Help Preemie Baby Jarom Liam

I created this fundraiser to humbly call for prayers and financial help for my preemie nephew in the Philippines, Baby Jarom Liam Bacunana. He was born to my dear sister, Marilou Bacunana, at 30-weeks gestation on April 19th, 2020 at Dr. Jesus Delgado Memorial Hospital amidst this COVID-19 pandemic. Baby Jarom weighed only 1.35 kilograms at birth and is now in an incubator and is oxygen-assisted in the NICU. He needs to stay longer in the hospital alone for about 1-2 months until he can breathe on his own, gains weight, and becomes healthy to go home. What breaks our hearts even more is that his parents aren’t even able to touch him or visit him frequently due to COVID-19 precautions.

Marilou is one of the most beautiful, loving souls I know. And it’s such a pain for our family to know that she and her hardworking husband Jeric struggle not only emotionally but also financially in keeping up with the increasing hospital bills they are in no way capable of paying on their own. Marilou is unemployed and Jeric just got a new job where his insurance won’t be able to cover Baby Jarom’s hospital bills. As of now, the chances of getting assistance from charitable institutions and/or transferring Baby Jarom to a more affordable public facility are found to be very challenging all because of increasing COVID-19 cases in the Metro. But we are hopeful that Heavenly Father will provide a way for them to get through this.

My sister expressed:

“We know this ordeal would take a huge toll on our finances. My husband was oriented by a hospital billing officer and social service worker that Baby Jarom Liam's hospital bill might amount to more or less P672,000— P16,000 daily cost* x 7 days x 6 weeks— positively assuming he will recover in 6 weeks, EXCLUDING professional fees. (*P16,000 daily cost is computed based on his actual bill of P67,203.00 on day 4. See uploaded photo)

“We humbly ask for your prayers. Also, any form of financial donation you give will ensure that Baby Jarom Liam's medical needs will be continuously met until he is ready to go home.“

Baby Jarom’s parents needs to deposit P40-50,000 every now and then for his care’s continuity. We really hope that his condition will improve soon to avoid additional climb in his hospital bills. And we will share such changes/updates with his health and expenses here.

I know most if not all of us have our own challenges worsened by the pandemic. So, we would be eternally grateful for anything you can give— prayers, emotional support, donations — to help this baby be saved and live up to the meaning of his name: Jarom “to be prosperous and happy,” and Liam “strong-willed warrior.”

(To know more about their story, you may read my sister Malou’s blogpost here: https://becomingabacunana.wordpress.com/2020/04/25/the-pandemic-my-pregnancy-and-prayers/)

FOR US DOLLAR DONATIONS using CREDIT/DEBIT card, please see our GoFundMe option:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/BabyJaromPreemieHospExpenses

FOR PHILIPPINE PESO DONATIONS, you ay send your help here or DIRECTLY to Jarom Liam's parents through the following:

1. paypal.me/bacunana ([email protected])

2. Bank account name: Jeric Y. Bacunana

Account number: 8029164275 (Savings)

3. Mobile number: 09088825117

THANK YOU SO MUCH again for supporting this family during this time of great need.