INQUIRER.net readers raise P170,000 for Ashley

MANILA, Philippines – Readers of INQUIRER.net raised P170,000 on Monday morning for the medication of Ashley Anne Nepomuceno, 6.

Several people sent their donations through the Inquirer Help Funds. Both accounts received a total of P160,000 this morning:

•          Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) current account: P132,000

•          Metrobank current account: P28,000

A person also sent P10,000 to Nepomuceno’s grandmother, Cleofe Navarro, through money transfer last Sunday.

Navarro said they used the money to pay for medicines prescribed by an ophthalmologist. She revealed that the six-year old child’s eyes started bleeding on Saturday afternoon. They had to return to the Philippine General Hospital to have it checked. The ophthalmologist said it was caused by the spreading of skin infection.

At least a hundred more people promised to help Nepomuceno, who is suffering from  a rare disease called epidermolysis bullosa that causes blisters to form on the skin. The amount is expected to increase in the next days.

An initial P30,000 will be released today (Monday) for Ashley’s expenses this week. A portion of the amount will be used as an initial deposit so Navarro could open a bank account to facilitate the transfer of the funds from Inquirer.

INQUIRER.net will publish the complete list of donors, as well as the amount received per day.

“Sa lahat po ng tumulong sa amin, ako po ay taos-pusong nagpapasalamat…na ako po ay nabigyan n’yo ng tulong para po sa apo ko [na] nabigayan ng mahabang panggamutan,” Navarro said in a phone interview.

(To all those who helped us, I am wholeheartedly thanking you…for helping us and allowing my grandchild to receive long-term medical care.)

Navarro said her granddaughter was really happy because of the outpouring of support. She said the child is hoping to be able to study at a regular school soon, now that things are looking up for them.

The grandmother was especially thankful upon learning that at least three people have pledged to buy an air conditioning unit for Nepomuceno, whose skin condition is aggravated by heat.

INQUIRER.net will post more information and updates in the coming days.

 Originally posted at 3:00 pm | Monday, April 7, 2014

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