FWM Distribution Report: Philippines

Sarina E. Estacio

Age: 19 years old

Case: Paralyzed body due to polio 

and over dose of medicines

 

Seven years ago, Sarina was a normal 11-year old girl in Barangay, Dos Hermanas, Talisay City. She was a picture of an ordinary daughter living a normal life, going to elementary school as a regular pupil and excited to go to high school, since she was a graduating student. Together with her father, mother , and 3  brothers, they had a normal life and everything was fine until one evening.

She was brought to the hospital, to Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod City because she had a fever. When they arrived there, the doctor ordered to inject her certain medication. Seconds after the injection, she went into a cardiac arrest; she was brought to the intensive care unit, went into 50-50 and almost lost her life. It was not clear what solution was injected; what’s clear is that it was a case of medical malpractice. From there on, her life was and forever will be changed.

Her condition now is very depressing and outrageous. Her whole body, arms and legs became paralyzed. She stopped going to school and stayed at home all the time. She can’t even speak and express what is on her mind. She lost her independence, her dignity and an essence of what life is. Because of that terrible medical mistake, she virtually lost hope to reach her dreams, succeed in life and help her family out of the web of poverty.

For her, life is almost hopeless, useless and gloomy. Until now, his father who works at a sugar central in Negros Occidental (Visayas Island) is still paying from his monthly salary deductions for the expenses they incurred in the hospital, which total more than one million pesos (USD 22,500). Her mother spends all of her time taking care and meeting her needs.

            

Last July, Children International – Philippines, Inc. and Free Wheelchair Mission turned over one wheelchair through the Local Government of Talisay City. Certainly, a wheelchair cannot bring back the lost dreams and resources. Surely, a wheelchair cannot bring back everything to normal as life was seven years ago. However, that single piece of metal with wheels from generous sponsors delivered a simple, but yet profound message to Sarina’s family and to Sarina herself: a message of care, charity and compassion.