4 down, 8 more chemotherapy sessions to go for 6-year-old girl diagnosed with leukemia

Aiyesa Jay Mateo

In June 2015, Aiyesa Jay Mateo suffered recurring bouts of high fever which left her unable to walk.

“She threw up everything she ate,” said her 26-year-old mother Grace Mateo, a native of La Libertad in Negros Oriental province.

The doctors they consulted at a hospital in Dumaguete City diagnosed Aiyesa, who is now 6 years old, with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. They advised her to undergo chemotherapy.

“We were able to bring her to Manila through the kindness of the Dumaguete mayor and the social welfare department. They shouldered our fares,” Grace said.

Mother and daughter are currently staying with Grace’s sister in Cavite province. Her husband, Jason, is a laborer in Cebu City.

After completing the induction procedure at Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City, Aiyesa was advised to undergo 12 chemotherapy sessions every nine weeks. So far, she has completed four. Each session costs P15,000.

Grace told the Inquirer that aside from the chemotherapy sessions, there would also be injections.

Doctors will also remove the excess fluid in her daughter’s spinal column and perform a bone marrow test.

“Our fifth cycle will be on Aug. 16. May God bless our donors,” said Grace, who can be reached at 0997-5716122. Donations can be deposited in her Landbank account (0916-064365).

(Editor’s Note: The Inquirer has learned that Francis Kian Zuniega, the 5-year-old leukemia patient whose story came out on July 31, has died of his illness. Donations to his father’s BDO account will no longer be accepted. )