Living with a chronic illness is not a battle that ends after a single treatment or prescription.

For Audi Colongon, a 49-year old dialysis patient currently residing in Baguio City, survival is not measured by quick recoveries, but by discipline, acceptance, and the courage to face each day as it comes.

Diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in 1997, Audi described his regular dialysis as a long and demanding process, one that reshapes a person’s daily life and tests both the body and the mind.

Unlike illnesses with immediate relief, his condition requires constant monitoring, strict compliance with medication, and the willingness to trust medical guidance over time.

“Ang pagiging dialysis patient, hindi yan pag uminom ka ng gamot, i-epekto na bukas. It takes time,” Audi shared.

Over the years, Audi has faced multiple medical challenges, from mobility issues, major surgeries such as hip replacement, cataract removal from both eyes, and even once contracting COVID-19. These experiences forced him to confront the realities of living with a lifelong condition, including the discipline it demands.

Beyond the physical toll, the emotional weight of his illness also surfaced. Audi openly spoke about struggling with depression at one point, reaching a stage where he sought professional mental health support to ensure he was coping properly.

“Actually, dumaan ako sa depression. I even checked the list of symptoms at umabot ako sa punto na nagpa-check ako sa Philippine Mental Health Association for my sanity, just to make sure I am okay,” Audi narrated.

What helped Audi endure, he emphasized, was a strong support system led by his family, the surrounding community, healthcare workers, and government institutions that extended assistance during his most difficult moments.

Among these, the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program became a steady support.

Through AICS, Audi receives medical aid to help cover the cost of his maintenance medicines. As a dialysis patient and a person with disability (PWD), the program’s assistance eases the financial burden of long-term treatment while also reminding him that he was not facing his condition alone.

“As a dialysis patient and at the same time a person with disability, I really need this kind of help, not just financially but, the moral support I get from you all give me the courage to live my life,” Audi said.

According to Audi, the AICS became more than just medical aid, it became a reassurance. It gave him the confidence to focus on managing his health, accepting his limitations, and finding peace with the life he has.

Today, Audi chooses gratitude over comparison and despair. He no longer measures his life by what he cannot do, but by the strength it takes to live responsibly with his condition. His hopes are simple, yet profound: to endure each challenge, to remain stable, and to continue receiving the care that allows him to live with dignity.

“Ito na reality ko. Basta ang dasal ko lang ay malagpasan ko ang bawat challenge na darating sa akin,” Audi said.

He also shared his gratitude toward the AICS program, who served as an added source of strength and inspiration in his medical battle.

“Sa programa ng DSWD na AICS na siyang tumutulong sa aking gamutan, sana patuloy ang binibigay nyong malasakit at suporta,” Audi said.

Audi’s story reflects the deeper impact of the AICS program—one that goes beyond financial assistance. In moments of crisis, the AICS becomes a source of courage, helping beneficiaries not only survive difficult circumstances, but face them with hope, discipline, and the strength to move forward.

For patients like Audi, assistance is not just about covering costs. It is about being seen, supported, and reminded that even in the hardest conditions, life is still worth fighting for.

The AICS is one of the DSWD’s social protection services designed to provide medical, burial, transportation, food, and financial assistance to individuals assessed by social workers as being in crisis. (CC)