Help Support Vincent in His Final Years

I would like to introduce you to Vincent. He lived in my neighborhood on the island of Boracay in the Philippines when I first met he and his mother Vernaliza in November of 2011. They have since moved 6 hours away to the city of Iloilo where she has family.

He suffers from a condition known as Hydrocephalus. The obvious symptom is a swollen head. He was first diagnosed 3 years ago when he was 3 years old. Although diagnosed, because of the cost of treatment he had gone untreated for the last 3 years. As a result he has gone blind and lost his ability to speak but he can still hear and responds to words spoken to him, often with a smile. My research at the time indicated that he would die at a young age unless he received treatment..

As someone who was known to have assisted other adults and children with some essential needs I was asked to assist Vincent and his mother by a friend Jillianne Zuzaine who was a store owner in our neighborhood.

Through the kindness and generosity of two visitors to Boracay, Nadine Maehs and Marius Baumgartner, who volunteered their services as professional editors and documentary staffers and the use of his video camera, to develop a brief video which is posted on this sight, to bring attention to Vincent's plight.

In the absence of any other resource I proceeded to arrange a visit by he and his mother to the Aklan Provincial Hospital in Kalibo to get an update on his condition. I found out that Aklan provincial hospital did not have the capacity to handle Vincent's condition. So I planned to fly them to Manila to a medical facility that might be able to conduct the surgery.

With the help of my friend Jilianne Zuzaine, I found a facility in Iloilo, Western Vasayas Medical Center that had the capacity to do a re-evaluation of Vincent's condition and provide a new diagnosis and prognosis. Much closer than Manila, they would also do this at no cost to his mother. On Thursday 2/7/12 I took Vincent, his mother, and a friend to the West Vasayas Medical Center. Upon arrival I arranged a meeting with the head neurosurgeon and another doctor.

The head neurosurgeon and a panel of doctors indicated that Vincent, now 6 years old, had a life expectancy of another 5 or 6 years or less. They said that any surgery performed would jeopardize his life and shorten his life span. After examining Vincent, they determined that unfortunately his case was too far gone to be corrected. My own research had indicated that this condition should be treated in the first year of the child's life. Even knowing this, both myself and the doctors (when I spoke to them on the phone) held out hope that Vincent at age 6 could still be treated.

They explained that if he had been treated 3 years before, during his last visit to a hospital, the West Vasayas State University Medical Center (not to be confused with the West Visayas Medical Center) he could have been treated effectively. They said that if they did the procedure now, because of resulting complications due to the advanced stage of his condition, he might die sooner. Without the procedure they indicated he would live longer but probably not reach his teens.

They said that as his head became more filled with liquid over time, his skull eventually split at the top and his brain actually got smaller thereby decreasing or eliminating certain brain functions, such as speech, sight and possibly hearing. They said that even with surgery those functions and others could not be restored. They indicated that the procedure would now only endanger him further and not provide the results we were looking for, even under the best of circumstances. We learned that it was too late to correct Vincent's debilitating condition.

He will essentially remain immobile, without the ability to walk, talk,and see for the rest of his life. he cannot even lift his head up or turn over.

I might add that the West Vasayas State University Medical Center, which had refused assistance 3 years earlier unless Vernaliza could pay the then current fee of P150,000 pesos, never bothered to inform her that there was a facility right across town that would do the procedure for free. I believe this to be true because when I first approached them for help, the person on the phone rudely informed me that unless we brought money they would not provide services because they were a private hospital. They did not bother to inform me of any other options either. (Not to be confused with the West Visayas Medical Center)

As a result, his mother, Vernaliza will continue to care for him without having the surgery for his remaining years. But because of Vincent's condition she is unable to work.

