Another kidney patient calls out for help

By Ramon Dacawi  

BAGUO CITY -- It’s supposed to be “Kidney Month”,  an annual observance that should tell and remind us, at least annually every June, to take care of our twin bean-looking organ that works in “filtering the blood, balancing fluid levels, helping control blood pressure, help make red blood cells and maintaining healthy strong bones”.

Vital as the organ is, fact is  kidney failure cases are increasing, as shown by the steady  rise in the number of patients seeking life-time, yet expensive, twice- or thrice-a-week hemodialysis treatment at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center. 

Fact is not a week passes without a patient asking if it’s his or her turn to appeal through media, even while this competition of the distraught has to be tempered – to one patient each week -, as cushion against donor fatigue. 

This has become a “patient of the week” series. The patient this week is Leonard Nalos, 30, jobless due to illness, married with a two-year old daughter, high school graduate,  native of San Quintin, Pangasinan and residing at Purok 8, Sto. Tomas Rd., Baguio and a Roman Catholic.

Those are his identifying information, taken from the social case study report  prepared by social welfare officer FlorecitaTul-an of the city social welfare and development office.
Ofelia (nee Boldoken),

Leonard’s wife, submitted  last week his permission to have his story told, so that readers may be able to respon and edtend their support to sustain my treatment”.  

That was when 10-year old Chelsea Abance Benito, the youngest patient undergoing dialysis treatment at the BGHMC, died. The kid  passed on two weeks after fellow patient, 14-year old Ana Fontanilla of Rosario, La Union, also once the youngest , died.

Leonard’s condition was diagnosed last February, after he was rushed to the hospital due to feeling of numbness and weakness. He had been a carpenter for years a work he became more focused on, especially after his daughter Ira, now two, was born. 

“Now that he could not work, his family is dependent on the help extended by their relatives, social worker Tul-an wrote. “Their last recourse is the assistance they could get from different agencies.

Leonard’s number is 09288163994, and his wife’s is 09084672238.

As this is being written, Evangeline Udani, a mother of four, asked that her family’s gratitude be extended to an anonymous Samaritan who, late last month, handed her P20,000.

The amount was in response to her appeal for her son, 28-year old kidney patient JefferUdani who is also undergoing twice-a-week  hemodilaysis treatment at the BGHMC.

Jeffer had wanted to study architecture and even worked for seven year at the Chowking branch in Candon, Ilocos Sur to be able to save for his education. While enrolled in the course at the University of the Cordilleras, he was diagnosed for end-stage renal failure in January last year.