Help us extend the Life of our Father

This is our father, Paulino Occena, God-fearing, hardworking, loving and responsible husband and a father to us his 3 children and a Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) patient.

Eight years ago, we learned that our father or tatay Paul has PKD, a hereditary disease in which one or two kidneys has several cyst. In tatay Paul's case his PKD is incurable since both kidneys are covered with crystal-like cyst with full of kidney stones wherein only kidney transplant is the solution. There is no medicine or vaccine for this. Only clean living or lifestyle and healthy diet are the only way to prolong the growth of the cyst. This is because as you get older, the cyst grows and according to the doctor, 90% of patient with PKD undergo hemodialysis at the age of 40 years old. Our tatay is so blessed because he was able to reach the age 48 years old that time with no treatment at all.

However right after he was diagnosed with PKD, everything's changed. He can no longer work that hard to support the family for strenuous activities are prohibited. He goes in and out of the hospital for we need to address his kidney stones and high blood pressure,one of the manifestation of PKD. He has to changed his diet which resulted to rapid lose weight. he tried to take food supplement or any organic meds but it gets worst. The doctor also said that we have to prepared financially as it would be very costly especially that once a patient has a PKD, automatically there is one or two more organs partnered with cyst.We were so devastated that time that we think that's the end, but unfortunately its not yet..

Last year, January 26, 2017 to be exact, we rushed him to the hospital and the doctor said that his kidney starts to fail and his creatinine is so high that he need to start hemodialysis asap. We learned that his liver has a cyst also, hence, he could hardly eat, the feeling of always full even if he is not eating, and vomits from time to time. He goes to the hospital twice a week for hemodialysis.

Come last week of December 2017 and up to this date of writing, his condition gets worst. the only consolation that we have is that according to the doctor he will still love longer if we maintain a proper and constant medication for him. However, we are now out of budget.

For one year now, he goes in and out of the hospital. he has to undergo many laboratories, in which one of it must be done in Manila, since even the biggest and most trusted hospital here in Bacolod has no equipment like in Manila. For that, we have to prepare Php20,000 for that laboratory only. Likewise, several ultrasound just to be double check his kidney and the cyst. MRI and CT Scan, for the doctor suspect that his brain has a cyst, as what most PKD patient has.

Between January 28 to February 14, 2018, we admitted at the hospital twice already because of very high blood pressure. His blood pressure is between 220 over 110 as the highest so far and 180 over 100 as the lowest and close monitoring is needed to avoid possible stroke..

He has been like this for 6 weeks and counting. When high blood pressure strikes, he cannot breath so he needs oxygen.For two weeks now he could hardly sleep. It took most of the times, 48 hours for him to be able to sleep. We need to visit the hospital for him to take a high dosage sleeping pill in order for him to rest, but the doctor wont allow this on regular basis to avoid drug addiction.

Also, according to the doctor, his kidney cyst are producing toxic that's why his blood pressure goes up non stop. so close monitoring and constant medication, and check up are needed.

Thus, I am asking for your help. Any amount that you can donate is a big help. We no longer have any budget nor savings in the bank. Us, his 3 children are working, but our monthly income is not enough to meet his daily needs, check-up, medicines, laboratories and we can no longer afford to bring him to the hospital once another emergency thing happened. We are just a minimum wage earner and the sad thing is that me and my other sister has PKD also. We are just thankful though, that we learned about it at this early.

For offline donation, you may send your help thru my sister's account:

BPI savings account - 2709-0951-05 / Catherine Joy Occena

We dont know you personally but God knows you. That only thing we can do, is to pray for you that God will continue to bless you more.

Thank you very much for helping us save our father.

God bless you!