BAGUIO CITY – A family in Irisan barangay facing a double crisis after two of its members fell seriously ill is in dire need of assistance.
“I do not know what to do anymore so I am asking anyone, everyone to help us. Just help us please,” a distraught Maria Magdalena Combis appealed.
Combis’ 26-year old daughter Charo May has been battling stage 4 breast cancer since 2013 and her husband Wilfredo, 61, is just recovering from brain operation after suffering a stroke recently.
Charo May is scheduled to undergo her third of the six-cycle chemotherapy on August 4 and badly needs cash to purchase oxygen and other medical needs.
Social welfare officer Jeterda Junio of the city social welfare and development office said Charo May has been in and out of the hospital and was confined at the Baguio General Hospital last June 14 due to difficulty in breathing. “She became weak and thin,” Junio said.
“The family is in crisis situation and could not cope with the expensive medical treatment. (The father’s ordeal) affected also the physical, social and economic well-being of the family,” Junio related.
The parents are presently unemployed and their two other children Christian, 23 and Carlo, 21 have long stopped schooling. Instead they are now employed as laborers earning a measly P5,400 a month.
“With this, the economic condition of the family is below poverty threshold,” Junio said.
Before her cancer diagnosis, Charo May was a third year finance management working student of the University of the Cordilleras but stopped due to financial constraint and worked in two establishments to augment the family income.
She underwent continuous medication and chemotherapy sessions through the assistance of relatives, donations, financial and medical assistance from the social welfare office and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Those willing to help the family may visit their residence at 34B Purolk 28, Irisan barangay or call 09301600817 / 09487900848. /Aileen P. Refuerzo
