Family of bright but ailing teen seeks help

Cheycel Joy Calosor

While coping with a rare disease affecting the blood vessels for the last seven years, Cheycel Joy Calosor continues to excel in her studies.

The 17-year-old Calosor suffers from Takayasu arteritis renal artery stinosis. Despite her condition, the fisherman’s daughter from Mindoro Occidental province is currently the second-best performer among the 20 high school students making up her senior class at a special school for the chronically ill at the Philippine General Hospital complex in Manila.

Her mother, Lucy, is appealing to Inquirer readers for financial assistance as Cheycel needs to undergo an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and carotid checkup, which would cost around P55,000.

Takayasu arteritis is a rare, systemic inflammation of the blood vessels, a condition known to affect women under 50 years old. “She started taking oral medication on Jan. 19 to control the infection of her arteries. Attending physicians advised her to undergo an MRI before we proceed with an operation,” the patient’s mother said.

Lucy Calosor can be reached at 0921-4114577. Those who wish to help her daughter can make a deposit to her Landbank account number 1676-0443-41.—Santiago R. Alcantara