I’ll stay. Solely God [can].”
Her husband, Evaristo “Evz” Lucero, had been by her aspect for greater than three many years. The 2 tied the knot in a civil ceremony in Cebu Metropolis on August 30, 1994.
After the prognosis, Evz quietly started making ready one thing Erlyn didn’t anticipate: a church wedding ceremony.
“Erlyn didn’t know that I used to be making ready secretly for a church wedding ceremony,” Evz mentioned. “We needed February 8, however the priest prompt that it will be extra significant and memorable if we maintain it on February 14, 2025, as a result of it’s Valentine’s Day.”
“And we had been so completely satisfied,” Evz mentioned. “Nothing will occur with out the intervention of God, Lord Jesus Christ. What occurred to us was a miracle.”
Erlyn the fighter
For a lady who was instructed she had months left to stay, Erlyn remained radiant and fulfilled. In 2023, Erlyn allowed herself to be photographed bald, together with her surgical scars seen. She needed individuals to see what most cancers actually seems to be like.
“Having scars and shedding my hair doesn’t hassle me,” she mentioned through the 2023 interview. “It’s a small value to pay for the prospect to maintain dwelling. Being stunning is about inspiring others and displaying kindness with out hurting anybody.”
Erlyn refused to be pitied. She even continued working throughout chemotherapy and confirmed up on the workplace. When requested what recommendation she had for different most cancers sufferers, she spoke first about acceptance. She additionally urged them to take issues in the future at a time.
“Acceptance is primary. If we can’t settle for that we’ve most cancers, nothing will occur. We’d get depressed,” she mentioned.
She mentioned households of most cancers sufferers ought to give assist with out displaying that they really feel unhealthy for his or her family members.
Erlyn mentioned she was not afraid of dying. She was prepared anytime, however all she needed was extra time to be together with her household. Extra time to like, to matter.
“I didn’t ask God to treatment me. It’s already right here, and I’m accepting wholeheartedly. My solely want is that I can overcome the ache, and extension,” she mentioned.
When requested what message she needed to go away her husband, her voice softened.
“I’m grateful to him — he didn’t go away me. [It was] unconditional love. He didn’t quit. He gave me energy. He was the supply of my energy. He helped [me] not to surrender,” Erlyn mentioned.
“No matter occurs, no crying. Nobody ought to cry. Be sturdy and proceed along with your lives.”
A wonderful goodbye
After years of preventing, Erlyn handed away on January 1, 2026. She left her husband, Evz, and her sons, Invoice and William.
On January 7, she was laid to relaxation in Alcoy, Cebu, her hometown. Household and pals gathered to say goodbye, lots of them the identical individuals who had stood contained in the cathedral months earlier and witnessed her wedding ceremony vows. The arms that when applauded her stroll down the aisle now folded in prayer.
For the Lucero household, Valentine’s Day marks the anniversary of a marriage that proved that love can exist even within the shadow of goodbye.
For Erlyn and Evz’s eldest son, Invoice, February 14 carries a distinct that means.
“For the remainder of the world, February 14th is simply Valentine’s Day, however for me, it can all the time be the day that your want had lastly come true,” he mentioned in a message for his mom.
“You two lived out the phrases ‘in illness and in well being’ with a grace that most individuals solely dream of. You fought so exhausting to stick with us, and that selfless love is the blueprint I’m taking into my very own marriage. I miss you greater than phrases can say, however I discover consolation figuring out that your love was sturdy sufficient to outlast even the toughest goodbye,” he added.
On the eve of their first church wedding ceremony anniversary with out his spouse, Evz spoke quietly about life after Erlyn’s passing.
“Ever since Erlyn died, it feels I’m lifeless too,” Evz mentioned in an interview on February 13. “I can’t settle for that she’s now not in my life.”
“It’s our first church wedding ceremony anniversary this February 14. I’ll go to her on the cemetery and provide her pink roses and candles.”
Most cancers didn’t outline Erlyn. She remains to be remembered for her energy and braveness, for her religion, and for the way in which she carried herself via struggling with grace. She selected love absolutely, even when time was unsure.
She didn’t ask for the most cancers to vanish. She accepted it, requested for time, and used it to like. – Rappler.com
Editor’s Observe: Quotes had been translated into English for brevity.
