Appreciate every single second of life you get, because each time you draw a breath, someone else draws their last.
Just one day after the story broke about him attending his college graduation in a wheelchair equipped with an oxygen, Joemar Kenik Mangkok passed away on Wednesday, March 27.
The 25-year-old had been fighting rheumatic heart disease for the past five years, but lost his battle a day after his story of courage went viral.
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Joemar’s sister Lyn Mangkok-Ayob told Inquirer.net that her brother had indeed passed away, confirming he had been taken to his mother’s house.
“Dito po siya ngayon [nakaburol] sa bahay ng mama namin. Dito po inuwi,” Ayob said. (He was brought home here in our mother’s house. His wake is here.)
Outstanding bravery
What makes Joemar’s story all the more incredible is his resilience in the face of truly terrible circumstances.
The 25-year-old graduated from college on Friday, March 22, with a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education, major in Mathematics, at the Southern Mindanao Institute of Technology Inc. in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao.
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Despite being critically ill, Joemar was able to collect his diploma and raise a fist to the heavens in triumph. His oxygen tank accompanied him onto the stage, but the smile never left his face.
Immediately after picking up his diploma, Joemar was rushed to hospital, where he went into a coma on Friday evening.
He passed away before dawn on March 27, leaving an inspirational legacy worthy of note by anyone’s standards.
https://www.facebook.com/lyn.ayob.9/posts/2264065457167129
To stay brave when faced with such adversity is no small feat. Joemar may have ultimately lost his battle with heart disease, but his actions will continue to impress upon people the need to appreciate their own lives and take nothing for granted.
Rest in peace, Joemar! We’re sending all our thoughts and love to his family.
If you want to do the same, share this article on Facebook and let’s get Joemar’s story out there.
