Mom of boy with cancer asks for help

John Andrei Atutubo

Maria Linda Atutubo has set her sights on saving the remaining eye of her son John Andrei Atutubo after he lost the left one to retinoblastoma (eye cancer), an illness he was diagnosed with three years ago.

“I can’t imagine him going totally blind. He can’t go to school or play with other children wearing artificial eyes,” she said.

Atutubo, a native of Camarines Norte who is temporarily staying in Valenzuela City, is appealing to Inquirer readers to help her raise P50,000 for her nine-year-old son’s medical expenses.

The money will be used to buy him an artificial left eye; Dexamethasone, an eye ointment; as well as cover a series of laboratory, CT and bone scan tests and medical checkups at Philippine General Hospital to help save John Andrei’s remaining eye.

Atutubo said her son desperately needs financial help for his treatment as they barely get on her husband’s daily salary of P350 a day.

The family can be reached at 0907-8106001. Donations can be deposited in Maria Linda Atutubo’s BPI Family Savings Bank savings account (account number: 0309-0270-27).