Daisy Rose
After both her children were diagnosed with Beta thalassemia, Shirley Padua tried to determine who between her and her husband was the carrier.
“I was surprised to learn that I was the silent carrier. Since my mother is already dead, I asked my grandmother. But she had no idea because no one in the family had it before,” the 35-year-old resident of Bocaue, Bulacan, told the Inquirer.
Beta thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder that reduces the production of hemoglobin, an iron-containing protein in red blood cells which carries oxygen to cells throughout the body. In people with Beta thalassemia, low levels of hemoglobin lead to a lack of oxygen in many parts of the body.
Daisy Rose, 18, a college freshman and Jimboy, 17, a Grade 10 student, were diagnosed with the blood disorder when they were just toddlers. Only recently, they were forced to quit school due to their condition.
“We were worried about their safety. Since they tire easily, they could collapse anytime and anywhere,” said Shirley, whose husband Simplicio works as a bus inspector.
Jimboy
To control the iron levels in their bodies and protect their hearts, doctors at Philippine Children’s Medical Center have placed the children on medication: Desferoxamine and Defereprone for both of them and Sumapen for Daisy. For this, the family will have to spend P3,540 daily.
Shirley Padua can be reached at 0922-7136334. Those who want to help her children may deposit their donations in her BPI account (4689-1472-46).