Medical Help for Nanay Nenita

I never imagined I will be doing this as I have always been stubborn and independent. Doing things on my own whenever I can and for as long as I can. Lately though I have been hit with the harsh reality that there are times you just can’t do things on your own, true to the saying “No man is an island”.

My Nanay had a heart attack last Friday (27^th November) though we didn’t know it then. My 11yr.old niece who was alone at the house with her at the time called me around lunchtime and said Nanay was having chest pains. She placed her on a video call, and we talked. Nanay has this tendency to cry even at the slightest pain since she turned 60yrs.old two years ago so I did not think this was any different. I gave my niece instructions on how to make Nanay comfortable and we video chatted for about 30mins, she seemed slightly better and was now conversing about mundane things that came to mind so I thought she probably just wanted to talk to me and had to have an important reason to call me on a weekday during work hours. So, I said my goodbye after 30mins and did not think much of it. Come evening around 7pm, my sister-in-law called and said Nanay is still having chest pains and is now crying seriously this time. We had another video call and I noticed her pale lips. I asked her if she wants to go to the hospital and she immediately said yes (Nanay lives with my second brother in Consolacion since ECQ and has been living with them since). My sister-in-law just got back from an errand at the time and told me how horrible traffic was on the way home that’s why it took her a long while to come home. Since Nanay’s face seems to be contorted from pain already and her lips paling by the minute, I told my sister-in-law to get the Baranggay’s ambulance and rush her again to Mendero Medical Center (note: she has been in and out of Mendero several times since the start of the year). When they arrived at Mendero Medical, she was diagnosed to have had a Heart attack. Hospital called me at her attending Cardiologist’ instructions that it’s a heart failure and she might be needing Angioplasty (https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/angioplasty) which that hospital does not have the capability to do and I was asked to choose between two private hospitals in Mandaue (since it’s the nearest to Consolacion) that has it. I immediately said Yes to the transfer but not before she is stabilized and well enough to be moved. She stayed for only a couple of hours in Mendero Medical Center but we incurred a total bill of Php32k!

The next morning, I was asked to look for AB+ blood type since Nanay’s hemoglobin count was below the normal threshold and the new hospital (UCMed) no longer has it available. My husband and I have been to almost every blood-related establishment but could find none and we called all the other hospitals in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue to no avail. You may have probably seen my post about it from days ago and thanks to all of you who shared the post, it reached the kindness of strangers who had the same blood type and donated. She was immediately transfused and her Angiogram with possible Angioplasty procedure scheduled immediately the following morning. Her Cardiologist told me to prepare Php700k for the procedure alone. At that point I don’t know which one was more painful, seeing my Mother with different kinds of tubes attached to her limp body or knowing I don’t have that amount to help ease her physical suffering.

And here comes the point where I did not originally intend on doing: asking for financial assistance. Due to her multiple hospitalizations, OPDs and countless laboratory procedures, my medical insurance has been maxed-out. With much gratitude to immediate family and some friends who knew, Nanay had her Angioplasty Tuesday morning (1^st December) but I am a looong way off to reaching the Php700k++ target. Just the morning of December 2^nd, I was told the collective Professional fee of the Team of Doctors who conducted the Angioplasty procedure is Php250k to be paid in cash if I wish to avail of a discount. If I prefer to pay via promissory note to the hospital, I still need to pay 50% of the professional fee, no discount + the withholding taxes. I was determined to be courageous during this challenging situation, but I have to admit, not knowing where to find the resources needed has me very distracted and worried.

No amount is too small when pooled together it will go a long way for us. My wish this Christmas is not for myself but for Nanay to have another shot in life. If you can give a Christmas gift this year, give the gift of a second chance.

Lastly, please pray for Nanay as she goes through recovery. Virtually sending you love and light.

PS: Aside from GoGetFunding, you may also choose to send the funds directly to the account details below:

Account Name: Ma Leonisa L. Bacalso

BDO: 007230038070

GCash: 0915-845-5543

Paypal: [email protected]