Real Talk

Joy Inocencio: Finding and Giving Joy

by Alexa Villano
May 25, 2023

After nearly losing her life while giving birth to her son Joaquin, Joy Inocencio shares how her near-death experience has strengthened her family, and how it has shaped her life’s meaning.

This story about Joy Inocencio first came out in Modern Parenting’s special Mother’s Day-Father’s Day 2023 Print Edition available on https://sarisari.shopping/.

Looking at the pictures posted on her social media, it’s hard to believe that Joy Inocencio found herself at risk when she nearly lost her life while giving birth to her son Joaquin.

“I had high-risk pregnancy which became life-threatening during my delivery,” she recalls. “Actually, everything else was a blur except hearing the doctor say ‘Code Blue’ and seeing myself on the hospital bed after being resuscitated. Right there and then, I thought I died because I couldn’t make sense of what was happening—why else would I be separated from my body? I was asking myself, ‘Does bringing my child into this world mean losing my life.’”

“When I was finally conscious, I learned that I flatlined twice. They even performed nine cycles of CPR to revive me,” she adds.

The entrepreneur, whose businesses includes Kooltek Philippines and House of Feng Shui, describes that moment as an out-of-body experience.

To read the full article, grab a copy of Modern Parenting’s special Mother’s Day-Father’s Day 2023 Print Edition. It’s available on sarisari.shopping. Or you can download the e-Magazine from Readly or Press Reader.

Making every moment count

While she was running various businesses, Joy made sure that she always has time for her kids and her husband. The near-death experience enlightened her even further as a homemaker and as a mother.

“My family will always be my lifeline and my purpose. What happened made me realize to focus my energy and my time on my kids and my husband because they are the people who really matter to me,” she explains. “So, I always try to make each moment count. Every moment spent with them became so precious because it made [the saying] life is short and palpable. I am not scared to die; I’m scared to leave my kids without a mother.”

The experience has made her bond with her son and daughters stronger than ever, she says. Joy feels that not only has she felt security and love, but also she discovered the strength she never knew of because of her childbirth experience with Joaquin.

“My kids have also taught me a lot about love and acceptance. They helped me learn new things. Joaquin gets excited and he knows his birthday is a celebration and thanksgiving of the two miracles – his birth and my birth.

Healing and purpose

While trauma can hinder some people from moving forward, Joy has since learned to let go and heal from the experience. While it is never easy, she took it step by step.

“Healing took a long time. I might have recovered quickly physically, but the incident awoke a desire to be more and do more. That gave me [the] strength and inspiration to learn more about life. My heart and soul are in harmony everytime I feel like there must be something I need to do. There’s a purpose for which I was given a second chance,” she bares.

The experience not only taught her many things about gratitude and strength. It also helped her find her mission – her soul’s true purpose.

She tells moms out there to take it slow because healing for some takes time. “Remember that your trauma isn’t your fault. But your healing is your duty to yourself and the people who love and support you. A great way to start your healing process is with acceptance. There will be pain and discomfort, you may feel broken but you have to choose to go through it. Seek God and find strength in Him and the important people in your lives. It is OK to rely on someone. Faith and love have power to turn your trauma into healing.”

Joy also reminds us that there are things that we cannot control. In these moments, it’s important to trust God to lead you in the right direction, to look at the bigger picture, and understand that the universe always works in our favor.

“You are not your trauma. You are a light who refused to be succumbed by darkness and you can choose to be the light for others too. Not a victim but a victor. Remember that,” Joy states.