Mom seeks help for athlete son diagnosed with leukemia

Brenz Mhicole Flores

Being very athletic, the last thing 16-year-old Brenz Mhicole Flores expected was to be diagnosed with a serious ailment like acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

“He has been competing in arnis in his school since Grade 6, even representing it in contests in Cebu and Lucena,” Brenz’s mother, Marilyn, told the Inquirer.

Brenz, a Grade 10 student of Gov. Felicisimo T. San Luis Integrated Senior High School in Laguna, was diagnosed with leukemia in October 2016.

It was during one of these competitions that Brenz’s teacher and coach noticed his paleness.

Thinking that he was just suffering from anemia, he was placed under medication.

After about a week, there was still no improvement, so his parents took him to Philippine Children’s Medical Center for a checkup.

Following a series of tests, doctors recommended that Brenz undergo maintenance chemotherapy sessions. He has just completed two sessions with 12 more to go. Each session costs P66,000.

“I am asking for prayers as well as financial support from your readers. I hope they can help my son because my husband, Bonifacio, receives only P2,500 from his job as a tailor in Makati,” Marilyn said.

In the meantime, Brenz has stopped attending school although he continues to study from home with the help of his mother who regularly consults his teachers about his seatwork, assignments and projects.

Those who want to help Brenz can contact his mother at 0906-6108590. They may deposit their donations in her LandBank account (Marilyn Florez account # 2226-1401-50).