Son appeals for help in ma’s battle against cancer

By Ramon Dacawi

BAGUIO CITY -- Cancer patient  Adelaida del Prado sits on her hospital bed, a Heimlich tube connected to her chest, her back resting on the white wall of the adult cancer ward of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

            

It’s Thursday afternoon, and Dexter, her 18-year old son, arrives from knocking on doors. He returns to watch over his 54-year old single parent trying to fight the big C, diagnosed last February as “moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma”.

            

She has been confined since then. As of last Thursday, her bills, including doctors’ fees, have jacked up to P203,687.69, with her Philhealth credits already deducted.

Dexter said she had her first chemotherapy last April 14 but failed to undergo subsequent treatment cycles because of the prohibitive costs.

           

The treatment protocol was for six chemo sessions at P27,050 per cycle.

Because of her deteriorating condition, a Heimlich valve was installed  in her chest to drain air and fluid from around the lung.

           

“I was a working student but had to stop to take care  of my mother,” Dexter said on the way back to Adelaida’s  ward.

He was due for second year in business administration at the University of Baguio.

“I guess we have no choice but to appeal through the media and hope Samaritans among readers would reach out to us,” he said.

           

“(Adelaida) worked as a production operator at PEZA for 15 years up to the time she became ill,” noted social worker Nelly Ayochok in her case study report. “At present , with her finances drained, she is dependent on her sister who solicits for her hospital bills and other treatments.”

            

Before her hospitalization, the patient and her son were staying  with her sister Maritess  Zarate and nephew Michael Zarate  in a house owned by a relative at 23-C New Lucban, Baguio.

Those who can and would like to help may contact Adelaida through her cellphone (09202363958) or Dexter (09354191882). They may visit the patient at the third floor of the Flavier Building of the BGHMC.