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Sunday, February 19, 2006
Baby set to be operated on
NINE-MONTH old kidney patient Rheyvien Jave Villanueva hurdled his laboratory work-up, setting his appointment on Wednesday with surgeons at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) who will schedule his operation.
"Clear daw po sa eksaminasyon kaya pinapabalik kami sa Miyerkoles para malaman kung kailan s'ya ooperahan," the toddler's mother Emelia said Thursday.
The baby, youngest of four children of a jeepney driver from Loakan-Magsaysay Barangay here, was earlier recommended for "ureteral implantation" after he was diagnosed for acute pyelonephritis and nephropathy, or inflammation and abnormal state of the vital organ.
Dr. Alma Suclad, a Baguio-based specialist who trained at the institute, said surgery is a must soon to check recurrent infection and prevent devastating effects on the boy's health as he grows.
Financially drained, the family opened up to Samaritans to be able to raise P30,000 for the surgery alone, aside from expenses in bringing him to the institute for the pre-surgery tests. Cost of operation was initially placed at P80,000 but this was reduced after his mother produced documents to qualify as a partial charity case.
Among those who responded were Joel and Emily Aliping, a Baguio couple now settled in California. They sent US$100 from the savings of their young kids Bryan and Elana to cover the costs of transporting the patient for his medical workout.
The initial donor, a lady who requested anonymity, contributed P5,000 for the two-day initial tests and billeting requirements for Rheyvien Jave and his parents the other week. Retired school teacher Flora Balacua contributed P2,000 sent by her daughter, a nurse based in Europe, and seven-year old Mark Jones canceled his seventh birthday celebration to add another P2,000.
A restaurant owner deposited P5,000 while another anonymous Samaritan coursed P4,000 under RCBC Session Road bank account number 1-326-77929-2 which bank vice president Rolly de Guzman opened in the name of the boy's mother. Other succeeding donations coursed through the account, if any, will be reported next week as de Guzman was in a conference in Manila last Thursday and Friday.
Noting the patient's delicate condition and the need to cut on travel costs using the donations, Mayor Braulio Yaranon authorized the use of a city vehicle for the two initial visits to the NKTI.
"I need to transport him and his parents again next week as he's uncomfortable and cries due to the lowland heat," Ireneo Agustin of the Mayor's Office said. (Ramon Dacawi.)
(February 19, 2006 issue)
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