Kidney failure shatters ailing girl’s dreams

By Ramon Dacawi

BAGUIO CITY -- Against doctors’ advice, 20-year old Genevieve Gano now and then limits her hemodialysis treatment session to once a week instead of the required two or three times for her to survive kidney failure.

Genevieve has been doing that since the diagnosis came in April last year. It’s a common remedy in poverty-stricken countries where nothing sometimes works but where the poor believe anything is possible.

Like reducing treatment and medication when the spirit is willing but the pocket is weak. Or having none and survive on empty until help comes, as in Genevieve’s case.

The other week, she missed her twice-a-week sessions set on Mondays and Thursdays. So last Monday, she went around looking for people who could shell out P2,600 for her coping treatment the following day.

Tuesday morning, she fidgeted as she waited for help outside the hemodialysis unit at the Benguet provincial health office in La Trinidad town. She found relief when help came at 10 a.m., 30 minutes before her remedial session.

The treatment payment was advanced, chargeable to a fund from Baguio boy Freddie de Guzman early next month. It will be his latest remittance from his home in Canada, in a personal outreach for indigent patients here now spanning four years.

If not for the onset of her ailment, Genevieve should be now a graduating commerce student. Or a laborer, like her elder brother Gilbert, 21, and younger sister Granny, 16, leaving Jesser, 17, the only one left in school

Their parents – Esteban, 47, from Ifugao, and Nancy,41, from Tublay, Benguet -, are farmers. Nancy worked for eight months as domestic in Hongkong and later in Taiwan. She came home when Genevieve’s ailment was diagnosed.

“My parents are now financially drained and we don’t know where to seek help,” Genevieve wrote. “My younger brother is studying in college with the help of my aunt and uncle. My older brother is working in Rosario, La Union as a carpenter to help with my medication but it’s not enough.”

Social work volunteer Maria Lourdes Taguiba: reported the family is in deep debt and could no longer support Genevieve’s medical needs.

Samaritans can get in touch with the girl at cellphone number 09057961824 or visit her at IB 98, Betag, La Trinidad. They can pay the cost of one session at P2,600 at the Benguet Renal Center at the Benguet General Hospital Compound and then ring her number so she will know. Or ring her up and meet her there on her next dialysis session.

Others may opt to deposit their support through Metrobank Account No. 222 3222 215 1318, which belongs to Esmeraldo Lintan, Genevieve’s maternal uncle who had given her his card for her use – just in case there are contributions.

Otherwise, Genevieve might have to reduce her treatment to once a month, or anytime when support comes by.