Early Christmas Present

We received an early Christmas present from another good-hearted soul who refused to be named. :) More blessings to you!

Folks, we now have Php47,880.00 on our fund for Annadel! 

Spread the word. Pray, share, donate.

Good News! Good News!

I found a really good news today at the Inquirer site. It seems PhilHealth has now subsidized the cost of a transplant operation. Fortunately, Annadel is a member of the said government institution.

Also, I was able to get updated figures on how much we will need to help Annadel. Our goal now is down to Php 400,000.00. Details on the Donate page. Meanwhile, read on for the good news. :-)

PhilHealth hikes subsidy for kidney transplants

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will now subsidize the cost of a kidney transplant for a member or dependent suffering from end-stage renal disease up to the tune of P600,000.

“We are affording every member and dependent with kidney failure the chance to enjoy a superior quality of life. We are now subsidizing the full cost of a kidney transplant procedure, up to P600,000,” said Dr. Eduardo Banzon, PhilHealth president and chief executive officer in a statement.

“This is our way of giving every member considerably greater value for money. They will be entitled to a P600,000-benefit in return for premium contributions as low as P2,400 per annum or less than P7 per day by January 1, 2013,” Banzon said, adding that the subsidy is PhilHeath’s single largest benefit payment ever.

According to him, PhilHealth has members as young as 23 years old with chronic kidney disease.

“While they have their whole lives ahead of them, they have to undergo constant dialysis. Some of them die young. Hopefully not anymore with this new benefit,” he said.

Some 12,000 Filipinos develop kidney failure every year, or 120 per one million population. They have a mean age of 53 years, and six out of 10 of them are male, according to the National Renal Disease Registry.

Despite being the “gold standard” of care for patients with end-stage renal disease, Banzon said, less than a thousand kidney transplants are performed in the country every year, largely due to the steep cost of the procedure.

With the P600,000-benefit payment, Banzon sees a dramatic increase in life-saving kidney transplants in the months ahead.

Before Philhealth unveiled the large subsidy for every low-risk kidney transplant, the national health insurer covered only up to eight percent of the total medical bill for the procedure.

“With this new benefit, our members and dependents with kidney failure, especially those from poverty-stricken households, can readily avail of a transplant procedure, and look forward to more productive and fuller lives,” Banzon said.

The PhilHealth benefit is available in specialized centers with proven capabilities to provide first-rate kidney transplant services and care: the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City, Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City, and the Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum City.

“These centers have excellent track records of more than 98 percent survival rates for kidney transplant patients,” Banzon said.

He added: “We are balancing high-quality service with accessibility. We’re starting with only four centers where members can avail of the benefit, but we have at least one facility each in Luzon and the Visayas plus two in Mindanao. We may add to the four later on.”

“The four centers will apply the No Balance Billing Policy with respect to kidney transplant patients from families earning P30,000 or less annually. Patients will not be charged extra expenses on top of what PhilHealth pays. The P600,000-benefit already covers everything, including medication, hospitalization and professional fees,” Banzon said.

The leading causes of kidney failure among Filipinos are diabetes, inflammation of the kidneys and high blood pressure.

To stay alive, patients with end-stage renal disease have only two treatment options–lifetime dialysis or a one-time kidney replacement.

Owing to the high cost of both options, some 25 percent of Filipinos with kidney failure die every year without receiving any treatment.

“The P600,000-benefit package also makes economic sense. Over time, both patient and PhilHealth end up spending a lot more to support lifelong dialysis,” Banzon pointed out.

At present, PhilHealth subsidizes a maximum of 45 sessions per year of dialysis.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/279546/philhealth-hikes-subsidy-for-kidney-transplants

Other Related Article(s):

PhilHealth, NKTI to give qualified patients kidney transplant package
http://business.inquirer.net/83242/philhealth-nkti-to-give-qualified-patients-kidney-transplant-package

A Visit On Ann's Hemodialysis

Ann on hemodialysis

Today, Jayvee and I visited Ann during her dialysis session. She  goes for dialysis every Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays at the Medical Center Manila accompanied mostly by her aunt and mother. We arrived there at around 4:00 PM - an hour early before completing the 4-hour process.

She lost weight compared to when I last saw her from the same hospital almost a month ago during her confinement. She said she has to maintain her weight at 45kgs. She has gotten really thin but she is more lively now.

Her IJ (internal jugular) cathether is still attached on the right side of her neck. On a hemodialysis, blood is withdrawn from the artery or vein for purification and is returned through the vein. Right now, the IJ cathether is the gateway for the blood until such time the AV (arteriovenous) fistula on her left arm is ready. The AV fistula operation was one of the procedures she underwent during her confinement in August.

She let us hold her left arm near the pulse to feel the vibration from the fistula. It is caused by the increased pressure of blood flow having her artery and vein sewn together. She constantly held a stress ball and kept on squeezing it to hasten the enlargement of the fistula so it can accommodate a cannula or large needle for the dialysis.

Ann with her mom (left-most)
and aunt (middle) after the
hemodialysis session

We waited an hour until the process was completed. During these times, the nurses took Ann's blood pressure twice - the last one being at 130/90. We also witnessed Ann's classmates in dialysis completing their sessions. There was a woman and two men. All are senior citizens. Ann is the youngest on that room that time - but she mentioned about another classmate a year younger than her.

The nurses removed the tubes connected to her IJ cathether and carefully taped the bulky object back to her neck so it wouldn't be swinging while she moves. I learned that she has to protect it with a plastic/stretch wrap - the kind that we see wrapped on grapes sold in supermarkets - whenever she takes a bath to avoid it from getting wet and being infected.

