Kidney patient passes on, another looks forward to organ transplant

Reaching out

by Ramon Dacawi

BAGUIO CITY -- Tragedy and hope marked another week in the collective, uncertain life of kidney patients here who have been drawn together by a common  and serious ailment they struggle daily to cope with - for life.

Janice Bobila, a 28-year old girl who had learned early that life is no fairy tale, passed on at dawn last Wednesday at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center where she had been undergoing twice-a-week hemodialysis treatment for more than a year.

“She had chest congestion but her doctor advised against dialysis as her blood pressure fell to crucial levels,” the girl’s widowed mother, Jovita (nee Fiao-ilan), recalled at the wake. “We knew she was in critical condition when the medical staff began applying a (manual self-inflating bag) to help her breathe.”

The counter-point cane early Wednesday afternoon after doctors at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute  in Quezon City subjected  another  young kidney patient from the  Cordillera to a coronary angiogram to determine whether her heart was free of artery blockage.

Quakelyn Lisayen, a 24-year old former volunteer rescuer of the Baguio Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, had spent several months undergoing tests  at the NKTI to prepare her for a kidney donation, courtesy of her younger brother, 22-year old Jericson.

“We breezed through the tests, including the crucial tissue matching that showed high compatibility, but the doctors said they needed one last test to clear the suspicion that  I have a heart artery blockage that would require angioplasty before the kidney transplant could be done,” Quakelyn said.

Thirty minutes after the angiogram, “na-confirm na walang bara  kaya walang angioplasty naginawa (it was confirmed that there was no artery blockage so the angioplasty was not done),” she texted.

She said Pastor Shin of the All Nations Christian  Church and its sister church, Good Shepherd, togetheir with Rep. MaximoDalog of Mt. Province, supported her in undergoing he procedure.

Earlier tests were done with support from Baguio Rep, NicaioAliping Jr., Baguio folksingers and residents who pooled funds from concerts and contributions through a committee composed by former city prosecutors  Gloria Agunos and Evelyn Tagudar, city social welfare and development officer Betty Fangasan, regional director Helen Tibaldo of the Philippine Information Agency and punong barangay Thomas Dumalti of Irisan.

Baguio boy Bob  Aliping, who retired from the United States Navy, offered CDs of his original folk and country compositions to fellow expatriates in Southern California, raising S1,300 for Quakelyn.  A certain Marivic Baicy in Texas added P100 while folksingers led by Conrad Marzan and MhiaTibunsay raised P81,000 in concert, with half of it going to the girl and the other half divided among four other dialysis patients.

 “My family, who lost our father to kidney disease, will never forget the  spontaneity  of the response of even strangers to allow me to have a fighting chance in my struggle for a new lease on life,” Quakelyn said.

With her heart cleared for the transplant, the girl’s subsequent and protracted challenge will be sustaining her post-surgery medications to prevent rejection of the implanted kidney.

 People who can help may course their support through savings account 056384579 under Bank of the Philippine Islands, Harrison (Baguio) branch.

Meanwhile, funeral arrangements for Janice will be done after her elder brother arrives this Monday. Wake is at  the memorial chapel of the Church of the Resurrection along Magsaysay Avenue.

Janice was diagnosed for brain tumor after her graduation from the Benguet National High School. Through surgery and cobalt radiation therapy, she licked the big C. The tumor, however, triggered growth hormones that led to gigantism.

In March last year, she was diagnosed for end=stage kidney failure due to diabetes. She then began her life-time, twice-a-week hemodialysis treatment.

“She has gone this far because of the kindness of relatives, neighbors and strangers,” her mother said.