Princess Lee Aquino at 4 months old CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Princess Lee Aquino had an unusually rapid heartbeat when she born in February 2014.
Based on doctors’ findings and 2D Echo results a week after her birth, she was suffering from congenital heart disease and an inverted artery, her 40-year-old father, Antonio, recalled.
The child has since been undergoing regular checkups at Philippine Heart Center (PHC) in Quezon City, where she was eventually found to have two holes in her heart.
“She has been breathing very differently. If only I can breathe for her, I’d do it,” Antonio said of his daughter’s difficulties.
Except for having bluish fingers, a sign of low oxygen levels, the 2-year-old appears to be growing up normally.
“She can talk, she asks for milk and water. But she is quite small as the disease has affected her growth,” the parent noted.
Doctors at PHC told Aquino and his wife Merlita that they can perform an arterial switch operation on Princess as soon as they are able to raise P200,000 for the procedure.
Appealing to Inquirer readers for financial assistance, Antonio said he only earns P250 a day as a helper as a welding shop helper in Malinta, Valenzuela City, where the family resides.
He can be reached at 0947-4010130. Deposits can be made to his bank account with BPI (Account No. 6576-3003-93). —SANTIAGO R. ALCANTARA