Kris Aquino arrives in Manila
After two years, the Philippines' “Queen of All Media” Kris Aquino is back.
In an Instagram post last Thursday (September 12), the seasoned TV host confirmed to her fans that she will be returning to the country before undergoing another medical procedure called immunosuppressant infusion.
Several news and entertainment websites have already confirmed that Kris's plane has landed safely.
Meanwhile, fashion designer Michael Leyva, who is part of Aquino's entourage posted on Instagram Story a shot from the airplane window and wrote the caption: 'I'm so back.”
Touched down… hello Manila 🇵🇭💛 pic.twitter.com/7FPOB5yWkB
-- Kris Aquino (@KrisAquinoWORLD) September 13, 2024
In addition, the hashtag “Ms Kris quickly” trended on the social media site X with numerous fans and netizens posting their heartwarming messages for Kris now that she is back.
I MISS YOU MS KRIS OMGG https://t.co/AAlqKcDvXa
-- Gloryuh🪻 (@Gloryuh3) September 13, 2024
Welcome back Ms. Kris 🎉 https://t.co/YReO8AnJzy
-- Fyerow 😊 (@yehsoow02) September 13, 2024
Praying for your complete healing Ms. Kris. 🙏
-- 🌷Karen V.🌷 (@karenvaughn_) September 13, 2024
May the Lord continuously give you courage & strength . You've had enough pain, praying for God's mercy and healing powers.
Welcome home Ms. Kris ❤️
-- Zethro (@Zethro7) September 13, 2024
Welcome back to the Philippines, Ms. Kris Aquino.
-- AshDash (@OmegaAngie76168) September 13, 2024
Kris in one of her recent posts described her ongoing health problem as the 'fight of her life.' She even shared some of the auto-immune diseases she was diagnosed with.
“The reason I decided to go home is because I need to start my second immunosuppressant infusion in 2-3 weeks (it's a gentler term for chemotherapy). Emotionally I need the encouragement and unwavering faith my sisters & cousins, closest friends, and trusted team of doctors can provide” Kris posted.
“Sadly what was the BATTLE TO IMPROVE MY HEALTH is now THE STRUGGLE TO PROTECT MY VITAL ORGANS. This is now the FIGHT OF MY LIFE.”
Kris Health Scares
In 2017, Kris Aquino alarmed her fans over her drastic weight loss. On social media, she cited that it was all due to stress because of a “financial abuse” that she encountered.
She said that the “devastating pain” of being betrayed by someone she knew had taken a physical toll on her.
At that time, she lost almost 15 pounds in under a month. The Queen of All Media knew she had to take matters into her own hands, given their family's history of cancer that took away her mother, former President Corazon Aquino, in 2008.
Fortunately, the results were all negative, prompting Kris Aquino to further seek medical attention in Singapore, where she was diagnosed with urticaria, an autoimmune disease.
The TV personality said in a post, “I am now, and for the rest of my existence, will be on high dosage antihistamines, and having the EpiPen will always be crucial. Severe allergies are life-threatening because of anaphylactic shock.”
In 2022, Kris has revealed that she will undergo another treatment for her autoimmune conditions.
The TV personality has been staying in the U.S. since 2022 for her medical treatments, and has been occasionally sharing her health journey through social media.
In late 2023, Kris revealed her Churg-Strauss syndrome, which affects her blood vessels, can cause damage to several organs. "My lungs have already shown some minor damage, but my now heart is showing signs of exhaustion-- just to pump blood that lacks nutrients all over my body, kailangan mag-overcompensate," she said on social media.
Kris shared how her doctor explained that her symptoms--elevated heart rate after taking a shower, frequent dizzy spells, and headaches--are warning signs about her condition.
"I could be among the seven out of 10 patients with Churg-Strauss who attribute their death to heart failure," she said.
Kris also asks for prayers from her fans "Bawal ang unnecessary stress. Let's please continue praying for one another."
Take a look at Kris Aquino's health conditions in this gallery:
Migraine
One of Kris Aquino's main health concerns is her migraine, for which she took 34 injections in 2017 to prevent the headache.
Hypertension
Kris also suffers from hypertension, which motivated her to keep a healthier lifestyle to prevent her blood pressure from shooting up.
Anaphylactic reaction
In early 2018, Kris posted on Instagram about having anaphylaxis, a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction.
