Ashley Nepomuceno dreams of going to school
Ashley Anne Nepumoceno LEO SABANGAN/INQUIRER
MANILA, Philippines – To attend school and to learn to write, that is the wish of six-year-old Ashley Anne Nepomuceno, her grandmother said.
“Kung sana gising s’ya, tanungin mo kung anong gusto nya, sasabihin n’ya mag-aaral sya. Gusto po talaga n’yang mag-aral,” Ashley’s grandmother, Cleofe Navarro, told INQUIRER.net.
(If Ashley is awake now and you ask her what she wants, she will say she wants to study. She really wants to go to school.)
The 54-year-old grandmother, in an earlier interview, said they already thought of letting Ashley attend school but would have to choose one where the rooms are air-conditioned because of the child’s skin condition.
She said that with the help they are receiving, Ashley’s condition might improve and they can afford to enrol her in a private school.
Nanay Cleofe on Monday received P30,000, an initial tranche from the donations raised by INQUIRER.net readers.
It will be used to buy Ashley’s medicines for the week and to open a bank account so sponsors could directly send their donations to the family.
As of Wednesday, the donations, based on e-mails received by INQUIRER.net, has reached around P300,000. On Monday morning alone, a total of P170,000 was raised for Ashley, who is suffering from a rare disease called epidermolysis bullosa that causes blisters to form on the skin.
Good Samaritans also sent milk and diapers to the INQUIRER.net office in Makati. Hundreds more promised to send their donations.
Former domestic helper
Nanay Cleofe, who used to work as a domestic helper in Europe, could not help but cry upon receiving the money.
“Doon po sa lahat ng tumulong sa amin, ako po ay taos-pusong nagpapasalamat sa inyo sa pagtulong n’yo po sa apo ko na nadugtungan n’yo ang buhay na matagal,” she said.
“’Wag po kayong mag-alala ‘yung tinulong n’yo po sa apo ko, talagang mapupunta sa kanya…Maraming maraming salamat po sa tulong. Salamat po,” Nanay Cleofe said before breaking down in tears.
(To all those who helped us, I am wholeheartedly thanking you for helping my grandchild, for ensuring that she will live longer. I assure you that your donations will be used only for the benefit of Ashley. Thank you very much for your help. Thank you.)
“Taos-pusong nagpapaslamat din ako sa Inquirer. Nang dahil sa kanila maraming tumulong sa amin. Sila po ang daan kung bakit nakilala nila yung apo ko,” she added.
(I am also wholeheartedly thanking Inquirer. It is because of them that many people are helping us. They became a way for people to learn about my granddaughter.)
Nanay Cleofe said everything she earned while working abroad was spent for Ashley’s medication. She said her two younger children have stopped schooling to help. Her son now drives their tricycle while her middle child works as a sales lady. Her husband is a wood carver who earns P1,800 a week. Ashley’s parents are currently looking for work after their contract at the Clark Freeport Zone ended.
“Pwede na po akong mamatay makita ko lang s’ya [sa mabuting kalagayan],” she said. “Kaya minsan naiisip ko na kunin na lang s’ya (ng Diyos), mauna na s’ya sa akin kasi alam ko ‘pag naiwan s’ya ng ganito susunod na din s’ya sa akin.”
“Pero ngayon maraming sumuporta…ang apo ko baka makarecover,” she added.
(I can die already if I see her in a better condition. That is why sometimes I hope that the Lord takes her first because I know that if I leave her, she will die soon. But now that there is a lot of support…my granddaughter may be able to recover.)
Before, Ashley was able to walk and even dance like other kids. Now, however, she spends the day being carried by her grandmother from hospital to hospital.
Heaven-sent
Nanay Cleofe said she has long been praying for someone to help Ashley, to allow her to care for her granddaughter while she is alive.
“Hindi ko po mapigilang umiyak…Lalo na pag pinagmamasdan ko s’ya. ‘Yung puso ko parang dinudurog. Bakit hindi na lang ako? Satanda na ako. Sana ako na lang yung dinapuan. Bakit sa apo ko pa? Hindi naman kami masamang tao,” she said, recalling the storms they weathered to keep Ashley alive.
(I cannot help but cry…especially when I look at her. My heart is crushed. Why not me? I am already old. I wish I was the one who was sick. Why my granddaughter? We are not bad people.)
She said she does not mind all the sacrifices they made to keep Ashley safe.
Nanay Cleofe said their family prioritizes Ashley’s needs, especially after that time when her granddaughter’s infection worsened because they were not able to buy medicine.
“Tinandaan ko po iyon. Kahit wala na kaming makain maghapon basta [maasikaso si Ashley],” she said.
(I always remember that. Even if we have nothing to eat, we make sure that Ashley is tended to.)
Upon reading INQUIRER.net’s story about Ashley last Friday, netizens commented that they often saw the pair at the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) or the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and at church.
Nanay Cleofe said she brings Ashley to Baclaran Church on Wednesdays and to Quiapo Church on Fridays.
With the outpouring of support for her ailing granddaughter, Nanay Cleofe feels that heaven has heard her prayers.
“Kaya nu’ng tumawag ako sa anak ko [matapos malaman yung tulong na pinadala], sabi ko magdasal ka d’yan anak, magpamisa ka d’yan. Kasi ito na yung dininig,” she said, referring to this reporter.
(That is why I called my daughter, upon learning about the donations. I told her to pray and to sponsor a mass. Our prayers were answered.)
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