A Mom's Call for Financial Aid to Extend the Life of Her Ailing Daughter

On May 18, while my mom was fixing our products at UST Parish Store, an old woman caught her attention. She was selling cashew nuts within the church's premises while taking care of a paralyzed woman lying on a wheel chair. They were accompanied and assisted by a middle-aged man. 

Mom immediately asked the old woman her name and the condition of the lady. Her name was Florentina and the sick lady on the wheel chair was her daughter, Esperanza, who was undergoing dialysis for the past 20 years. Her kidney problem led to different complications including stroke that happened four years ago. It made her half-paralyzed or hemiplegic. Her muscles shrinked. She was very thin and crippled. Her teeth were all damaged. She could not longer do activities of everyday living. She would need assistance from her mom for all her needs. They were lucky because Kuya Islie, their companion and relative was kind and compassionate enough to look after them wherever they go.

Lola Florentina told mom that their friends and Esperanza's classmates would send financial asssitance to sustain the latter's dialysis three times a week that would cost Php2,500 per session. They would spend Php7,500 a week just for her dialysis alone. Their expenses for food, medication, and other needs were provided by sponsors. Kung minsan daw mayroon, kadalasan kulang o wala. If not for their friends and sponsors, they wouldn't know where to get money to survive.  Unfortunately, the financial assistance wouldn't come regularly as expected. Dalawa na lang silang mag-ina. Lola Florentina's husband died a few years back while Esperanza was already separated from her husband.

When they couldn't raise the money for Esperanza's dialysis, Lola Florentina would call Sister Nida of UST Parish Office to ask help. In return, Sister Nida would ask for financial assistance from UST Dominican priests.

She would do anything to keep her daughter alive despite all odds.

Imagine, Lola Florentina is already 77 years old while Esperanza is only 43. The situation should have been the other way around. Lola Florentina should be the one to be assisted and taken care of by Esperanza. 

Lola Florentina is already old. She goes to National Kidney and Transplant Institute with Esperanza and Kuya Islie on Tuesdays to sell cashew from person to person just to cover for the dialysis expenses for the following day. She goes to UST Parish occasionally to sell too. Hindi naman maiwanan ni Lola Florentina si Ate Esperanza kasi siya lang ang pwedeng mag-alaga sa kanya.

Mom told me that she remembered my Inang Goring the first time she saw Lola Florentina. Mom said, "Alam mo anak sa kalagayan ni Nanay Florentina, sa edad na 77, dapat siya na ang inaalalayan at inaalagaan ng anak niya. Gaya ni Inang, tayo ang umaalalay sa kanya sa ganoong edad. Tingnan mo siya, napakadakila niya kasi kahit matanda na siya at kahit nahihirapan na, kailangan niyang maging malakas para alagaan ang anak niyang may sakit."

After Mom's conversation with Lola Florentina at UST Parish, she couldn't help but cry. While fixing our goods, she looked at her wallet. There was three Php100 bills and few Php20 bills and coins. She decided to give Php300 and left a few pesos for her transportation.  Lola Florentina was giving her a big bag of cashew nuts  but she refused to accept it. "Ibenta ninyo na lang po sa iba 'yan, 'Nay! Huwag ninyo na po akong bigyan, okay lang po." Lola Florentina began to sob and said thank you to mom. Hindi raw matapus-tapos ang pagpapasalamat ni Lola Forentina sa kanya. Dahil dito, lalo naman daw siyang naiyak.

But mom couldn't go home without giving more because of empathy. Hindi niya kayang tiisin na wala man lang maiuwi ang mag-ina sa layo ng ibinyahe nila. They live in Tandang Sora, Quezon City. They are blessed because a relative opens his home for them. They could no longer afford to pay for the rent. Mom borrowed Php700 from the Parish Office and promised to pay when she comes back. She gave it to Lola Florentina. Sabi ni Mommy, hindi raw niya makalimutan ang tagpong 'yon. Nag-iyakan daw ang mag-ina sa sobrang tuwa. That made her think of something more to do to extend her help. Hindi naman kami mayaman. Kung mayroon lang kaming extra, baka mas higit pa roon ang ibigay niya.

That scene makes mom sob everytime she remembers it. She couldn't concentrate in doing her crafts. She told me that we should find a way to help Lola Florentina financially. At her age, she should not sell cashew nuts anymore with her daughter under the heat of the sun or go to far places to look for money. She should concentrate in taking care of Esperanza because her condition becomes worse everyday. Lola Florentina si old. Despite the fact that she shows that she's strong, she needs to rest too. Matanda na siya para mahirapan pa ng husto.

Mom suggested to have an interview with them to help them raise funds through social media. Lola Florentina agreed. She and her daughter told mom through a text message that they would sell cashew nuts at National Kidney and Transplant Institute yesterday at 10:00 AM. 

Mom and I went there to meet them. While waiting near NKTI Emergency Room, we gave them a call. Esperanza answered. Since I couldn't understand her, I hang up and sent a text message hoping that Lola Florentina or Kuya Islie would text back. Due to our understanding that they would sell cashew nuts within the hopital premises, we looked for them and went to the main building and waited there. Surprisingly, a guard pushing a wheel chair with a lady on it was rushing towards the Emergency Room. Mom said, "Anak si Espie 'yon!" Then we followed. Lola Florentina was behind us. That was the first time I met her. She was crying, "Naku, anak, baka mamamatay na siya." "Lola, lakasan ninyo po ang loob ninyo. Huwag ninyo pong isipin 'yon", I said to comfort her. Pinipigilan ko talagang maiyak.

