Dialysis patient badly needs fund for graft

By Ramon Dacawi 

BAGUIO CITY -- Given the continuing costs he has to cope with, dialysis patient Toriano Libis is left with no choice but to seek out Samaritans out there to improve his chances for survival.

The plight of the 33-year old farmer from Taba-ao, Kapangan, Benguet was referred to this newsman by head nurse Carmen Bumatnong of the dialysis center of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

“The hospital staff monitors the progress of each patient and are fully  aware on who is the most needy among them,” she said in recommending that Toriano’s case be given publicity, hoping Samaritans would come to his rescue.

Bumatnong said the patient had undergone arteriovenous creation for three times so that he could undergo continuous dialysis.

“For three times, his AVF fistula failed, and he now has to undergo dialysis through his vein and artery on the neck, which has to be temporary as the same is prone to infection,” Bumatnong explained.

“We had advised him go to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City for the creation of an AV (arteriovenous) graft but the cost of the procedure is far beyond the family’s meager income,” Bumatnong said.

The cost for the procedure is P40,000, a fortune for an orphaned family of four whose immediate and continuing need is to sustain Toriano’s  twice-a-week hemodialysis treatment.

Those who can and are willing to pool resources to raise the cost of Toriano’s may call his mother Lily’s  cellphone number – 0939-775-8271/ They may also ring up 09167778103, this writer’s number.