ONE-YEAR-OLD Santino Respicio badly needs open heart surgery to save him from further complications of pneumonia and other related illnesses.

His father, Pedrito Respicio Jr., told Inquirer that he thought the medicines Santino had been taking after doctors found out that he had a congenital heart disease 23 days after birth, would prevent the hole in his heart from getting any bigger.

?In fact, he is more sickly now. Cardiologists advised us to be ready with the money for the surgery,? Respicio said.
Last Monday, he and his partner, Jennylyn Seña, brought their son to the Philippine General Hospital because he showed signs that he had pneumonia.

?He had colds and he was coughing a lot. Then he turned yellowish again,? he said.

The former jeepney driver from Sta. Cruz, Manila, said the heart operation for Santino would cost P180,000.

Respicio can be reached at his mobile number 0928-2935262. His bank account number at Banco de Oro (Central Market branch) is 4460027553.