Sophia Espiritu: I just want to be able to help and give back to everyone as much as I can and especially the people that are in the hospital because I know about the rough time they’re going through. And I just want to make it an easy experience for them.
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Sophia Espiritu – Bellmore, New York
Sophia Espiritu: I am sister Sophia Espiritu. I am from Bellmore, New York. I am 10 years old.
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At 10 years old, she has experienced so much.
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Sophia Espiritu – Bellmore, New York
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‘Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis’ – a rare form of cancer believed to affect 1 in 200,000 children.
Sophia Espiritu: I was diagnosed with LCH which is short for ‘Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis’ which is a rare brain tumor in March 2018, when I was 9 years old.
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She is so brave and prayerful.
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Sophia Espiritu – Bellmore, New York
Sophia Espiritu: Of course, with God’s help, he has blessed me and has helped me to be to stay strong.
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She kept her faith in God. And in September 2018, she received a great blessing.
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Sophia Espiritu – Bellmore, New York
Sophia Espiritu: When I knew that, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, the current Executive Minister of the Church Of Christ, wanted to meet me and pray for me, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Someone with such an important role in the church, such an important role in the Administration and what we believe in and whom God appointed, wanted to personally meet me? I felt very happy and thankful to know that the Executive Minister of the Church was able to look out for me and my family and for when he prayed for me in his visit to Johnsonville. And when he was talking with me and telling me about how I should keep praying and stay strong in my duty in the Church, I knew I should follow it. He is a role model and an inspiration to the whole Church.
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By the end of September 2018, her tumor showed a significant decrease in size. And God’s love inspired Sophia.
Sophia Espiritu: When I’m getting my treatments, I’ve noticed that there are many children who do not have a special shirt like mine.
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She wore a chemotherapy port shirt. This shirt gives the nurses easy access during chemotherapy treatments, making it a more comfortable experience for the patient.
Sophia Espiritu: I know about the rough time they’re going through and I just want to make it an easy experience for them.
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She started the ‘Shirt and Share’ fundraiser.
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She explains her condition and the goal of her fundraiser. And shared it on social media.
Sophia Espiritu: My hope is that every child will have a chemo shirt. Thank you for listening and your support. It means so much to me.
Sophia Espiritu: I want to help other children because this past year so many people have been helping me—all of the nurses and the physicians, my family and all of my friends. So I just wanted to be able to help and give back to everyone. And what many people don’t know is that that the share in the name actually means for me to share my faith by putting God’s Message magazines and INC Media cards with the chemo shirts.
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With the help of the community, they raised funds for over 700 shirts.
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Sophia Espiritu – Bellmore, New York
Sophia Espiritu: To think that my goal went from 30 to 700 plus. Like that’s a big—I’d do the math, but that would take too long and I don’t have any graph paper so.
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Sophia donated the chemotherapy port shirts on her 10th birthday.
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And her kindness caught some attention…The ‘Make-A-Wish’ Foundation, held a banquet for her kindness and bravery.
Sophia Espiritu: I can’t believe my eyes. I see a sign that says welcome Sophia. I see an actual large wooden train that is the Hogwarts Express and I’m just like stunned. I was so happy that I felt like my smile was like nailed to my face.
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Today, Sophia is now cancer free with no sign of the tumor.
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Sophia Espiritu – Cancer Survivor – Bellmore, New York
Sophia Espiritu: The miracle of healing my cancer that happened, after his prayer for me Brother Eduardo prayed for me and told me to keep praying and continue to be anointed with oil. So, with all the prayers, all of the anointments of oil that I have had from my local’s minister, and with the faith, love and hope that I had in God, I was able to have been healed. What I would tell other kids going through something like I am—to just be strong and that nothing is impossible. God has blessed and guided me throughout the way and He will for you too just as long as you continue to follow His teachings and just keep attending the worship service. My message to Brother Eduardo V. Manalo is thank you, Brother. Thank you for everything you have done for me and my family and just the entirety of the Iglesia Ni Cristo and I hope to see you again in person.
