Help sought for girl with leukemia, ‘born fighter’

LESLIE Gurrobat

DESPITE suffering from acute lymphocytic leukemia, 7-year-old Leslie Jovial Gurrobat has learned to read and write the letters of the alphabet. She can also count up to 100.

Her mother May, however, was quick to admit that her sisters were the ones responsible for her daughter’s “academic achievement” since she was always busy looking for donors for Leslie’s medical expenses. Her husband, Anthony, works in a factory.

“I was surprised to learn that she can write and recite the alphabet,” May said of her daughter who was diagnosed with leukemia in July 2012.

A native of Guinobatan in Albay province who now resides on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, May said that she enrolled Leslie in school this year. However, her daughter was forced to drop out as she was frequently sick.

Leslie, whom doctors considered a high-risk patient, is currently undergoing chemotherapy at Philippine Children’s Medical Center. She is in the middle of her eighth cycle and just needs two more to complete the treatment. Each cycle costs P24,000.

“She is a born fighter. She takes herbal medicines like boiled guyabano leaves, malunggay, ampalaya and camote tops. She does not mind if they taste bitter. She told me, ‘The bad taste will disappear after I drink plenty of water,’” May told the Inquirer.

May Gurrobat can be contacted at 0912-3090706. Those who want to donate money for Leslie’s chemo sessions can deposit it in her husband’s Metrobank account (Anthony Gurrobat, account #165-3165931603).