Days before Purplelyn Poncia was scheduled to leave for Malaysia to work as a domestic helper, her 3-year-old child Juliana was diagnosed to be suffering from Rhabdomyosarcoma, a malignant tumor of the skeletal muscle. “I was all set to fulfill that elusive dream of a better life for my family when the doctors told me that my child needs me more than anything,” said Poncia, who raises a family with partner Reynaldo Bognot, a laborer-house painter.
She said Juliana’s operation in May 2012 was followed by a 48-cycle chemotherapy. With 18 cycles remaining and the family’s funds running short, the mother is appealing to Inquirer readers for financial assistance.
One session costs the family P45,000. Juliana has been confined at Philippine Children’s Medical Center since Saturday. Poncia can be reached at 0919-3793159 while donors can send aid through Reynaldo’s BPI account number 6836149325.—Santiago R. Alcantara