Two kids seriously ill like their mother

BAGUIO CITY -- When it rains, it pours, the impact of which is too much to bear for Jane Lamlamag  Garcia, a mine laborer’s  wife and mother of two young children who are as sick as their mother.

She pushed the S.O.S. button last week, just before the 34-year old kidney failure patient was hooked to the dialysis machine for her thrice-a-week blood-cleansing treatment at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

She had to tell her story, hoping a Samaritan or two out there would read and provide substance to the spirit of Christmas by reaching out to her distraught family.  She had to tell her story, for dialysis treatment is for life, unless a patient has kidney donor and P2 to P3 million for the transplant and psot-surgery medication.

Her family’s unfolding struggle was recorded by social worker Rubilyn Bab-anga of the city social welfare and development office:

“On September 2015, (Jane) and her husband came to Baguio City for the medical check-up of their younger daughter (three-year old)  Cathy Sy at the (Baguio General Hospital) due to seizures.

“After one week, client’s first daughter (six-year old Princess Arcia) was also brought to the (hospital) for medical check-up and was diagnosed (for) acute lymphocytic leukemia and immediately underwent chemotherapy.

“Unfortunately,” the social case study added, “(Jane) was also diagnosed for chronic kidney disease, stage 5 on Dec. 5, 2015. Since then, (she and her daughters were in and out from the hospital, depleting the family resources.”

Since then, Jane decided to stay at the boarding house of her sister Jocelyn at 110Purok 5 Honeymoon Rd. here in Baguio while she and her daughters are undergoing treatment, Bab-anga noted.

Her husband, 34-year old Romeo, has to stay in Mankayan where he works as miner with Lepanto Mines in a herculean task of trying to provide for and save his young family.

“During the home visit and interview,” Bab-anga wrote, “client was losing hope and (was) at the point of surrendering. Accordingly, her husband and siblings encourage her to hang on.”

Her sister Jocelyn assists in taking care of her sick children and in providing their medical needs,” the social worker noted.

Still, the family needs all the support it can get from readers and Samaritans out there. At P2,200 per session, Jane’s thrice-a-week- hemodialysis treatment plus medicines total to over P10,000 while her husband earns P400 a day.

Their daughter Princess has to follow a protracted and expensive treatment protocol that will have to last for years.

Near Jane’s dialysis bed was another kidney patient, 62-year old Dominga Aguiyan, a native of Bocos, Banaue, Ifugao . A widow sidelined by illness from working as a laborer,  she is mother to six sons and four daughters, most of whom dropped out of school to eke out a living.

“She needs financial support so she can be operated on for a new fistula,” her daughter Michelle said.

The family needs about P10,000 for the fistula implant needed so she can be hooked immediately to the dialysis machine.

People who can help may ring up cellphone 09263073085, Michelle’s number.

Those who would like to reach out to Garcia can ring her up at 09480982437.

Samaritans can also course their support through the dialysis staff of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center through nurse Carmen Bumatnong .