Ramos’ ‘little hero’ needs a lot of help

Christian Rey Chua, one of the six children chosen as the country’s “little heroes” in 1994 during the time of President Fidel Ramos, has been diagnosed with end-stage renal disease.

Chua, who won the award when he was just 11 years old, was cited for saving from drowning his five-year-old neighbor in his hometown of Milagros in Masbate province.

For his heroic deed, he was declared one of the six “Mga Batang Pilipino: Mga Munting Bayani ng Bayan ’94,” besting “over 6,000 nominees from all over the Philippines.” He and the other winners were featured in a story that came out in the Inquirer on Dec. 8, 1994.

“Congratulations. Your award is an inspiration to all young men and women. Keep it up,” Senate Majority Leader Alberto Romulo said in his congratulatory letter to Chua in January 1995.

Now aged 32, Chua, who lives in Sorsogon with Rachel, his pregnant wife, and their two young children, said he was in denial when doctors told him that his kidneys were performing at just 15 percent.

“At first, I could not believe it. How can this be? I’m still capable of urinating. Then the inevitable happened: My platelet count dropped to an alarmingly low level while my blood pressure shot up to 220/120. Before I knew it, a hole was cut in my neck to facilitate dialysis,” he added.

Chua is now undergoing dialysis at the National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI). However, he needs P1.7 million to undergo a kidney transplant.

Part of the amount would go to the kidney donor who is not a family member.

“I wish to convey an appeal to President Ramos if he can help me financially or recommend me for the Z Benefit Package program of Philhealth and NKTI,” he said.

Inquirer readers who want to help Christian Rey Chua can reach him at 0915-9706732. Donations can be deposited in his PNB bank (Sorsogon branch) account with account number 1280075007.