A Mermaid in Need

On the fateful day of July 23, 2021, Odessa was hit in a motorcycle accident. That day her and her now ex boyfriend bought stuff from Tagbilaran Bohol and at 7pm on their way back from errand duties the accident occurred. Odessa was running at 40kph behind her ex boyfriend on the way home when she felt a force from behind. The next thing she knows the motorbike was flying and she was rolling on the ground. She was hit by a couple on another bike trying to overtake her. Her ex boy friend heard the commotion and immediately pulled over and went back for her. She was in shock. They immediately called a ambulance which arrived after more than half an hour of waiting. The couple went with her in the ambulance pleading to the nurse not to report it to the police. Due to the pandemic, its the hospital's protocol to administer a swab test first before admitting a patient. The result took so long. Odessa waited outside in agonizing pain with what they thought was just an open fracture in front of the hospital and after all that she was finally brought to the E.R.. The doctor arrived and she underwent X-ray and testings which showed a shattered elbow and her bone that was exposed out of the skin. The number 1 mission of the doctor that time is to close the wound to avoid further exposure to bacteria and infections. After this the couple gave Odessa a fake number and ran away no where to be found or heard of. Odessa needed to receive a full elbow replacement in Bohol which already took 4 major surgeries till now. Due to the lack of funds and support this has crippled her and her ex boyfriend financially.

While trying to save up for her fifth surgery, on February 3, 2022, Odessa saw that a part of the implant is exposed out of the skin and she immediately consulted the doctor the next day and was told that fifth surgery was then beyond urgent but Odessa was not ready yet financially. Fifth surgery was done in a government hospital and with the help of malasakit program in the Philippines. After the surgical debridement (fifth surgery), the doctor said that the infection already spread out that she then needs the sixth surgery. Odessa decided to do this in Manila. The infection spread out so bad that she is now facing a possible bone/joint fusion without mobility anymore. She might not be able to move her arm anymore. However, a set of specialists/doctors from St. lukes offer a better outcome after a lengthy treatment process which means she can get the mobility of her arm back after a long period of treatment. It will be very expensive as treating the infection will take long, the IV antibiotics are very expensive as well. Its her only chance to avoid losing her arm mobility. Amputation and getting a prosthetic arm could be an expensive option too but why do that if a set of good doctors can actually save her arm. All the procedures would just cost a lot and she’s not financially equipped for this.

Odessa is a promising and strong woman who with her passion for mermaiding has achieved admirable recognitions. She was the first asian mermaid to be given the opportunity to perform at the ADEX (Asian Dive EXPO), is a 5 time Philippine record holder in free diving, an advocate for our marine life and had made countless successful campaigns to protect our oceans. She also runs an animal shelter which has been struggling after the crash. She teaches diving and ocean awareness and conservation to our Sama community.

All we want is to get this mermaid back into the ocean and for her to be able to work her passion once again. For this we ask you for your kind support.