In the ER, Esperanza was immediately attended by the nurses. Dr. Felipe, the attending physician, suspected that it was stroke. I was observing  during her physical exam. She was more incoherent, her tongue rolled when stuck out, her eyes were rolling, and she couldn't remember her name. She was listless. Her thin body would twitch and she couldn't lift her left arm and leg. She was scheduled for Cranial CT Scan and blood extraction for CBC. I could see the agony and pain on Esperanza's face. Her veins collapse. Blood couldn't be extracted. Looking at her was unbearable. I couldn't help but cry silently. Ang sakit talaga sa dibdib.

That incident answered my question why Mom was always crying upon remembering the first time she met Lola Florentina, Ate Esperanza, and Kuya Islie at UST Parish.

Esperanza on her wheel chair during blood extraction at NKTI (June 3, 2014, 11:00 AM)

Lola Florentina went inside the Social Services office as instructed by the nurses and doctors. Maybe they were observing that the family was indigent. We noticed that Lola Florentina couldn't pay for a down payment due to absence of money. When she went out, she told us that NKTI would give them 80% discount on the bill. Then she went inside the ER to attend to Esperanza. Mom and I went inside the office and talk to the Social Worker, Miss Rabi. She was so nice and accommodating. She explained to us the procedure and told us that Lola Florentina should pay at least Php1000 to cover Esperanza's medication for two days. Doon na ako naiyak. Hindi ko talaga mapigilan. I was so touched by the gesture of the Social Worker and I couldn't help but empathize with Lola Florentina. Miss Rabi asked us how were we related to the patient. Then  we told her the story why we were there. She explained to us the procedure of hospital transfer ASAP because the dialysis machines on NKTI were under repair. Esperanza should have her dialysis today and on Friday. She promised that she would endorse her to the next Social Worker for the easy facilitation of Esperanza's transfer. We thanked her before we went out.

Esperanza's ID and discount card from NKTI Social Services

When we opened the door, we saw Lola Florentina holding a small card. She was very happy because the social services would give her a big discount on the hospital bill. Even though she wasn't telling us, we knew that she would have no means of paying the hospital bill even at discounted rate. She couldn't pay for the Php1000 down payment alone. Hindi naman siya nagsasalita, maaaring nahihiya talaga siya. Wala talaga siyang pambayad ng down payment. Mom handed me a Php1000 bill and I ran to the cashier to pay. Then I handed the receipt to Lola Florentina. She cried again."Lola, huwag na po kayong umiyak. Wala po 'yan.", I said while suppressing my tears.

I sent a text message to my doctor friends, Jody and Ronald Law, about the patient's condition and the possibility of hospital transfer because they had their residency at PGH and East Avenue Medical Center. Ron is currently working at Department of Health too. The couple was very helpful and all they were asking was the diagnosis of the patient. From there they could help. I thank the Lord for giving me good and compassionate friends.
 

On Esperanza's bedside, we saw how Kuya Islie took good care of her. He was massaging Esperanza's feet because she was complaining of feeling cold. Lola Florentina patiently and lovingly massaged her daughter's head because she was complaining of headache too. Imagine how painful it was for her to see her daughter suffer. It was really heartbreaking. I struggled to keep my composure. Pinigilan ko talagang umiyak kasi alam kong hindi siya matatapos kapag nasimulan na. Ayokong humina ang loob ni Lola Florentina.

It was 12:00 PM when Lola Florentina told Mom and I to eat lunch. "Lola, kayo po muna ang kumain. Kami po muna ang magbabantay kay Ate Esperanza kasama si Kuya Islie.", I said. Then she told us, "Naku, kayo muna." We felt that she refused to eat because she had no money to buy food. Mom got Php1000 then handed it to Lola Florentina and said, "'Nay, kailangan ninyo pong magpalakas kaya kumain po kayo." Kahit nahihiya siya, she accepted the money. Nadurog na naman ang puso ko.

I told her that the only way I could help her more was to ask for  financial help on her behalf. I told Lola Florentina that what I could do right now would be to seek for financial assistance through social media and blogging. I asked permission if I could take a video or photo of Esperanza so that I could share it with you, my dear friends. She agreed but she didn't want me to show it in public. Naaawa raw siya sa anak niya. She didn't want the public to see the suffering of her daughter. Siya na lang daw ang kuhanan ko ng photo. 

Mom and I went to our next appointment and assured her that we would keep in touch with her. I gave her my last money, Php300, before we left. I saw that she only bought 2 pieces of Magic Flakes from the canteen. Maybe she wanted to save the Php1000 bill that Mom gave her for Esperanza's needs.

As of yesterday evening, they were still in National Kidney and  Transplant Institute when I called. I am still waiting for the information regarding Esperanza's condition and diagnosis. 

I am begging you, my dear friends, to please help me spread the word about Lola Florentina and her sick daughter, Esperanza. Through your kindness and generosity, they may be helped financially to sustain the medical needs of Esperanza, support their everyday needs, and to make Lola Florentina stay by her daughter's side and take care of her in  the comforts of their home, and not to go out together anymore to sell cashew nuts to strangers. This will help them ease their suffering. If you have an extra money to spare, please help them, by depositing any amount on the account name and number found on the photos below.

Esperanza and Lola Florentina at NKTI Emergency Room (I covered Esperanza's face as requested by Lola Florentina.)

This is Lola Florentina's Land Bank Savings Account where we can deposit our financial help for Esperanza's medical needs.

I would like to thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart. It will be a great help if we will support them financially. Kahit gaano po kaliit, kapag pinagsamasama po natin ay magiging malaki rin. It is never too late to give her the best gift for Mother's Day which is to extend the life of her daughter. 

This is the best quote that I found to describe Lola Florentina. Honestly, I couldn't hold my tears while writing this post. Courtesy: lifelovequotesandsayings.com