Kapamilya host Robi Domingo recalled the autoimmune battle his wife, Maiqui Pineda, had and how it strengthened their relationship as a couple even more. In an interview Mr. Pure Energy, Gary Valenciano, the ASAP mainstay shared how their faith has helped a lot in overcoming the challenges they faced.
Maiqui was diagnosed with Dermatomyositis, a rare and life-threatening autoimmune disease.
“We ended up in Singapore and the Singaporean doctors told us that it was gonna be a long and expensive fight. That really got me of course. Imagine having a fiancé that you had plans–– lots of dreams together–– and it would change because of that single moment,” Robi recalled.
Robi then revealed how Maiqui told him that they could just end their relationship as they weren’t married yet at the time the diagnosis was given. Despite this, he assured her that he will be with her throughout her battle with the autoimmune disease.
He recalled sending her Gary’s song, "I Will Be Here," to assure her even further of his love for her and willingness to fight together. They flew to Singapore where the doctors shared some of the possibilities that could happen if the autoimmune disease isn’t treated–– which included death.
“I remember those words, especially the doctors in Singapore–– they don’t sugarcoat. No doctor should sugarcoat… If we don’t treat this properly, she might, you know,” he expressed.
Eventually, Maiqui was given steroids to help manage the autoimmune disease and the wedding of the couple pushed through.
“The woman that I proposed to would not look the same and it got me thinking as well you know because siyempre. At the end of the day, I will push through with this wedding because I love her,” he maintained.
“We battled through. We pulled off not just the wedding but the marriage and we are doing not just fine but I think we’re doing great,” he continued.
For Robi, he felt like they truly lived the vows the married people make with one another during their wedding–– in sickness and in health. True enough, Maiqui’s condition got better and months after the treatment, she was able to conceive.
Maiqui gave birth earlier this week to their firstborn, as announced by the couple on their joint post on social media.