CEBU CITY -- Jelyn Bistes got her name from the sidewalk candle vendor who found her in front of the Mt. Carmel Parish of the University of San Jose Recoletos along Magallanes Street.
Afraid, crying, shaking and had difficulty breathing when Alicia Bistes, a sidewalk candle vendor, found her alone on September 18, 2003.
The poor child cannot even tell her name or the name of her parents when found by Alicia.
Alicia brought the young Jelyn back to where she found her the next day, hoping somebody will come back for her but nobody came until she decided to turn her over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development 7 last October 6, 2003.
The Reception and Study Center for Children, the DSWD office which handles abandoned, foundling and surrendered children, takes care of Jelyn through their foster parent program.
Josephine Velasco, 48, is Jelyn's foster mother. The government subsidized Jelyn's needs.
She is believed to be four-years-old and like any child in her age she would have wanted to run around and play with other kids in their neighborhood. But she tires easily and has difficulty breathing.
Jelyn was diagnosed by Dr. Rudy Amatong of having a congenital heart disease and of suffering from a Tetralogy of Fallot. She has a dilated aorta and needs to undergo an immediate operation.
Tetralogy of Fallot is a type of heart problem, which consists of four different heart defects.
The first defect is called a ventricular septal defect (VSD). This is a hole between the two bottom chambers (ventricles) of the heart.
The second defect is called Pulmonary Stenosis. This is a narrowing at or just below the pulmonary valve.
The third part of Tetralogy of Fallot involves the aorta being positioned over the ventricular septal defect instead of in the left ventricle.
Finally, the right ventricle in infants born with Tetralogy of Fallot is more muscular than normal.
Jelyn's condition has left her pale and frail, although she is fed well and taken care of in the home of her foster mother.
Government may provide her daily needs but the love and care of a mother and a father is what Jelyn needs especially with her condition.
Since Jelyn is registered as a foundling, DSWD 7 had her picture published so her family could claim her, but they have not heard from the parents since.
DSWD 7 is filing a petition for the court to declare her abandoned so she will be free for adoption.
But even before she could be adopted she needs to be operated to survive and find a family who will care and love her just like their own child.
DSWD is appealing for help from those who are willing to pay for the procedure.
RSCC head Jennifer Tadena said Dr. Amatong estimates the operation to cost between P400,000 and P500,000.
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