Make Mama Dedel Cancer Free

Fundraising campaign by Ma Cecilia Calimon

by Ma Cecilia Calimon

Bulacan, ph

Ate Edel with us her alagas Ate Edel is our nanny and an all around house helper for 35 years. She has been with us all our lives. She dedicated her life to us, her “alaga” (that’s how she introduces us to her relatives and friends) and chose to stay single because she love us like her own. My daughter fondly calls her “Dedel” and when she’s being extra sweet she calls her Mama Dedel. To us, she is not just a nanny or a house helper. She is like our own mother. She is our second mother. My daughter would always tell Ate Edel, “hindi po kita yaya, family po tayo, Mama Dedel kita.” (“You’re not my nanny. We’re a family. You’re my Mama Dedel.”)

Ate Edel lost her weight

Our very dear Ate Edel has been ill for the past months. We have been in and out of doctors’ clinics since July 5, 2019. We have done medical laboratory, ECG, chest xray and abdominal CT Scan with triple contrast. Her abdominal CT Scan was done last September 11, 2019. After two or three days we got the results. It showed us that there’s a 10.8 x 7.7 x 9.8 cm mass in her transverse colon. There are enlarged lymph nodes seen in para-caval regions measuring 1.4 cm. Her drastic weight loss is not because of her diabetes. The culprit is cancer. Colon Cancer. I can still recall how heartbreaking it was when our Mom explained it to us. It was September 15, 2019 when we decided to tell Ate Edel and her older sister, Ate Divine the diagnosis. Our family decided to consult doctors to know what treatments should be done in order for our dear Ate Edel to live longer. We don’t want to lose in this battle without even trying to beat it.

September 27, 2019 Ate Edel got admitted in Sacred Heart Hospital of Malolos because her hemoglobin level is down to 64. She needed blood transfusion as soon as possible. Her doctor instructed me to reserve five bags of blood in Malolos Provincial Blood Bank. The blood bank in Malolos had only two bags left of B+ (Ate Edel’s blood type). We asked help through social media (Facebook and Instagram) for blood donors and fortunately one of her relatives helped us reserve three bags of blood in Philippine Blood Center in Quezon City.

Going in the OR

September 28, 2019 Ate Edel’s doctor decided to do the surgery on October 1, 2019. Dr. Lenarde Galang told us the risk of the surgery because Ate Edel’s albumin is still down to low level. The Exploratory Laparotomy done last October 1, 2019 was not successful. The doctors cannot resect the mass because her blood pressure during the operation was fluctuating to 110 to 80 and down to 60. I humbly asked the doctors to save her and I even asked for Ate Edel’s siblings for mercy to change their decision. I told them that we brought her in the operating room alive and she should come out alive too. We almost lost her that day but God is really listening in our prayers. He brought Ate Edel back to us.

After the exploratory laparotomy

As of the moment Ate Edel is still admitted in Sacred Heart Hospital. Her doctors recommended to put a stent on her colon to help her in case the mass starts to block. Her GI doctor mentioned that one stent costs PHP 56,000.00 excluding the colonoscopy, endoscopy, operating room fee and professional fees. Aside from this, Ate Edel has maintenance for her diabetes, milk supplements and other medicines.

Our hospital bill is running to PHP 220,446.23 including professional fees (as of October 15, 2019). Our family is in dire need of financial assistance to continue all the surgeries and treatments needed in order to save our very dear Ate Edel. We can’t just give her up. She’s only 52 years old, we have dreams and plans for her. Ate Edel has her own dreams and plans for herself as well. Please help our very dear Ate Edel, help our family. We need her in our lives. She has done noble things for us, to her family and friends. She love us unconditionally and we love her with all of our hearts too. She deserves to live longer and to have more blessings in her life.

*To those who are having a hard time donating through Paypal you can directly send your donation/s in my bank account.

BDO Savings Account

Account Name: Ma. Cecilia Calimon

Account Number: 0052 4022 3492

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ER Rush

Update posted by Ma Cecilia Calimon On Nov 04, 2019

Yesterday, November 3 at around 7 in the morning we hurriedly brought Ate Edel in the emergency room of Sacred Heart Hospital of Malolos because of low blood pressure. After she defecated she felt dizzy and on her way back to her room she collapsed. Good thing Ate Divine was behind her. She was able to control Ate Edel's fall by lowering her on the floor. I heard Ate Divine screaming for my name and asking for help. I rushed in Ate Edel's room and found both of them lying on the floor near the bed. Instantaneously, I transferred Ate Edel on her bed and tried talking to her. She responded by nodding her head a little and by saying, "oh" a few times. I checked her blood pressure and it was 70 over 50 (70/50) with a heart rate of 100 beats per minute.

When we arrived at the ER, Ate Edel's blood pressure is down to 50. Diagnosis is hypovolemia (a decreased volume of circulating blood or body fluids in the body). Hypovolemia is life threatening. She is currently admitted and blood transfusion has begun.

We exercised due diligence by paying the remaining balance in the hospital worth PHP 100,311.04 yesterday. If we did not settle the outstanding balance they will not allow her to be admitted due to hospital policies.

May you never get tired of offering prayers for our dear Ate Edel.

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Mama Dedel (Ate Edel) is Finally Home

Update posted by Ma Cecilia Calimon On Oct 28, 2019

She's home

Ate Edel is discharged from Sacred Heart Hospital of Malolos last Friday, Ocotber 25, 2019. Our hospital bill total is PHP 281,811.04 including Professional Fees. We used her Philhealth Kasambahay to reduce the total amount of her hospital bill. Her Philhealth Kasambahay benefit is classified as first case rate amount. Ate Lenlen (sister of Ate Edel) applied for medical and hospital assistance for indigent patients in different government agencies. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) are generous enough to give financial assistance to indigent Filipino citizens. DSWD gave PHP 5,000 in cash and PCSO gave PHP 16,600 in Guarantee Letter for Ate Edel's confinement. Ate Lenlen also applied a request for assistance to discharge the patient from hospital in the Department of Health (DOH) to allow us to execute a promissory note for the settlement of the bill. We negotiated with the hospital and they asked us to leave a collateral. We complied to the hospital's policies and signed an agreement to pay the balance in three months. Upon Ate Edel's discharge, we have a remaining balance of PHP 100,311.04.

Since this is an unforeseeable and unfortunate hap, our family is not ready financially. We are knocking again on your unselfish hearts to share any amount to help us sustain Ate Edel's possible surgeries and treatments. We are considering to consult a new doctor for a second opinion. As I've mentioned on my first post, we will not give her up without even trying. Ate Edel's battle in cancer has just begun. Her siblings and our whole family are her warriors.

On behalf of Ate Edel, her siblings and our family, we would like to thank each and everyone of you. Thank you for including our dear Ate Edel in your daily prayers and for offering healing mass. Thank you for donating what you can. And thank you for sharing our fundraising link. May the good Lord bless you all.

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