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Iza Calzado reveals she had a parasitic disease while pregnant
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Iza Calzado revealed that she was diagnosed with a parasitic disease while pregnant with her first child, Deia Amihan, and that she had to stay in the United Kingdom for treatments.
In an Instagram letter for her baby, the actress said that she found out about the diagnosis during “a short healing trip” to Diesse in Switzerland for her 40th birthday.
“Little did I know that it was God’s way of making sure I would connect with nature, my power and with you because I needed that strength to face what was about to unfold,” she wrote.
During that trip, Iza learned that her test results for a parasitic disease called Toxoplasmosis were confirmed.
According to Mayo Clinic, Toxoplasmosis is an infection with a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, which people would often get from eating undercooked meat. The parasite can be passed to a baby during pregnancy if it goes through the placenta.
Iza wsaid she as told that “there could be brain damage, visual impairment or it could even lead to pregnancy loss.”
Her husband, Ben Wintle, scheduled a Zoom call with a specialist which she was able to take on top of the Chasseral mountain.
“For the first time in my life, I felt a very primal urge to fight, not only for myself, but for another human. For you, anak,” she said.
“I remember crying as soon as the [Zoom] meeting was done and stepping out of the car, rushing to the edge of the mountain and, with tears streaming down my face, saying ‘No. No. No! Lalaban tayo, anak. Lalaban tayo!’”
Iza posted photos and videos from the mountain as the sun set.
She said it was the first time she “felt deeply connected to” Deia.
“I knew that we would fight this together. I knew that God was on our side and he would make sure everything turns out well,” she added. “I am so glad I held on to this faithfully in my mind as we went through our toxo journey.”
Iza also revealed that she had to stay in the UK because there were no advanced testing or treatments available in the Philippines. She recalled having frequent tests, anxiety waiting for the results, and searching for rare medications.
After everything, Iza said, “Thank God that we concluded that you were safe. The placenta did [its] job to keep the toxo out.”
Iza ended her letter with a special message for Deia.
“As I watch you grow into the healthy and strong baby that you are, I marvel at God’s divine timing, plan and His grace,” she said.
She added, “Thank you for being one with me in that battle. We are so blessed to have you, anak. Mahal na mahal kita.”
Iza and Ben got married in 2018. The actress announced that she is pregnant with her first child on her 40th birthday.
Six-month-old Deia Amihan is their first child, named after Iza’s iconic “Encantadia” character. She was born last January and Iza announced the news in March.
Iza recently spent her first birthday as a mom with a dance party.
—Nika Roque/JCB, GMA Integrated News
