Appeal for help for girl

PANGASINAN, Philippines – A two-year-old girl in this town has been suffering from a huge lump on her face, and her parents are appealing to Good Samaritans for help to allow the girl to undergo surgery.

Dario Urbino, an official of Barangay (village) Palacpalac here, said the lump on the face of his daughter, Princess, has developed into a growth that was now as big as her head. The growth could affect her eyesight, he said.

Doctors at the Region I Medical Center in Dagupan City said Princess was suffering from nasofrontal encephalocele, a congenital malformation.

It would take at least four operations to remove the mass and restore the girl’s facial structure, the doctors said, but the Urbinos said they could not afford the set of surgeries.

Princess is the fourth child of Urbino and his wife, Juliet, a manicurist and the main breadwinner of the family. Juliet said she earns P5,000 a month. Almost half of Juliet’s earnings is spent on milk for Princess who could hardly eat solid food because of her condition, Urbino said.

He stays home to take care of Princess when Juliet is at work. Anyone interested to help the Urbinos may contact Yolanda Sotelo at 09209088357. Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon