By Ramon
Dacawi
People with extra cash may want to help
Mariano Mapili, a 76-year old house painter suffering from cancer of the
rectum. He has to undergo four more rounds of chemotherapy and five sessions of
external beam radiation treatment.
Eleanor Tejedo, the
patient’s 44-year old daughter, said his third chemo session set on
March 14 remains tentative as the family has been financially drained.
The financial strain is on top of unpaid hospital bills from previous treatments
and confinement.
“He had his second
chemo treatment last February 24-26 as the doctor was willing to administer it
despite our having paid only half of the cost pegged at P9,000,” Tejedo
said last Wednesday.
“The doctor also
strongly recommended that the five-session radiation treatment should
also be done as soon as possible but we can hardly think of it because of the
prohibitive costs,” Tejedo explained.
The nearest radiation
therapy service available is in Daguapn City where an oncology center
gave a quotation of P32,300 for the five-session package.
In a letter endorsing Mapili’s request
for assistance, city social welfare and development officer Betty Fangasan said
the family[s economic capability “falls below the poverty threshold. (Mapili)
financially depends on his children for his medication”.
Punong
barangayJustina Andaya of Fairview, Baguio City, through kagawad Pedro Genove
Jr. also issued a certificate of indigency for the patient whose family stays
in a house at No. 62, purok 2 of the said barangay.
Eleanor said his
father, a native of Al-alinao, Naguilian, La Union, was diagnosed for cancer
last January.
“We were encouraged to
appeal for help as his ailment is at stage 2, which means he has a very good
chance of recovering provided he is able to follow the treatment protocol we
can not sustain without help,” she said.
Samaritans may contact
Eleanor’s cellphone number – 09472098811.
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