Actress Iza Calzado recently penned a love letter to her baby daughter, Deia, reminiscing that terrifying moment last year when doctors broke the news that she tested positive for toxoplasmosis.
While typically harmless to healthy individuals, the infection becomes a concern for pregnant women like her, as it can be transmitted to the unborn child, which can result in serious birth defects and other health complications.
She learned of her test results on August 16 last year while on a trip to the charming Swiss town of Diesse. Iza, about three months into her pregnancy, was made aware of the risks, including miscarriage, brain damage, and visual impairment for the baby.
“It was a short healing trip I planned for my 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 the strength to face what was about to unfold,” she wrote on her Instagram.
Following a Zoom call with a specialist that her husband had arranged for her, she had vowed that they would fight. “Lalaban tayo, anak. Lalaban tayo,” she said, recalling the scene on the mountain where she took the call.
“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 continued.
She and her husband had to stay in the UK for a while to receive advanced treatment, as these specialized interventions were not yet available in the Philippines.
“The frequent tests, the anxious waiting for result after result, the escapades to find the scarce medication, added up to my introduction to motherhood. Thank God that we concluded that you were safe,” she said.
She finished her letter by thanking her daughter, now seven months old, for being with her in that battle and acknowledging the blessing she is. “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.”
Her post resonated deeply with friends and netizens, who appreciated her openness in sharing her journey and her inspiring testimony of faith. Among the responses, there was also an opportunity for awareness.
One netizen @mechannism inquired about the disease, asking how the actress got it.
“Hi ms isa! For awareness, how did you get toxoplasmosis? When I was pregnant with my baby, I was always anxious about getting infected by our pet cat,” she asked.
Iza was kind enough to answer, disclosing that while she didn’t have cats at home and wasn’t sure how she got infected, she plans to share her toxoplasmosis journey in detail and the lessons learned soon.
“Best to check if you’ve already maybe gotten it without knowing it. They have IGG and IGM tests here in the PH for that,” she added.
