Yolanda Piguerra
Despite being middle-aged, Yolanda Piguerra had never been hospitalized. That all changed in September 2016 when at age 53, she was diagnosed to be suffering from aplastic anemia in which the body stops developing enough new blood cells, putting her at a high risk of coming down with an infection.
“It started in June last year when my mother noticed contusions on her body. She also turned unusually pale and weak,” said the eldest of Yolanda’s five children, 29-year-old Ryan Piguerra.
A native of Sta. Cruz, Marinduque, who has since moved to Valenzuela City with her family, Yolanda survives by undergoing a blood transfusion three times a month. Each session costs her P30,000.
Doctors at Fe del Mundo Medical Center in Quezon City where she is seeking treatment have advised her family to protect her from getting a cold as sneezing or coughing may lead to internal or external bleeding.
Ryan said that while he and his father Restituto have been able to provide for Yolanda’s medical needs through loans, they have borrowed all that they could possibly can from relatives and friends.
In addition, the health card he had gotten for his mother has already reached the allowable coverage limit.
“I hope that your readers will help me pay for my mother’s medication and apheresis platelets transfusions. May God bless those who can assist us and keep them healthy,” he said.
Ryan can be reached at 0995-2506834. Those who want to help his mother can deposit their donations in the BPI account of his brother, Jay Angelo Piguerra (#4289 0615 04).