Removal of cancer tumor leaves 4-year-old girl prone to infection

Aira Joy Fernandez

MANILA, Philippines — When Aira Joy Fernandez was born in October 2015, a malignant tumor was discovered near her anus.

Doctors at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center removed the tumor in 2017, but since then, Fernandez has been prone to urinary tract infections (UTI).

“The doctors were wondering whether a mistake was made during surgery or if a nerve was accidentally hit during the procedure, leaving her unable to fully empty her bladder every time she goes to the bathroom,” the young girl’s mother, Evangelyn, told the Inquirer.

As a result, doctors placed her daughter, now 4 years old, on a catheter to make it easier for her to urinate.

They have also recommended more tests to determine whether she remains free of cancer and why she has been having recurrent UTI.

“If her condition is not addressed immediately, she will have to use a catheter her whole life. She will start attending nursery in the next school opening,’’ Evangelyn said.

She appealed for help from Inquirer readers in raising P35,000 for the five tests her daughter was scheduled to undergo on Jan. 20.

These consisted of a CT scan costing P23,000 on top of a cystospin, 2D echo, voiding cystourethrogram and MRI (the four other tests cost P12,000).

Evangelyn has six other children aged 18 to one with her husband, Arnel, a construction worker from Santolan, Pasig City.

She can be contacted at 0936-5386783. Donations may be deposited in her Landbank account (Evangelyn Fernandez, account no. 1646-0831-99).