30 Stories of PRUtection |Roxanne & Deckerson Dela Cruz
For Roxanne and her husband Deckerson Dela Cruz, life was unfolding much as they had imagined.
The young Dumaguete couple were raising their three-year-old son while building careers of their own. Roxanne worked in a private hospital, while her husband served in the Philippine Coast Guard. Like many young families, they looked forward to a future centered on work, family, and the simple joys of watching their child grow.
Then illness struck — not once, but twice.
What began as an unexpected diagnosis of chronic kidney disease for her husband eventually progressed to kidney failure, requiring lifelong dialysis. Just as the family was adjusting to that reality, Roxanne herself was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, a life-threatening condition that left her fighting for recovery.
Looking back, she describes the experience as a reminder that serious illness does not discriminate by age.
“We were young and healthy. We never imagined that both of us would go through something like this,” she said.
Their journey is one of the stories highlighted as part of Pru Life UK's 30 years of service in the Philippines, showcasing how financial protection can make a difference when life takes an unexpected turn.
Years before either diagnosis, the couple had been introduced to Pru Life UK through relatives. At the time, purchasing insurance felt more like a precaution than a necessity.
Family members explained the importance of having financial protection in place, and the couple decided to get insured.
Today, Roxanne calls it one of the best decisions they ever made.
The first health challenge came when her husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 chronic kidney disease. Still relatively young and feeling healthy, he did not initially grasp the seriousness of the condition.
According to Roxanne, the disease might have been manageable had it been addressed aggressively from the beginning. But over time, his health gradually worsened.
A year later, simple pleasures began disappearing. He could no longer properly taste food — even favorites like Jollibee meals no longer brought enjoyment. Eventually, his condition deteriorated to the point that he had to be rushed to the emergency room.
From there, dialysis became a permanent part of their lives.
Three times a week, treatment sessions became part of the family's routine.
The physical and emotional burden was already immense when another crisis emerged.
In the early hours of a Sunday morning, Roxanne woke up with what she described as the worst headache she had ever experienced. Fever, chills, and repeated vomiting soon followed.
Recognizing something was seriously wrong, she asked her husband to bring her to the hospital immediately.
What happened next was frightening.
According to her family, she became unresponsive shortly after arriving at the emergency room. Doctors rushed to perform a series of tests as her condition rapidly declined.
The diagnosis: bacterial meningitis.
For a family already coping with one serious illness, the news was devastating.
Recovery proved difficult. Physically, Roxanne faced the challenges of regaining her strength. Emotionally, she grappled with her own condition while continuing to support her husband through dialysis treatments.
Financially, the pressure mounted.
Hospital stays, medications, consultations, and ongoing treatment costs quickly added up.
“It was really a burden for us,” Roxanne recalled.
Yet amid the uncertainty, the protection they had purchased years earlier began to show its value.
Her husband was able to receive benefits through his life care and total permanent disability claims, while Roxanne also received support following her meningitis diagnosis.
The financial assistance helped ease the strain of medical expenses and allowed the family to focus less on where the next payment would come from and more on treatment and recovery.
For Roxanne, that peace of mind became one of the most important forms of support during their darkest moments.
“What stood out most was experiencing firsthand how valuable life insurance can be during a critical illness,” she said. “It allowed us to focus on getting better instead of constantly worrying about how we would pay for everything.”
The experience has fundamentally changed the couple's outlook on life.
Her husband's kidney failure taught them not to take good health for granted. Her own battle with meningitis reinforced the lesson that even young, active individuals can suddenly face life-threatening conditions.
Today, Roxanne sees financial preparedness as an act of love as much as a practical decision.
“Preparing financially is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and your family,” she said.
As Pru Life UK marks three decades of providing protection to Filipino families, Roxanne hopes their story serves as a reminder to other young professionals, couples, and parents.
Serious illness, she said, is not something that happens only to older people.
Life can change overnight.
And when it does, having someone — or something — to rely on can make all the difference.
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As published on Dumaguete Metropost.
