To God Be Glory.
One month and fouteen days and still counting in the hospital.
As I had written in my previous note, I explained how and when we found out that my sister has LUPUS. It is really a difficult illness. Until now, we are still battling with this disease. I don't know how to start, but I am writing this article to ask some help from your good and generous heart. As of now, we really need your prayers and emotional support. Second, we badly need the monetary support. With this kind of disease, a child of a fisherman and a dressmaker with lupus can't even provide the medicines needed in order to survive. We don't even know how we got all those money in buying my sister's medicines. We don't even know how my family survives here in the hospital without a food to eat since we prioritize the money in buying my sister's medicines. We are just thankful to HIM in helping us to survive. As I could remember, we were admitted in the hospital without anything. We are surviving here through the help of some donations from a good-hearted people. We are very thankful for all those people who already helped us, who are still helping us and who are willing to help us. We are thankful to my mom's co-workers, my co-workers, my sister's classmates, friends and teachers, some relatives, and some nuns and doctors who are very eager to give us some presribed medicines needed for my sister. After noticing some edema, she was admitted and discharged since her condition improved. Then after a follow-up check up, her doctor advised us to re-admit her again. She was actually admitted in one of the best hospitals here in Cebu and we agreed to do so since we thought that we would just only stay here for a week for just only kidney infection. We stayed in the ward since my family couldn't afford to pay for a private room. Sad to say, during our stay here in the hospital, a lot of things already happened. After the tests that proved that my sister has LUPUS, she was referred to rheumatologist and asked us to transfer to an isolation room. We opted to choose the isolation room in the ward since it is much more cheaper than the usual isolation room. First, we started to fight in stabilizing her kidney function. Her nephrologist, a kidney specialist started to give her some diuretic medicines and human albumin medication. Then, her rheumatologist, started to give her 1gram of steroids each day for three days. Then shifted to lower dosage of steroids by taking prednisone, 60mg per day. Unfortunately, after shifting to tablet, she developed lupus cerebritis. Her lupus is so strong and fast that it really affected her brain quickly. She had more than 10 episodes of seizures and referred again to another doctor, a Neurologist. Her neurologist suggested to let us transfer to ICU for closed monitoring but we refused since we knew that we couldn't afford to pay the downpayment. She also suggested to telemetry, a mini ICU, but we refused again for the same reason. So, a resident doctor told us that maybe we could transfer into a private room near to the nurse station so that the nurses could attend quickly to her needs. It was very difficult to stay in our previous isolation room because it is very far from the nurse station. If seizures occur, it would be difficult for the nurses to run and attend her needs. We paid the downpayment for the transferring of my sister. It was just lucky at that time because my mother sent us money which she got from donations from her co-workers. We were continue fighting. During our stay in the private room, a lot of problems aroused. She had a very severe edema, she couldn't recognize us, she didn't know anything, she didn't know what is left or right, she didn't know where are her hands and legs, she had hemorrhages in her brain and lot of things to mention. The seizures really affected her brain. The lupus was still attacking very quickly that the doctors decided to shift her steroids into higher dosage, 250mg in every 6 hours. In effect, she developed psychosis. She was restless, shouting and hallucinating. It was really difficult for my family to see what's happening to our youngest sister. She is still very young and is already suffering a lot. After how many days, the pyschosis was resolved and the steroids was shifted again to lower dose. It was already 100mg every 6 hours and shifted again to 100mg every 8 hours. After how many days, her rheumatologist started to introduce again the lower dosage steroids, the prednisone, 75mg per day. We asked the doctors if we could transfer to much cheaper room since after how many weeks of staying in the private room our hospital bill is really roaring high. So we transfered to much cheaper room, isolation room which is still near to nurse station. Atleast we save a little amount of money for the room accommodation. However, after we transfered in the isolation room, she had seizure again. The doctors were really surprise to the development of her case. They couldn't even explain or understand what's happening with her. That night, a lot of machines were being put in her body. We were like crazy praying that she would wake up again. We thought we already lost her that night. After the seizure, she didn't know anything. Another part of her brain was affected again. She had PSYCHOSIS again. All her laboratory tests were unpredictable and doctors couldn't explain the changing result of the laboratories. Her hemoglobin is decreasing, her platelet is decreasing, her RBC and WBC are also changing. That is why, the doctors couldn't introduce the new medicine, THE CYCLOPHOSPAMIDE. They were having difficulty in introducing this medicine because of the changing result of her laboratory tests. So again, she started to take again her steroids in higher dosage. 100mg every 8 hours and then 100mg every six hours. Now, she is shifted again to steroids in lower dosage and is taking prednisone 60mg per day. Our fear now that she might have seizure again because of lowering the steroids. The new medicine, CYCLOPHOSPAMIDE, will be introduced today because her laboratory results are good. However, our family has doubt in agreeing with this medicine because of the side effects which is not really good. This medicine is used in CHEMOTHERAPHY and is also useful as immunosuppresant for LUPUS patient. We are asking your prayers so that my sister can handle this risky medicine and she will still continue to fight with all the side effects she will feel. For our long stay here in the hospital, we don't know where to get for funds. Yesterday, my mother was looking for some relatives who could help us because we didn't know where to get money for her medicines. The nurses were already asking us to but the medicines because my sister needs to take it but HOW? We didn't even eat because we dont have anything to eat. My other sister and my cousin already dropped in their studies because my sister insisted to them that they need to stay in the hospital because she is really scared. I already quit my job as a teacher just to attend and take care of my sister. My father already stopped going to fishport. As of now, my sister is waiting for our mother who is still now in Saudi Arabia as an Overseas Filipino Worker. Our mother is really having difficulty in going back here in our country because of the papers. She is having doubt to come back here since she will come back with no money to bring. She has a dilemma if she will just send the money for the medication of my sister or she will spend the money for the airplane ticket so that she can see my youngest sister. As of now, my sister condition is really critical. We don't have money and we if ever we will be discharged we don't know how to pay the hospital bill which cost almost 200,000 Philippine peso and for her 7 doctors. I already went to some government officials, city halls, some organizations, some churches but some of them couldn't help us because my sister is admitted in a private hopsital. We were denied to get our rights and privilege for some help when they hear that my sister is admitted in this hospital. They said, it would have been better if my sister is admitted in a public hospital so that they can help. It really frustrate us knowing the system of government we have in this country. It doesn't mean that she is admitted in a private hospital then we are well off. It's not like that. We are really disappointed. We are already hopeless with the situation of my sister and they are pushing us to feel more hopeless. During our long stay here in the hospital, do they believe that we can afford to pay all of these? The medicines, laboratory tests, xrays, ct scan, ultrasound, hospital bill, doctor's professional fee and our everyday needs. We don't know what to do. That is why, my family is asking some wholeheartedly HELP from your generous hearts. We are very open to any amount of money as long it is given wholeheartedly. Please help us save a life. It will be a fulfillment for you to help a young and beautiful lady whose suffering from this incurable disease. If you want to check if my sister is really admitted just check CHONG HUA HOSPITAL, CEBU, PHILIPPINES. Telephone number (+63)(032) 255-8000 or visit their website
Chong Hua Hospital - Accredited Institution of the Joint Commission International or email them at
info@chonghua.com.ph. You can contact us with these numbers +639208766017 and +639238626946. Or you can send you help through my bank account...RCBC Magallanes Street Cebu City, Philippines with an account name:Jodette Abaņo. Account number:1066223393. Thank You and God Bless.
Please Read! She needs our help :(
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