Ann would normally feel dizzy and sleepy after the process, but aside from these, she said she feels fine and can do normal activities such as drawing, watching TV, reading books, and so on as long as it does not result to physical stress. She is still maintaining her diet - no fats, no sugar and limited to 1 litre of water per day. She is also maintaining vitamins and medicines - one of which is Eprex - an intravenous medicine to treat anemia associated with her kidney disease. It costs Php1,000.00 (a discounted price) and has to be taken every after her dialysis session.  We even witnessed when the nurse injected the medicine through her right shoulder.

Ann with her peace sign

While her mom was busy on her billing, she stood up and went to the huge weighing scale in the room. She weighed 45.30kgs. The result was immediately noted by one of the nurses.

One of the things I liked in that room is the attentiveness and care of the nurses. They were strict - in fact, I was not allowed to take videos or photographs (I managed to sneak, though), but they were polite and accomodating. A resident physician went through all the classmates one by one and checked how they feel. She checked the bandage on Ann's left arm covering the stitch of the AV fistula operation. She told Ann she can already remove the bandage since it has already healed partially. But Ann herself could not bear the sight of the stitches, so for now, she covers them especially when she is not at home. She told the young doctor that she will take the bandage off upon reaching home.

We bid goodbye at the hospital entrance when she, her mom, and aunt took a taxi homeward bound.

Indiegogo Campaign

Our Indiegogo Campaign (click here) is moving forward - we now have $50 in it. Indiegogo is an online tool which serves as an instrument for fund-raising needs.

One of our funders requested to acquire the perk which comes with it - an artwork from our Dear Ann.

So friends, please do spread the word. Help us in reaching our goal to save Ann.

Donate, Like, Share. ^^,

Indiegogo Campaign

I launched an Indiegogo campaign for this cause. Indiegogo is an online tool specifically designed to help fund-raising needs. I hope this helps Ann.

Please share.

Medical Certificate

Below is Ann's medical certificate submitted to HR in May 2012 when we requested a full work-from-home setup for her for the month of June. Her doctor indicated Chronic Kidney Disease instead of the more specific Chronic Glomerulonephritis for hopes that our health card provider then would cover for her medical expenses - but to no avail.

During these times, she was already recommended for blood replacement therapy because of her anemia. However, due to financial incapacity, she was not able to support all the medical treatments recommended for her.

Could Not Be Found

Today, I sent a group mail to my team at work. Then I received a notice that Annadel's email cannot be found. A proof of reality - she is now jobless. She cannot support her needs by herself alone. But God will provide. Stay strong, Ann.

Happy Birthday Ann

A shot from Annadel's post-birthday celebration.  

Ann celebrated her birthday last August 25th - she is now 24 years old! I know that all her family and friends  only wish her one thing - her wellness. Although she had celebrated her big day on the hospital for a dialysis session - I hope she will see that there are still many reasons to be thankful for.

Birthday Message To Ann

Take care of yourself. There are lots of opportunities in the IT industry waiting for you once you have fully recovered. We will not stop helping you. We will not get tired. As long as you don't give up.

Once you are well - you will not just be blowing your birthday candles - you can go back to munching them - the cake, not the candles I hope. So have faith. Never lose hope. It will be tough. But you are never alone.

Happy Birthday!

Ann Begins Dialysis

The next morning after we paid visit to Annadel, she was rushed into the hospital and was immediately started on dialysis. Her doctor would not let her go without the dialysis. Well, she needed it. When I saw her five days later, she was completely different from the heartbreaking scene I saw the last time. She gained her colors back!

August 23, 2012 - Renee, Me, and Annadel on the hospital

Now, Annadel would have to go on a regular dialysis at three (3) times a week. She takes it every Saturdays, Mondays, and Thursdays. Each session costs Php4,500.00. Fortunately, PhilHealth can cover up to 45 sessions yearly - up to three (3) months of continouous sessions.

Heartbreaker

August 17th - Friday. My officemate (Jayvee) and I decided to pay visit to Annadel whom we had not seen for a month or so since she started full-time work from home due to her worsening condition. We were there because I had to collect her signed resignation letter.

The last time that we saw her, she has gotten a lot thinner and her skin became really pale. She would go often to the restroom to have a retouch concealing her condition, but it only did a little cover up.

On that day, it seemed as if her condition has worsened ten times. Her face, arms and legs were covered with bruises all over. Her lips were so pale. Her palms were covered with wounds from rashes which doesn't seem to be healing at all. She cannot speak clearly because of mouth sores. She cannot walk or stand straight because of dizziness and various pains all over her body. That day, as much as I hate it, I saw a young woman waiting for the time.

We stayed for a while to chit chat. Jayvee and I were both trying to keep ourselves composed so as not to show her any sign of weakness. We wanted to be strong for her if that is the least we can do. 

We updated her on the latest events from the office. I was cracking jokes when she excused herself and walked towards her bed. From where we are sitting, we heard the sound of her painful vomits. We found out that she had been throwing up everything she takes in for the past five (5) days. She had been sleepless because of nausea, headache, stomach ache and the discomfort of her mouth sores and rashes.

All of these are related to her disease. Her immune system is getting weaker. Plus, with her condition, she cannot take in medicines to relieve the pain.

It was heartbreaking seeing her like that just eight days to go before her 24th birthday. Jayvee and I committed ourselves to helping her the best we can so she can survive this trial.

Be strong Ann!