A baby’s cry for help
By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:05:00 05/08/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- For most parents, seeing your child celebrate his first birthday is a blessing. But for Vincent, 25, and Lorlanie Manalastas, 27, it only means that time is running out for their one year old son Vynz Marquinne.
Vynz is afflicted with a rare liver disease known as biliary atresia. According to University of Maryland Medical Center, biliary atresia is a liver disease that only afflicts newborns. It is a condition where ducts in the liver are blocked, which prevents the liver from carrying bile to the gallbladder.
Bile is an essential chemical in the body that aids in digestion and helps clean the liver by eliminating wastes from it.
The Life Thru Transplants-Biliary Atresia Babies Information, Education and Support (Lift-B.A.B.I.E.S.) Foundation Inc. said that one out of 100 Filipino children were suffering from biliary atresia. Usually, biliary atresia patients only live up to two years old.
Vynz was diagnosed with biliary atresia when he was four months old. His father, Vincent said that upon birth, Vynz’s skin was already yellowish.
“Nung una sabi ibilad lang daw namin sa araw tapos, totoo naman, after one month nawala yung paninilaw. Pero bumalik din eh. Tapos nung dinala naming siya sa mga local clinics, sabi hepa naman daw [First, they told us to put him under the sun, which was effective because after a month he lost his yellowish color. But then it recurred. And then when we brought him to the local clinics, they told us that it was hepa],” he said, referring to hepatitis.
But Vincent said that when they brought Vynz for check-up, results showed that his son was negative for hepatitis. “Nung nagpunta kami sa Philippine Children’s Hospital tsaka sa Manila Doctor’s Hospital, tsaka namin nalaman na biliary atresia ang sakit ni Vynz [When we went to Philippine Children’s Hospital and Manila Doctor’s Hospital, that’s when we learned that Vinz was sick with biliary atresia],” he said.
Lift-B.A.B.I.E.S. Secretary Jannica Antipura said the causes of biliary atresia have yet to be known. However, if the condition is left untreated, it could lead to liver cirrhosis and even death, she said.
She added that the symptoms of biliary atresia included initial signs of jaundice and swollen abdomen.
Vincent said that Vynz has been frequently admitted to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) because of his condition. When he was four months old, Vynz underwent an operation known as hepatoportoenterostomy, or the Kasai procedure. This procedure was only a temporary cure for biliary atresia.
Vincent is a contractual employee at a government agency while Lorlanie is a private school teacher. Lorlanie says they spend approximately P 3,500 every other day for Vynz’s antibiotics, because his immune system has been deteriorating fast.
“Affected na nga ang growth niya. Hindi siya makatayo tsaka makalakad [His growth is affected. He could not stand and walk],” Vincent said.
But despite of his condition, Vynz celebrated his first birthday last February 17 out of the hospital. “Masayang masaya kami at nabuhayan kami ng loob kasi nakita namin kung gaano kasaya si Vynz nung birthday niya [We were very happy and we became hopeful when we saw how happy Vynz was during his birthday],” Vincent said.
However, Vynz’s attending physician at PGH Dr. Sheryll Bañez said that the only way for Vynz to live a healthy, normal life would be to undergo a liver transplant.
“Sa ngayon stable ang condition niya, umiinom siya ng mga antibiotics, pero ang pinupush talaga naming ay ang liver transplant [Right now, his condition is stable. He takes antibiotics but we are really pushing for a liver transplant],” she said.
Meanwhile, Antipura said that children suffering from biliary atresia should undergo operation at Taiwan, Singapore, or Hong Kong.
“Sa ngayon kasi hindi pa gaano ka-develop ang technology dito tsaka mas mura kung sa Hong Kong [Right now, our technology here is not as developed and it is much cheaper in Hong Kong],” Antipura said.
Vynz’s mother Lorlanie said they would need from P2 million to P3 million for Vynz’s operation in Hong Kong.
“Lahat na ng puwede naming takbuhan tinakbuhan namin. Sa awa naman ng Diyos may mga tumutulong at nagdodonate rin [We have sought all the possible help we could get. Thank God, there are people who are helping and donating],” she said.
“Nananawagan po kami na sana matulungan ninyo ang baby naming at sana maisama niyo siya sa prayers niyo. Maraming salamat din sa mga tutulong at tumulong at ibabalik ng Panginoon ang pagpapalad sa inyo [We are appealing for help for our baby and please include him in our prayers. We would also like to thank in advance those who will help us and those who have helped us and we can only pray that the Lord will bless you],” she added.
Vincent and Lorlanie Manalastas are accepting donations at their Banco de Oro account #1270-9249-13, under the account name Vynz Marquinne P. Manalastas. For questions or inquiries, parties may contact Lift-B.A.B.I.E.S. Foundation at (632) 8244621.
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