11-year-old’s cry for help gets answers in Davao City

DAVAO CITY—Good Samaritans responded to the call for help of the family of 11-year-old Jecel Mae Raña, who suffered severe burns while trying to save her two brothers from the fire that razed their home in Cagayan de Oro City.

Her family has been having difficulty sustaining Jecel’s treatment here though the city government has extended help through its Lingap Program. It wasn’t enough, though.

Just a few days ago, Jecel’s parents made public an appeal for help. A day after Jecel’s story came out in the Inquirer, donations started coming in.

“She’s a lucky child. She got a chance to live,” said Dr. Rizal Aportadera, former head of the Mindanao Burn Center and now long-time consultant of the center, told Inquirer on Monday after learning of the outpouring of financial support from people around the country.

Part of the money that Jecel got was spent for her nutrition, which she badly needs for recovery.

“She was able to drink her milk,” Maricel, the girl’s mother, said Monday.

Maricel said she was able to buy antibiotics and other medicines for Jecel.

Among those who gave cash was National Food Authority Administrator Lito Banayo. Banayo sent in P50,000 for the girl. Peter Lynch, a foreigner, contributed P64,000.

Lynch also gave P16,000 for other patients of the 32-bed facility at the Southern Philippines Medical Center here.