Heize Zanser Alcaraz
What started out as meningitis—caused by a viral infection and marked by intense headaches, seizures and fever—has left 4-year-old Heize Zanser Alcaraz stricken with cerebral palsy.
For two weeks, Heize was confined at the intensive care unit of the Ronald P. Guzman Medical Center in Tuguegarao, Cagayan, seemingly in a coma. When he finally gained consciousness, he could no longer open his eyes or breathe through the nose, according to his mother Leonybeth Alcaraz.
“We came to Manila in the hopes of finding people who can help us,” said 38-year-old Leonybeth who has four other children, Heize being the youngest.
Leonybeth and her son are temporarily staying in the house of her husband’s niece in Novaliches, Quezon City. Her husband, Jerry, has returned to Cagayan for the start of the planting season.
Tubes have been inserted in Heize’s trachea (windpipe) and stomach to help him breathe and eat.
He is scheduled to undergo an operation this week at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center to replace the tube connected to his stomach. The tube has to be replaced every three months.
Heize also needs to undergo a hip operation for a dislocated bone. For both procedures, the family must pay P60,000.
Leonybeth Alcaraz can be reached at 0906-7306936. Donations can be deposited in her BPI account (#5596-4636-91).