By Milo Aguila

Attendees follow Dr. Aggie's lead

“Healing is my God’s territory; living your life to the max is your responsibility.”

These are the words of Dr. Aggie Sarthou, speaker at the “De-Stressing Your Life” seminar held by Life to the Max on Tuesday, 17 June 2008.

Sarthou, a stalwart member of the Life to the Max ministry group under Christ’s Commission Fellowship, spoke about the trials she weathered and the lessons she learned as a survivor of stage 4 cancer. She said that what transpired was a faith journey for her.

According to Sarthou, a patient’s chances for survival can significantly increase upon adopting a right perspective, accepting the realities of the disease, and adding the support and prayers of family and friends. In this regard, she shared the importance of actionable whats, whys, and hows of stress that arises when one deals with cancer.

Pediatrician-geneticist Dr. Eva de la Paz also spoke at the seminar and shared contemporary cancer facts. She said that a big percentage of present-day sporadic cancer occurrences are no longer hereditary, and that preventive measures and lifestyle changes can help mitigate the occurrence of the disease.

Max prayer power

Life to the Max is composed of cancer patients and survivors as well as their families and friends. The group visits patients in hospitals and residences, provides support for diseased patients and their families, and shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In life’s frenetic cycle, turning tragic health disasters into moments of inspiration and personal growth seem impossible, if not downright distracting from the challenges faced by a patient and his/her family. Mounting medical bills, the attendant emotional trauma on everyone concerned, and the prospect of death staring the patient in the face are all quite unnerving.

However, the very idea of facing one’s mortality allows one to gain sensitivity to the truly valuable things in life, until at last, he/she is all eyes and ears to God.