FACEBOOK had been a vital tool in connecting people from one another. Its importance had been proven time and time again.
On March 22, I came across the Facebook page Hope for Dresfie’s post about a particular girl named Dresfie Codriga who was diagnosed with severe scoliosis and who needed units of blood for her upcoming surgery at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City.
Three days after that, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to meet her, together with Ms. Amanda Bonife-Kiamko, also a Scoliosis warrior who advocates for Scoliosis awareness and founded Scoliosis Philippines.
Scoliosis is a condition wherein the spine undergoes an abnormal curve or convexity, resulting to an S-shaped or a C-shaped spine when it’s supposed to be straight. Other cases are congenital, while some are believed to be hereditary. It usually afflicts girls ages 12 to 14, sometimes earlier. Boys with scoliosis are rare cases, though there had been records.
Dresfie is a 19-year-old girl who was diagnosed with scoliosis when she was 12. She experienced bullying in school because of her protruding back. And because she started wearing back brace after seeing an orthopedic doctor, her classmates used to tease her a robot. From then on, she chose to wear loose shirts so her back wouldn’t be too obvious. Scoliosis had also limited her to do regular things that normal people can easily do. When you have scoliosis, you are not allowed to lift and do heavy tasks.
Because of her curvature degree that reached already up to 110, her right lung is compressed and she experiences breathing difficulties. Now, she uses a device called spirometer to get stronger lungs and to give more air for her lungs in order to improve breathing.
But this doesn’t stop her from keeping her faith and hope that she can make it through scoliosis. Dresfie is kept hopeful by Ms. Amanda and some other scoliosis warriors like herself who had come to SPMC for a scheduled surgery sponsored by the Duncan Tree Foundation.
Other scoliosis warriors coming from different areas in the Philippines will benefit from the free surgery sponsored by the foundation. Help had poured since the pages Hope for Dresfie and Scoliosis Philippines had announced the need for blood donations for the surgery of the scoliosis warriors.
On March 28, Dresfie had finally undergone surgery which she had been waiting for a few years ago. Blood donations for the remaining scoliosis warriors are much needed. Ms. Amanda had been knocking on the hearts of different government, private institutions, and even individuals who can donate.
Scoliosis is no longer a rare case in the Philippines. Perhaps we know a few friends, neighbors, or family members who are diagnosed with this disease. More than anything, they need to be understood because the pain that they are going through every day is not at all something to be brushed away. If we could extend help in any way we can, maybe it’s right time we should. Scoliosis is no longer a rare case and yet only a few people are educated of this. It’s high time we speak about it.