Assistance, prayers needed as Lariba’s leukemia returns

Olympian Ian Lariba is once again asking for assistance as she continues her fight against leukemia, which has now spread to her brain and spinal cord.

The table tennis star revealed via a statement on DLSU Sports Twitter that the cancer has returned. She suffered bouts of  headache and vomiting on the first week of January which prompted her to return to St. Luke’s Medical Center.

Philippines’ Ian Lariba hits a shot in her women’s singles qualification round table tennis match at the Riocentro venue during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 6, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Juan Mabromata

Lariba was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in May 2017 but was eventually discharged on Oct.23 after undergoing a successful stem cell transplant on Oct. 7.

Lariba said she has also started to experience blurring of vision and weakness of the left side of her body. She is undergoing chemotherapy and will need multiple laboratory examinations and blood transfusions.

“I appeal to your kind hearts for any assistance that you can give to help me with my fight against this disease,” said Lariba in a statement La Salle released. “I also humbly ask for your prayers so I may overcome this challenge. Thank you.”

Author: Bong Lozada, Inquirer
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