Letters to the editor
The ICN Christmas Family Project
Tomas Baranyai, Victoria
Volume 29 Issue 10, 11 & 12 | Posted: December 14, 2015
On November 16, 2015, Irene and Julius Aceron and their four-year-old daughter, Juliene, were blessed with the birth of a second child, Nathaniel. He was born at Unihealth Baypointe Hospital and Medical Centre in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Philippines.
On November 16, 2015, Irene and Julius Aceron and their four-year-old daughter, Juliene, were blessed with the birth of a second child, Nathaniel. He was born at Unihealth Baypointe Hospital and Medical Centre in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Philippines.
After his birth, Nathaniel had difficulty breathing on his own and was immediately put into an oxygen tent and sent to natal ICU for further observation and monitoring. After performing numerous tests, the doctors informed his parents that Nathaniel was born with Down’s Syndrome and that this could be the reason he was having difficulty breathing on his own. Doctors think this caused numerous bouts of cyanosis (purplish-blue colour to the skin, caused by less oxygen circulating in the blood stream). Meanwhile, he was fighting off pneumonia, and the parents were also told that he might have a congenital heart condition possibly due to Down’s Syndrome.
The medical cost for Nathaniel’s care to date is over 250,000 Philippine pesos, over $7,000 Canadian. And the cost is growing each day. While this might not seem like much by western standards, it has quickly become insurmountable for the young family. The average monthly wage in the Philippines is 11,700 pesos, roughly $330 CAD.
Government health insurance will only cover between 15,000 and 20,000 pesos, ($425to $565 CAD) in total. Nathaniel's mother, Irene, is presently supporting the family on her maternity leave benefits from her job at a call centre. His father, Julius, was laid off from his security job and presently has no work. Thus the little money brought in by Irene has to support her family.
The hospital bill so far is 10 times more than what Irene earns in a month. They are in desperate need of financial help to cover the rising cost of Nathaniel’s care. The doctors have told the parents that Nathaniel could possibly go home in the next couple of weeks, depending on his condition.
The financial help to pay for the hospital bills will greatly alleviate the extreme financial burden that this has put on the family. Upon his discharge, Nathaniel will have to follow up appointments to monitor his progress. Even with all the love they have for Nathaniel, the family will have enough challenges in caring for a special-needs child without the burden of trying to pay for such a large hospital bill on a meagre salary.
People can donate by following this link https://www.gofundme.com/getnathanielwell, sending to the following PayPal address julieneezra25@gmail.com or sending a donation to ICN earmarked “Christmas Family Project”, PO Box 5424, Victoria, BC V8R 6S4. For further information, contact Patrick Jamieson at 250-381-6851 or email pjjamie@telus.net.
Tomas Baranyai, Victoria