Inanunsiyo mismo ng Princess of Wales na si Kate Middleton na na-diagnose siyang may cancer.
Ginawa ito ni Kate sa pamamagitan ng isang emotional prerecorded video message na isinahimpapawid sa British television nitong Biyernes ng gabi, Marso 22, 2024 (Sabado ng madaling-araw, Marso 23, sa Pilipinas).
Read: Five times Kate Middleton reminded us of Princess Diana
Ayon kay Kate, sumailalim siya sa isang "major abdominal surgery" noong Enero 2024.
Naging matagumpay raw ang operasyon, ngunit sa isinagawang medical tests pagkatapos ay natuklasang mayroon siyang cancer.
Hindi binanggit ni Kate kung anong klaseng cancer ang dumapo sa kanya.
Pagkatapos nito ay pinayuhan siya ng kanyang medical team na sumailalim sa "preventive chemotherapy," at nasa "early statges of treatment" siya sa kasalukuyan.
Isa raw itong "huge shock" at ginagawa nila ng kanyang asawang si Prince William ang lahat para harapin ito nang pribado alang-alang sa kanilang mga anak.
Matagal din daw bago nila naipaliwanag sa kanilang maliliit pang mga anak na sina George, Charlotte, at Louis kung ano ang pinagdadaanan niya at i-assure ang mga ito "that I am going to be OK."
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Ipinagpapasalamat din daw ni Kate na nasa tabi niya si Prince William dahil binibigyan siya nito ng "comfort and reassurance."
Malaking bagay rin daw para sa kanila ang ipinakikitang pagmamahal, suporta, at kindness ng publiko.
Kasunod nito ay hiningi ni Kate ang pang-unawa ng publiko na, bilang pamilya, kailangan nila ngayon ng "some time, space, and privacy" habang sumasailalim siya sa treatment.
Read: King Charles announces William and Kate the new Prince and Princess of Wales
KATE MIDDLETON'S FULL STATEMENT
Ito ang kumpletong pahayag ni Kate tungkol sa karamdaman niya:
“I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery.
"It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.
“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was noncancerous.
"The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.
"My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.
“This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.
“As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.
"But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be OK.
“As I have said to them, I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits.
“Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.
“We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.
“At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”
BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT
Bago ang announcement ni Kate ay lumabas ang maraming haka-haka dahil matagal na hindi nagpapakita sa publiko ang Princess of Wales.
Read: Prince William and Kate Middleton are now "man and wife"; share their first public kiss—twice!
Kabilang na rito na may problema umano sa pagsasama nina Prince William at Princess Kate, na nagtataksil ang prinsipe dahil sa kanyang napapabalitang pakikipagrelasyon kay Rose Hanbury, na may “body double” si Kate kaya hindi siya ang babaeng kasama ni William sa larawan na lumabas kamakailan.
Read: Rose Hanbury's camp breaks silence on affair rumors with Prince William
Lalong tumindi ang mga paghihinala at batikos laban kay Kate at sa royal family nang humingi siya ng paumanhin at amining niretoke ang larawan nila ng kanyang mga anak na kuha ni Prince William at inilabas noong Marso 10, 2024, ang pagdiriwang ng United Kingdom sa Araw ng mga Ina.
Napalitan ng pagkabigla, kalungkutan, labis na pakikisimpatiya, at pag-aalay ng mga dasal para kay Kate ang mga batikos na tinanggap niya nang lumantad siya para amining may sakit siyang kanser.
Sa pamamagitan ng isang video message ay nabigyan ng pagkakataon ang publiko na makita ang hitsura niya sa kasalukuyan.