Robi Domingo's fiancée, Maiqui Pineda, opens up about her rare autoimmune disease
Robi Domingo's soon-to-be wife, Maiqui Pineda, revealed she has dermatomyositis, a rare autoimmune disease.
Sharing some pictures of herself during therapy treatment, Maiqui took to social media to bring awareness about the illness.
"What was supposed to be an exciting year of wedding planning, preparing for a new home, and working on my career, life had other plans for me… I got sick," Maiqui wrote.
She revealed that she has dermatomyositis, which causes muscle weakness, inflammation, and skin rash.
Maiqui said she is getting treatment for it, "but the journey to recovery is far from over."
"There are good days but there are still bad days. I am hopeful that this is just temporary and I will work on getting better one day at a time," she shared before thanking those who offered prayers and sent their support.
Maiqui added that she started a blog detailing her journey and to help "anyone who may need it one day."
In the blog, Maiqui said that she was diagnosed with the disease last July 14 after several tests and medical exams.
Aside from the rash, Maiqui experiences joint pains, which make it hard for her to do her day-to-day activities, such as slicing food, opening doors, lifting things, getting out of bed, and so on.
Her autoimmune disease, she explained, may also lead to Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), which is a risk factor for lung scarring. The cause of her condition is unknown but can be triggered by several factors including stress, virus, and the environment.
"Sadly, there is no long-term cure for autoimmune diseases but they can be managed and treated," she said.
On July 18, Robi expressed his support to his fiancée, who at that time, was in confined in the hospital.
“These past few weeks have been difficult to say the least... but I'll be here for you, with you,” the celebrity host said, without revealing the reason for her hospitalization.
In November 2022, Robi proposed to Maiqui, his longtime non-showbiz girlfriend, at Japan's iconic Shibuya crossing.