Kidney patients’ kin appeal for help

The text message seeking publication of the plight of Abe Aplasen, a 36-year old kidney patient from Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet was urgent:

“Nu maminsan kt than (isu)  agpdialysis ta mabain nga pati pamasahe na ket magapo kni mr. ko (Sometimes he won’t go for dialysis as he’s embarrassed when even his transport fare would come from my husband.)

The message came from Abe’s sister, Annie Aplasen-Yadno, one of three women who, last month, submitted the medical papers of their relatives needing publication of their need for help to sustain their lifetime hemodialysis treatment for kidney failure.

If it’s any consolation, Abe is the only unmarried of five children of vegetable farmer-couple Hilario and Maria Aplasen of JB 092 Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet. He has no family to raise and now survives on the kindness of his parents and his four sisters’ families.

In her report, social worker Maria Lourdes Taguiba said Abe was hospitalized in January, 2011 for urinary tract infection. He advised to regularly take maintenance medicine  but was not able to due to financial limitations.

Early this year, he was rushed to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center for the signs of kidney disease –difficulty in breathing and urinating and body edema.  Last  February,  he had his first dialysis treatment at the renal center of the BGHMC.

These days, the treatment is scheduled from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight on Tuesdays and Fridays. On occasions, he’d miss treatment when the family is unable to raise the cost pegged at P2,200 per session.

People who can help may call Annie’s cellphone number -09079780521.

As two Samaritans  did for 61-year old Emilda Bustarde, a 61-year old kidney patient from Ma. Basa, Pacdal barangay here who has been surviving on twice-a-week hemodialysis since last March.

Her daughter, Jocelyn Balanag who sought publication of the patient’s case, said, a government official handed P10,000 while a certain Anthony Cachero contributed P4,000.

“Dakkel nga tulong kaniami diay inted da ta naigatang ko ti tallo (bags) nga dara ken pagbayad ti dialysis ni nanang ko (They gave us so much support I used in buying three units of blood and in paying my mother’s dialysis treatment),” Jocelyn texted. – Ramon Dacawi.

                                ***

In Baguio City, a 78-year old father is knocking at the doors of Samaritans here to raise the needed amount for the hemodialysis of his 40-year old daughter suffering from kidney failure.

Benito Gonzales of urgently sought the publication of her daughter’s case hoping for succor for daughter Diana De Guzman who was diagnosed this year with to chronic kidney disease, acute respiratory distress and other complications necessitating a thrice-a-week dialysis sessions costing P6,600.

Diana De Guzman was single-handedly rearing her two daughters Giandra Kyle, 11 and Phomela Kyra, 10 through her P300 daily earning as a barbecue vendor at Purok 9 Bakakeng Norte but in 2010 she was diagnosed with obstructive uropathy and other complications which sidelined her from her livelihood forcing her to totally depend on her father for her 

and her children’s daily subsistence.

The family made do with the old man’s meager pension which was barely enough for their food, school needs of his grandchildren and Diana’s maintenance medicines.  And now that Diana’s health condition has advanced, the dialysis cost would now be beyond their means.  Diana’s siblings and relatives are also incapable of providing financial assistance. 

“Please help my daughter.  She needs to undergo dialysis so she could carry on for her two daughters.  We have no one to turn to anymore,” Gonzales appealed.

Donors who wish to reach out to the family may course through their donations to Mang Benito through cel no. 09238790438.  -- Ramon Dacawi and Aileen Refuerzo