Weight loss
Amid the business betrayal that she recently experienced, Kris experienced an alarming 15-pound drop in her weight. Kris then sought medical attention in Singapore following this.
Fears
In a lengthy Instagram post, Kris revealed her worries as she waited for her medical results, and how her two sons, Josh and Bimby were also scared for their mother's health.
Worried for her sons
Kris revealed that both her sons were anxious and confused. Her younger son, Bimby even offered to donate his kidney to her should it be needed.
Blood testing
Kris underwent extensive tests which included drawing 12 vials of blood in a week and another 16 vials the following week.
Medical findings
After several tests and a week of waiting, Kris shared her health findings. She was diagnosed with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria, an autoimmune disease which requires her to be on high dosage of anti-histamines as she is prone to recurring severe allergic reactions.
Rare disease
Kris noted that her condition is a rare illness, affecting less than 1% of the world's population and requires her to always carry emergency medication for allergies.
Back to work
Presently, Kris is glad to be back to work with more peace of mind and control over her health.
Delaying the inevitable
On January 5, 2018, Kris Aquino revealed at a press conference that she is battling “a form of lupus.” She said, “Now I can tell you the truth, I'm allergic to every single medicine that can cure you or at least manage your symptoms kung may lupus ka. All my doctors are doing now is delaying it.”
What causes extreme weight loss
Kris went to Singapore again with her youngest son Bimby to undergo another series of tests “to determine why I have symptoms and blood test results seeming to confirm two autoimmune disorders, SLE (a form of Lupus) and Thyroiditis.”
"Not healthier but not worse."
Despite identifying the cause of her rapid weight loss, Kris Aquino shares that she still has a hard time restoring her health. In early 2020, the Queen of All Media said she still needs to “battle anemia, control my thyroid issues, and other stuff. I may not be healthier, but I'm not worse.”
Symptoms
Being at peace with her condition, Kris often gets candid about her autoimmune disease on social media. For one, the TV personality showed a photo of herself with her left eyeball visibly protruding than her right. According to Kris, this is one of the signs of her autoimmune thyroiditis.
Taking matters to her own hands
Because of her autoimmune disease, Kris Aquino makes sure to hinder herself from being exposed to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). That means moving away from the city and renting a home in the province where she can rest and focus on her health.
Recent condition
On January 3, 2021, Kris Aquino posted photos of her getting treatment which undeniably showing her weight loss compared to how she looked in her recent posts on Instagram.
Treatment
Kris Aquino recently revealed through her post that she will soon go abroad for another treatment.
Drastic
The TV personality is currently experiencing drastic weight loss. Now she weighs 88 lbs. or 40 kilos.
Faith
Kris Aquino ends her Instagram post with a positive thought: “My faith in God has taught me I must completely surrender all, to His will and His timing.”
Health update
On January 13, 2022, Kris posted on her Instagram account another update about her health condition. The TV personality showed some videos of her being taken care of by private medical personnel.
Kris also mentioned that she needs to fight her declining health for her two sons, Josh and Bimb. She wrote, "Mahaba pa ang laban ko to strengthen my body & heal my broken heart… BUT from childhood I already knew, for me weakness could never be an option… especially NOW because I have kuya Josh & Bimb who still need me to love, care, and provide for them. Para sa dalawang pinakamamahal ko, hindi ako susuko."
Fragile and weak
Kris shared that her veins in the IV line are getting fragile and weak. She wrote, "Isang request lang po, please don't scold my nurse for not wearing gloves during our IV insertion- ako po ang nag request na tanggalin na nya kasi naubusan ako ng veins for the IV line, fragile & weak kasi ang mga ugat ko. Whether doctor or nurse, inaabot minsan ng 8 attempts to get the line successfully in."
Loved by friends
She also thanked her friends who prayed for her healing and sent her flowers, rosaries, prayer books, etc.
Xolair treatment
On March 1, 2022, Kris Aquino happily told her followers about her first successful Xolair injection. According to www.hopkinsmedicine.org, Xolair is used to treat patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma.
Preliminary tests
In March 2022, Kris Aquino underwent preliminary tests such as PET/CT Scan, endoscopy, and bone marrow biopsy before going abroad to seek further treatment. On these tests, Kris was grateful that there was no tumor detected on her. However, she was diagnosed with erosive gastritis and gastric ulcer. She is still waiting for the bone marrow biopsy result.
