Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, our second battle

I am writing this letter to knock on your good hearts to help us raise funds for my husband who needs to undergo a major surgery for the second time for Aortic Aneurysm. My husband is Ramonito "Ching" Coloma, 41 years old, a great father to our two kids and a resident of Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. Here is our story.

It was in the last quarter of 2017 when our lives changed completely. Midnight of September 26, I had to rush Ching to a nearby hospital due to chronic chest pain. After three (3) days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Four (4) days in a regular room, Ching was discharged from the hospital. Unfortunately, the doctor failed to diagnose his real condition. We went to a hospital in Manila to request for a second opinion. After a series of tests including Ultrasound and CT scan, we were told that my husband does not only have chronic chest pain but the more serious condition of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (TAA), or the ballooning of the aorta that is likely to leak and eventually rupture. The doctor told us that Ching needed to undergo immediate surgery. Sadly, an average Filipino cannot afford the cost of the surgery for aneurysm. I am the sole provider of our family, working as an office staff. My husband resigned from his work in a motorcycle company due to his ailment. We are blessed with two children, aged 6 and 13. Both are too young to understand our tough journey. We have been fortunate to have been blessed with people who have helped us in his first operation done at the Philippine Heart Center in November 9, 2017. The company where I work also granted me a substantial loan needed as initial payment for the hospital bill.

While I thought that our ordeal has ended, a few months ago, the doctor told us that Ching has another Aortic Aneurysm. In his March 13, 2019 CT scan, the size of his aneurysm has grown from 5.4 cm in September last year to 6 cm this year. As much as we want to proceed with another major surgery, we do not have any means to pay the cost. We are financially drained and in huge debt due to his first operation. To make the matter worse, my husband was diagnosed with CKD3 (Chronic Kidney Disease 3) and has a regular maintenance of medicines for his heart and kidney. My salary, with the huge deduction from my loan, is not even enough to cover all our daily expenses, especially his maintenance medicines and check-ups.

We opened this account to humbly ask for your help for any financial assistance that you can extend to my husband. This major surgery at the Philippine Heart Center would cost us about 1.2 million pesos (22,000USD). As a wife and a mother, all I want is to have a complete and happy family. I want Ching to still be around when our kids grow older. We appeal to you to help us win this battle. Any amount of donation will be of big help. Thank you very much in advance.

Ramonito D. Coloma

Bank: BPI; Acct# SA 0729-2259-32

Bank: LANDBANK; Acct# SA 0106-1735-59

G Cash - 0916-587-2963