Seeking a second opinion proved to be best in the case of Vic Velasco who was initially diagnosed with neuroblastoma. It later turned out that he was suffering from rhabdomyosarcoma, a tumor outgrowth that has killed the cells in his right eye.
The 12-year-old boy’s mother, Evelyn, told the Inquirer that her son’s doctors at Philippine General Hospital (PGH) submitted his records to a hospital overseas for further examination because they wanted to make sure that they would give him the proper medicine.
Vic, who stopped going to school last year due to his condition, is ready to be admitted anytime at PGH for the second round of a 16-cycle chemotherapy session. However, his attending physicians told them that the medicine was not yet available.
“I’m sad to know that his right eye is going blind. I’m even sadder because we have no money for the 14 chemotherapy sessions priced at P75,000 each. After the second cycle, he has to be operated on immediately, a procedure which will cost P15,000, to prevent the virus from spreading to his left eye,” Evelyn said.
Her husband Erwin is a maintenance staffer at a private hospital while she is a plain housewife who looks after their three children, including Vic.
Those who want to help Vic can reach Evelyn at 0999-7583298. Donations can be deposited in Erwin Velasco’s Allied Bank account with account number 124-0008-2586.