Fight for Mark’s Brain Surgery and Therapy

To tell you the story, my cousin, Mark Christopher or "Mak-Mak", 26yo, was a passenger in a vehicle that was involved in an accident last October 11, 2019.

He was immediately taken to the hospital where he was diagnosed to have a bleed in his brain and hence was in critical condition, with a GCS of 10-11. He subsequently underwent brain surgery which entailed a huge financial cost. His older sister is primarily shouldering everything as their parents both have other families of their own; this is another sad part of the story, but the burden is almost solely being carried by his sister.

We, their extended family members, have extended help in one way or another, but given the hospital costs and the nature of the procedure (craniotomy - surgical removal of part of the bone from the skull to expose the brain. The bone flap is temporarily removed, then replaced after the brain surgery has been done) that was done, there is still a long way to go.

A day after his surgery, we were able to visit him in the ICU, his GCS was at 12-13, he was responsive and able to follow the doctor's instructions to move certain parts of his body. That was a good sign for us. However, at 8:30 pm of October 16, he developed complications. His blood pressure went down to 90/60 and his GCS to 6-7. He developed swelling in his brain, so severe that it caused abrupt deterioration. He was subsequently hooked to a ventilator to assist him to breathe.

A repeat CT scan was done which showed displacement of the brain hence another surgery is needed. The procedure (craniectomy - surgery done to remove a part of the skull in order to relieve pressure in that area where the brain swells) entails removing a part of the previously operated skull to alleviate the pressure building up in his brain. This is another risky procedure, but it is a risk we are willing to take to save our cousin.

October 15, after his first brain surgery (craniotomy)

October 17, after his second brain surgery (craniectomy)

We won't give up without a fight. So we are humbly appealing to your kind hearts for any help you can give. Prayers are also very much appreciated.

For your donations, you may also directly forward it to:

Leiann Margareth M. Tanlaico, BDO Account # 001820615055

Louise Mikee A. Mateo, Metrobank Account # 5093509235164

Louise Mikee A. Mateo, Robinsons Bank Account # 302130500002716