Cancer ruled out
In an earlier post, Kris said about the tests done to her, "Cancer is ruled out, kidney function is okay, sugar is fine (meaning no diabetes), and so far liver function is okay considering all my maintenance meds."
Sources of strength
Kris Aquino continues to draw strength from her two boys, Josh and Bimby, as she goes through this health scare.
Treatment in the US
In her birthday greeting to Regine Velasquez, Kris revealed that she had planned on going to the United States and staying there for one year to seek treatment.
Travel clearance
However, Kris's plan to go to the US did not materialize as she failed to get travel clearance from her doctors, citing her high blood pressure. "Hindi ko kakayanin yung long haul flight," she said.
Life-threatening
A few weeks after she failed to get her travel clearance, Kris admitted that her illness is now "life-threatening." She also explained that she has three autoimmune diseases - chronic spontaneous urticaria, autoimmune thyroiditis, and Churg Strauss-Syndrome.
Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA)
Through an Instagram post on June 3, Kris Aquino shared the latest diagnosis of her medical doctors about her condition. Her doctors revealed that Kris has been diagnosed with Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA), a disease caused by inflammation that occurs in certain types of cells in your blood or your tissues.
Serious medical treatment
Despite the severeness of her health condition, Kris is hopeful to undergo a series of medical treatments in the U.S. and thanked everyone who prayed for her immediate healing and recovery.
"Maraming salamat po sa lahat ng nagdasal for my recovery. Here's the truth as explained by my attending physician Dr. Niño Gavino, an exceptional Filipino American doctor based in Houston who successfully diagnosed what's really wrong with my health," she wrote on Instagram.
'Time is now my enemy'
The Queen of all Media admitted that she is running out of time to be fully recovered, as it was also disclosed by her medical doctors.
"I'll miss you- my friends & followers very much. Time is now my enemy, naghahabol kami hoping na wala pang permanent damage to the blood vessels leading to my heart," Kris shared.
June 2022
In June 2022, Kris shared a brief update about her health status.
"For now, 12 noon, June 29, 2022 where we are-this is what I felt you needed to know, straight from me para alam ng lahat ito ang totoo," she wrote in her post.
"This isn't a permanent goodbye, ibalato n'yo na lang hanggang malagpasan namin itong matinding pagsubok. Thank you for all your prayers- Í am forever #grateful," Kris added.
Two more autoimmune diseases
In August 2022, Ballsy Aquino shared that her sister Kris Aquino has been diagnosed with two more autoimmune diseases after a series of medical testing in the United States.
Suitable treatment
Kris's medical team is still determined to find a suitable treatment for her medical condition. Another team of medical doctors will handle her further treatments according to her sister Ballsy.
Gratitude
In August 2023, she wrote, "I chose the midpoint between my mom's 14th death anniversary and my dad's upcoming 40th death anniversary to THANK ALL OF YOU who continue to PRAY for my recovery."
No cure
Kris has accepted that daily management of her health is now a part of her life. "Clarification: Autoimmune disorders have NO CURE, but life threatening damage on the patient's organs can be prevented or managed if diagnosed early and/or given the proper treatment."
Home
Though she has settled in her California rental home, Kris says she wishes to come back to the Philippines once her health allows. She also emphasized that she is single and she chooses to feel more peaceful.
Boy Abunda
In October 2023, one of Kris's closest friends in showbiz, Boy Abunda, paid her a visit. Kris said, "Boy never asked for anything pero sa laki ng utang na loob namin sa kanya."
Fifth autoimmune illness
On 'Fast Talk with Boy Abunda' last February 2024, Kris Aquino shared with her longtime friend Boy Abunda that she has her fifth auto-immune illness which can be a mixed connective tissue disease or rheumatoid arthritis.
Allergic to medicines
In Boy Abunda's interview with Kris Aquino, the former TV host-actress shared that her medication has become more challenging because of her being allergic to some medicines.
Keeping her promise
On Bimby's 17th birthday, Kris Aquino penned a heartfelt message for her son. Kris wrote that she is keeping her promise to Bimby that she will be strong and fight for her health.
“I'm sorry for showing weakness yesterday when I cried non-stop because of my fear that I may not be around to be with you on your 18th birthday--it's my fault for not being grateful,” Kris wrote to Bimby.
