Nakilala si Joshua Calvin Encomienda, isang guro, matapos lumabas sa reality singing competition na Idol Philippines noong 2019. Dito niya rin unang ibinahagi sa publiko ang kanyang pakikipaglaban sa chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Nitong umaga ng Linggo, Marso 13, unang ibinahagi sa isang Facebook post ng kamag-anak ng singer na si Roriefel Sahagun, ang natamong komplikasyon ng kanyang “Kuya Joshua Calvin” dahil sa patuloy nitong chemotherapy.
“Lately, the oral chemo drugs that he's taking, made some severe side effects to him. Chest pain, joint pain, difficulty in breathing, sleepless painful nights, and so much more. Yesterday, he can't move at all anymore. Half of his body is numb. Later that night, we already took him to the hospital. ER's initial diagnosis is stroke, caused by the excruciating pain he's been bearing due to the side effects of his meds. He has to undergo CT-Scan. But the hospital doesn't have that kind of facility in that hospital, so he has to be transferred,” mababasa sa mahabang Facebook post ni Roriefel.
“On the way of the transfer, he even had a seizure. He was able to be examined through CT-scan. Unfortunately, the finding is he has a BRAIN TUMOR. A complication he had, caused by the pain,” pagpapatuloy ng post.
Ilang oras matapos sumailalim sa intubation, ganap nang bumitaw si Calvin sa kanyang laban matapos ang limang taon.
“Well done, Kuya. You've fought a good fight and you've finished the race, “ saad ng kamag-anak.
Matatandaang naging emosyonal si Asia’s Songbird sa audition ng binata sa Idol Philippines at hiniling pa nito ang agad na paggaling ng noo’y 22 taong gulang na artist.
Ibinahagi rin noon ni Calvin na umabot pa ng halos apat na buwan bago nito nasabi ang kondisyon sa kanyang ina.
“Ang bigat kasi sa pakiramdam ko na parang any moment pwede akong mawala kaya I decided it to tell it to my mom,” naiiyak noon na pagbabahagi ni Calvin nang kalauna’y nagkaroon siya ng lakas ng loob na ibahagi ang karamdaman sa kanyang ina.