Mom willing to go the distance for daughter with kidney disease

Korina Bernardino

Despite being 60 years old, Maribel Bernardino is used to walking long distances every day just to ask for help for her daughter, Korina, who was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease stage 5 in 2017.

“Before the pandemic, I was able to seek medical assistance more frequently. But because of the lockdown, my mobility is limited,” Bernardino said.

On top of her kidney ailment, 28-year-old Korina was recently diagnosed with systolic heart failure in which the left side of the heart doesn’t pump blood normally. Her doctor has recommended that she undergo myocardial perfusion imaging (a test which costs P20,084) to determine how well blood flows through the heart muscle, as well as an electrocardiogram (P400). The family is still raising money for both tests.

Last year, Korina also developed uterine polyps that left her bleeding heavily, weak and unable to stand.

“She has a 5-year-old son who is also going through a lot of difficulties. My husband and I take care of them both while also trying to ask foundations for help,” Bernardino said.

She added, “My husband and I are seniors and it has gotten harder for us to find jobs, especially with health restrictions due to COVID-19.”

The only breadwinner in the family is Korina’s sibling who is a call center agent.

Korina needs to undergo dialysis three times a week, with each session costing around P4,300. She also spends P1,200 for an Epoetin injection to fight anemia every session.

Her maintenance medicines for her kidney and heart ailments, which include phosphate binders and vitamins, cost around P500 daily.

Donors may contact her mother at 0907-1002232. Those able to donate money may do so through Bernardino’s Bank of the Philippine Islands account no. 2219112923.