Distress Call

TO: BUKOLANDIA

Please forgive me for posting this private matter.

I can not continue my work today because it's bothering me. Maybe after writing and sharing with you this heavy baggage in my heart, I could proceed to what I am being pre-occupied as usual.

It came to my knowledge. I could feel the pain and pressure.

I think he is 21 years old. He has a congenital heart ailment. For the past 5 years (not sure of the time) he is living with an stand-by oxygen tank which is his refuge every certain number of hours round the clock. He takes Viagra everyday to make his blood circulate???? or what, I can't remember how his mother explained it to me. You know, its really hard to comprehend a narration of human drama elaborating the gravity of his and mother's suffering. The cost of that Viagra alone and other medicines is P800 plus a day. But if complete medication will be followed, they need at least P2,500.00 a day.

My figures are maybe inaccurate, but it remains a huge uncertainty to bear.

The patient would also suffer bouts of seizures or attacks, I don't know the medical term. And every episode would send the whole family in panic to the hospital in Manila, shuttling by boat and bus all the way from Polillo, Quezon.

Just lately, he was bleeding, in the arms of his father, he lays for 4 hours on a boat that conked out in the middle of the sea, and finally reaching Manila at the Heart Center but can not be accommodated due to unavailability of room. So proceeding to St. Luke's, where an uncle of the patient attends him for free, but the hospital services bill and the nature of the patient's case is really very expensive.

They were there at St. Luke's for 2 weeks now, supposedly discharged 3 days ago but can not settle the hospital bill of P300T plus. And the bill continues to build up, now reaches P400T mark. The hospital won't accept promissory note.

Ardith Evangelista Flores, 6th Batch Cocofed Scholar, called me up to seek excuse for not coming to remit her Avon product sales proceeds.

I don't like to hear her talking about Avon or Bodega Mo products this time, as we usually discuss small businesses. The hint of her having a problem makes me forceful to inquire more.

The name of his son is Hezron Jefte. He studied at CLSU but eventually quitted due to his health problem. He got married and beget a son, Zoe Quintin, the first grandson of Ardith and Alain. A precious remembrance whom Hezron is always bequeathing almost all the time he is on the verge of eternity.

Whatever worth this posting to anyone, I don't know. I just have to express this, in order for me to proceed doing other things that are only second in importance of letting everyone know, that my friends Ardith and Alain Flores are in distress.