Because of this I sought to set up a trust fund for Vincent and his mother which would insure that any donations of monies sent to them by concerned and compassionate donors would be spent to help support them during this difficult time and for his remaining years, without any potential risk of financial abuse on anyone's part. With the help of a contact on my FB page, Dr.Adrian Salivar and a referral to an attorney, Audrey Villiano , I located a financial institution, Metro Bank, on Boracay that has offered to help set up such a fund.

The fund was set up so that Vernaliza, Vincent's mother, will be able to receive a regular monthly allowance that will provide for their basic maintenance. Vernaliza would be the only one authorized to withdraw money from the fund. In the event of an emergency involving Vincent, if more money would be needed to be withdrawn from the fund for addressing that situation, Vernaliza would have to get approval from the fund administrator, in this case, me. I would NOT have access to the monies of that fund but only have oversight and approval responsibilities. The fund would be set up to last only for the remaining life of Vincent.

We encountered an obstacle in working with MetroBank in setting up the trust fund for Vincent and his family. The bank informed me at the last minute, as we were going to begin requesting donations, that they were adding a requirement where an amount from all total donations exceeding the weekly withdrawal amount of 1500pesos, could not be deposited into the account. Even if we increased the allowance for the family up to 2500p, an amount larger than that in total donations would not be allowed by the bank.

In other words the total donations from all donors could not be more than the weekly allowance amount of 1500 to 2500. When I explained that I had no control over the total amount of donations sent even if I were to set a maximum donation limit per donor, the bank still refused. They suggested that I channel the donations through a Philippines based charity or organization. I rejected this option because of concerns about the use of the money and the donor information.

So here I am, on gofundme putting out a plea for donations (100% of which goes to Vincent and his family) for their living and his medical expenses. All dispersements from PayPal will be in the name of Vernaliza. Our goal for dispersements to the family will be in the amount of between 8,000pesos to 10,000pesos ( approximately $177 to $228 U.S.) per month. In the case of a verifiable emergency or medical costs for special circumstances involving Vincent and dependent on the amount in the fund, additional monies would be made available to the mother, again in her name only.

The goal listed of $15,250 would provide monthly support of 10,000pesos for Vincent and his family for a period of 5 years ($!3,250) with an additional ($2,000) added for unexpected medical and emergency expenses related to Vincent, This does not make allowances for emergencies or special medical care that exceed the $2,000 amount. If possible circumstances of this type were to occur the goal amount would have to be increased accordingly.

I receive no compensation or remuneration for my involvement other in this endeavor other than that I seek and have sought to be a good servant of God in whatever way that I can to help the most vulnerable of his children.


If you would like to know more about me. I am a former V.P. and manager in the Sacramento Regional office of Management Recruiters International (MRI), former director of Career Pathways, outplacement division of MRI, former President Elect, V.P. of Program, V.P. of Recruitment, Director of the Minority Recruitment program, on the Board of Directors, and Big Brother (mentor) in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sacramento, former Executive Director of the Judie Davis Marrow Donor Recruitment Program (subsequently the African American Donor Recruitment Program), Vocational Specialist for Episcopal Community (homeless) Services, staff consultant for the Community Network for Youth Development, independent consultant with clients including the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Postal Service, the California Department of Motor Vehicles, Sacramento City Unified School District, the Grant Unified School District, the Natomas School District, Sacramento State University, Arizona State University, the San Franciso Foundation, Glide Memorial Church, The Interfaith Council of San Francisco, The Western Regional Council of the United Methodist Church and many others.

Recipient of the American Broadcasting Company Schoolscope award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism, the James K Hackett Award from the City of New York for Outstanding Proficency in Oratory, two time nominee to Outstanding Young Men in America, two time nominee to Who's Who Among American Executives.

I have also appeared and have been heard on and in national, regional, and local, television, radio and newspapers

Whether you can make a donation or not we encourage you to re-post the video and contact organizations that may be able to offer a second medical opinion at no cost, regarding Vincent's condition. If you have any questions feel free to contact me David C. Jackson on gofundme.

Your cooperation is so very appreciated.