Woman asks for help for 8-month-old baby

SOLER

EIGHT-MONTH-OLD Sophia Christy Soler was born with meningocele frontal encephalocele, a bone condition where a protrusion happens in the skull area because the spine did not develop properly.

Her mother Lovely Eugenio, 28, said her daughter has a lump in her forehead which is almost the same size as her head.

“She would cry out loud and tremble when in pain. She can only lie on her right side. She can hardly open her eyes,” Eugenio said.

According to her, Sophia has already undergone a chest X-ray and MRI, including consultations with pediatricians, surgeons, neurologists, cardiologists and orthopedists to determine her fitness to undergo two operations.

Originally from Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro, Eugenio, her partner Joemel and their children have all moved to Metro Manila to be closer to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City which has taken Sofia in as a charity patient.

Sophia, the younger of two siblings, will undergo a procedure called shunting, where water would be drained from the lump. This will be followed by plastic surgery.

Eugenio said they would need about P60,000 for the first operation. “The doctor said the second operation will be more expensive. She appealed for help, saying they do not have the money needed for both procedures.

Eugenio earns P6,000 as an assistant librarian at Philippine Central Island College, a private school in Bagong Silang, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. She has taken a leave of absence to focus on taking care of her daughter.

She and her family are temporarily staying at a friend’s house in the Mabuhay Rotonda area in Quezon City.

“I don’t want to give up on my daughter. I am asking for your help to overcome this and get Sofia the assistance she needs,” she added.

Those who would like to contribute toward Sofia’s medical expenses can deposit their donations in Eugenio’s PNB account (Lovely B. Eugenio #494550400010) or contact her at 0946-1477658.