Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 22) — Actress Iza Calzado revealed on social media that she was infected with a parasitic disease called toxoplasmosis while she was pregnant with daughter Deia Amihan.
Calzado penned an open letter to her daughter in an Instagram post.
“Dear Deia, around this time last year, I went on a trip with you in my tummy to a town called Diesse in Switzerland. 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 that strength to face what was about to unfold,” she wrote on Sunday.
The actress shared that she was informed on the evening of Aug. 16 that the recent infection could be a potential risk for her daughter especially if passed through the placenta.
\”As darkness set in, so did the reality of the possible repercussions of congenital toxoplasmosis. I was told there could be brain damage, visual impairment or it could even lead to pregnancy loss,\” she added.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. It added that people often get toxoplasmosis from eating undercooked and contaminated meat.
After learning about her condition, Calzado said she felt the primal urge to fight – not just for herself, but for her daughter.
\”This was the first time I felt deeply connected to you. 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 said.
Calzado then flew to the United Kingdom for advance testing or treatments of the disease that are not available in the Philippines. Despite the possible risks, the actress said she was glad to deliver her child safely and uninfected.
