Christian the Ironman

Hi.

He is Christian Edgar Andaya. He is my cousin. He is 14 years old and an 11th grader. Anyone who knows and have seen him might think that he's just like any normal young boy who has grown deep fondness for basketball, running in the streets and dipping in the river under the scorching heat of the sun. He was, actually, but for now, everything has changed.

Earlier in 2016, he was referred to a pedia cardiologist in Davao City after his pediatrician heard heart murmurs while he was checked for his cough. Examinations were done revealing a diagnosis of Moderate to Severe Rheumatic heart disease. Medication were done but it remained futile, prompting the pedia cardio to refer him to the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) in Quezon City for an open heart surgery of his damaged mitral and aortic valve.

In Nov. Of 2016, he underwent an open heart surgery and had his mitral valve replaced and his aortic valve repaired. From then, he wanted to be called the Ironman.( Probably because of his metal-lish valve replacement haha.)

The surgery cost was P803,000.00 excluding the airplane fare and other expenses for their 1 month stay in the hospital. His parents went anxious during the phase though due to the condition of their child plus the fact that they had to leave their two other children in the Province after the other two siblings were also recently diagnosed with mild to moderate Rheumatic heart disease and they had to undergo medication treatments for 6 months.

Follow-up check ups were done after in Davao city. In April 1 2017 Christian had to be admitted again in Davao city for the confirmation of a foreign matter over his newly replaced mitral valve. It was a large thrombus formation. Medications were given resulting to its subsequent decrease in size. He has stayed in the hospital as admitted for 1 month and 1/2 already when 2D echo results revealed that several numerous minute thrombus formations are in his aortic valve. Hence he was referred back to his surgeon in PHC for evaluation since it was a special case. That was not an easy task though because they had to pay the hospital bill which balloned now to P380,000.00 excluding the doctor's professional fees. Whoaaah!

Only his mom stayed with him throughout the admission because his dad had to leave town for work. When i went to his room this morning, Aunt Oding(Christian's mom) talked about the supposed referral to PHC which will happen this week immediately. We talked about several circumstances and after, when i asked to leave already, my aunt went with me outside the room, leaving Christian inside. She instantly blurted out that she wanted to cry. And she did! It was my first time to see her like that.. the strong woman i have known of is suddenly weak and crying because of her son's condition. She was crying because of the doctor's assessment that because Christian was asymptomatic, one cardiac arrest might be fatal for him if his condition won't get better. She was anxious because of her bill and the thought that she had to leave her two other children again eventhough they are undergoing treatment for their own RHDs.

Thus i am appealing to each of your generous hearts to heal this wonderful innocent young boy and help his mom from their medical expenses because any parent or loved one would do anything just to save his child's life. Thank you so much!

Love, michel