The family, friends, and fans of celebrated physician and mental health advocate Dr. Gia Sison paid her tribute on social media as news of her passing broke on Thursday, March 21.
Sison is a breast cancer survivor and spent a great deal of her life spreading awareness about this illness, among other matters related to public health. She was 53.
According to her husband, Dr. Rogin Sison, Doc Gia died of pulmonary embolism and heart failure.
“No words can express the sorrow but I am happy you are peaceful now, no pain, no sufferings. I love you so much my soulmate, my Henny Hen,” he wrote on Facebook.
In a status update posted on her X (formerly Twitter) account on March 9, Sison revealed that she experienced an “aborted sudden cardiac death” last February 25.
“You read it right. I died for six (6) seconds, stuck in a black hole then suddenly scooped back in with the prominent voice of my husband repeatedly asking me to ‘come back’ after which I heard him apologize for defibrillating me and the rest just happened so fast,” she said.
“I have so many people to thank for on a separate note but I just wanted to say thanks for another shot at life given by the Lifemaker Himself—thy will be done,” Sison added in her post with a prayer emoji and an image of herself in the hospital room.
Sison had a successful career in the medical industry, having served as Head of Wellness Center of the Makati Medical Center and Consultant for the World Health Organization, Western Pacific Region-Philippines.
She also led the Livestrong Foundation and the National Adviser of the Youth for Mental Health Coalition, according to several media reports.
On top of her engagements in the medical community, Sison also hosted a podcast called “Walwal Sesh” on Spotify.
She had a strong positive influence among her followers that ‘Doc Gia’ instantly trended on various social media platforms. Sen. Risa Hontiveros was among those who lamented her passing.
“Stunned to hear about Doc @giasison’s death. She was one of our staunchest #MentalHealthAct &#SOGIEEqualityBill allies. She always made time for us, was always so warm, always so generous with her light. Maraming salamat, Doc Gia. You will be dearly missed,” Hontiveros posted on X.