It’s been a busy week for Samaritans

Twenty two-year old Jorieta Pocais Pa-ayen  of Gibraltar Barangay here is P6,000 short of her budget for her fourth chemotherapy session. From this Sunday, she has nine days to raise the amount for her treatment on November 18 at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

Her six-cycle treatment requires P16,000 per session under one of the lowest of chemo  protocols. Still, it’s beyond the reach of her father, Stephen, who did farming, welding and driving to raise and provide education to five children.

At the instance of the Gibraltar barangay council,  a cooperative enterprise whittled down the needed amount with a spirit-boosting  P10,000 donation that punong barangay Edward Aclopen handed to the girl last week.

“We hope more Samaritans would come in to fill the gap as the family, drained as it is, has to contend with three more treatment sessions,” Aclopen said.

Jorieta, who finished accountancy last year at the University of the Cordilleras, was preparing last November for her board examinations when she noticed two lumps on her body, including one on her shoulder.  “She did not go for immediate check-up because she wanted to take her board exam,” noted social worker Jackie Guitangan. Last June, she experienced body pain and was brought from the family home in Bauko, Mt. Province to the Baguio General Hospital.

She was diagnosed for metastatic melanocarcinoma, a type of cancer that spreads from a tumor. Doctors removed the lumps  by surgery and recommended her for six cycles of chemotherapy distanced every 21 days.

Last September, Guitangan reported that while Jorieta’s  immediate relatives extended help,  “the family bady still badly needs assistance form the welfare agencies”.

Those who would like to help fill the girl’s chemotherapy cost shortfall on Nov. 18  may ring her up  at 09301389831.

Meanwhile, four patients undergoing life-time hemodialysis treatment for kidney failure got relief with a P20,000 support from Shoshin Kinderhilfe, a Germany-based humanitarian foundation founded by former world Shotokan karate champion Julian Chees.

 Chees, who has been reaching out to the sick in the Cordillera since 2004,  said the amount was originally  for two dialysis sessions for patients  Liezle Kinakin, GuigeonTumingeb and Peter Ana-ao whose relatives earlier aired their appeal for support through the local weeklies.

With an emergency last Thursday, however, P2,200 of the total amount was used in the purchase of two bags of processed blood  needed for transfusion by dialysis patient April Sakiwat.

Tumingeb, a native of Tucucan, Bontoc, Mt. Province, also thanked We Sing Foundation for an earlier support of P2,200, Sharon Cumpas for a P3,000 support and a university professor for footing the bill for two dialysis sessions.

The same teacher later purchased a commode in response to the plea of Leona Gayao  of Irisan whose husband Agustin has been weakened by the complications of kidney ailment.

Kinakin also acknowledged a P5,000 support from a government regional official and P2,000 another generous soul coursed through radio station DZWT.

The same regional official handed another P5,000 to 39-year old dialysis patient  Roy Sagalto, while a woman whose husband underwent dialysis for nine months added P2,000 in a visit to the renal room of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical  Center. – Ramon Dacawi