Toddler hanging on at intensive care unit

By Ramon Dacawi

BAGUIO CITY -- Thanks to the medical staff, type A blood donors and fund donors, five-year old Franz Asher Flores is hanging on at the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

The kid is on his fourth relapse in his fight against leukemia now spanning three years.

The gravity of his condition prompted his transfer from the pedia cancer ward to the PICU last August 21, according to his dad was transferred to the PICU last August 21, according to his dad, Ferdinand, a spiritual retreat coordinator at the Assumption Sabbath Place at Crystal Cave.

“Due to relapses, his protocol changed step by step, light to heavy dosages of chemotherapy drugs, and from expensive cost to much more expensive cost,” Ferdinand wrote in a letter-appeal for help earlier this month.

Asher was diagnosed when he was two and started with standard chemotherapy. He was back to standard chemotherapy after a relapse, but the treatment plan shifted to the much stronger St.

Jude Protocol after the second relapse.

A third relapse prompted another shift, this time to Salvage protocol. It resulted in another relapse and the boy was shifted again to AML protocol starting last Aug. 1.

“He was transfused with 38 (blood) platelet (concentrates) and five RBC’s (red blood corpuscles),” Ferdinand said last Friday.

The transfusions were made possible with blood donations from the San Pablo and Recoletos seminaries, volunteers of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation Council, members of the guardians, “security guard Raymond”, friends and relatives of the boy.

Ferdinand also acknowledged fund donations from Hani Carantes (P2,000) and an anonymous donor (P1,000), aside from referrals from members of the city council to the city social welfare and development office and the BGHMC.

Asher’s fever is off and on and his white blood corpuscle count has to go up so he can continue with his chemo treatment, his dad said.

“To boost his WBC, he needs GSSF,” Ferdinand said, referring to a drug which, he said costs P4,500 a vial.

The kid’s protracted fight against the big C has left the family financially and emotionally drained.

“That’s why we are appealing again for help, as we’re not giving up on Franz,” Ferdinand said.

Those who can help may ring up Ferdinand’s cellphone n umber (09283774560), or that of his wife, Juvy (09182477935).