My Titas Fight for Sight
Donation protected
Our family is facing a dire medical situation that can leave both my mom’s two sisters blind if we are not able to help with their treatment.
My Titas (Aunts) live in Manila, Philippines. Rebecca ‘Beck’ Bernabe is 59 years old, and Amalia ‘Mayang’ Sebastian is 63. They’re loving, hilarious, and two of the most giving people I know. Pinoys are renowned for generosity, but my Titas are extreme in this department. Whenever I visit, I’m floored by how much they spoil me with love and affection: from making me bottomless avocado smoothies, to insisting my parents and I take their only bedroom with air conditioning. This generosity extends to anyone that walks through their door. Their love makes everyone feel comfortable and at home.
Mayang and Beck are losing their sight. Mayang has cataracts in both eyes, and is already blind in one eye. Beck has both cataracts and macular hole in one eye. Neither have income nor health insurance.
Between my Titas, they have seven children, whose combined salaries cannot cover the cost of cataract surgery. Although some of my cousins can provide daily support at home (cooking, cleaning), they continue to live below the poverty line, and need support to cover cataract surgery costs.
My parents have been financially supporting Beck and Mayang for more than 40 years, ever since my mom immigrated to Canada. We have sent my cousins to school, shipped them my second-hand clothing, and covered dental/medical costs for the entire family.
Cataract surgery is the mostly commonly performed medically necessary procedure in Canada and the costs are covered under provincial and territorial health insurance plans. Treatment options for macular degeneration are also usually covered by general public health insurance.
This is not the case in the Philippines. While they have a universal health care system in place, it is notoriously under-subsidized. This has been complicated by COVID, which is now experiencing an intense spread of variants. Hospitals are at maximum capacity, and it has been a real hardship to even see a doctor.
Both sisters need lab tests, ultrasounds and COVID tests five days before surgery. The total amount of cost for both Mayang and Beck is $7000. Mayang will probably get a little bit of discount because she has a PhilHealth Card which the government provides to senior citizens but at most it will only subsidize 15% of some of her lab work and the surgery itself.
My immediate family in Canada has been financially impacted by COVID, too. We are desperately trying to come up with the $7000 needed to help Mayang and Beck. Any contribution, no matter how small would be appreciated heart and soul. Salamat!
My Titas (Aunts) live in Manila, Philippines. Rebecca ‘Beck’ Bernabe is 59 years old, and Amalia ‘Mayang’ Sebastian is 63. They’re loving, hilarious, and two of the most giving people I know. Pinoys are renowned for generosity, but my Titas are extreme in this department. Whenever I visit, I’m floored by how much they spoil me with love and affection: from making me bottomless avocado smoothies, to insisting my parents and I take their only bedroom with air conditioning. This generosity extends to anyone that walks through their door. Their love makes everyone feel comfortable and at home.Mayang and Beck are losing their sight. Mayang has cataracts in both eyes, and is already blind in one eye. Beck has both cataracts and macular hole in one eye. Neither have income nor health insurance.
Between my Titas, they have seven children, whose combined salaries cannot cover the cost of cataract surgery. Although some of my cousins can provide daily support at home (cooking, cleaning), they continue to live below the poverty line, and need support to cover cataract surgery costs.
My parents have been financially supporting Beck and Mayang for more than 40 years, ever since my mom immigrated to Canada. We have sent my cousins to school, shipped them my second-hand clothing, and covered dental/medical costs for the entire family.
Cataract surgery is the mostly commonly performed medically necessary procedure in Canada and the costs are covered under provincial and territorial health insurance plans. Treatment options for macular degeneration are also usually covered by general public health insurance.This is not the case in the Philippines. While they have a universal health care system in place, it is notoriously under-subsidized. This has been complicated by COVID, which is now experiencing an intense spread of variants. Hospitals are at maximum capacity, and it has been a real hardship to even see a doctor.
Both sisters need lab tests, ultrasounds and COVID tests five days before surgery. The total amount of cost for both Mayang and Beck is $7000. Mayang will probably get a little bit of discount because she has a PhilHealth Card which the government provides to senior citizens but at most it will only subsidize 15% of some of her lab work and the surgery itself.My immediate family in Canada has been financially impacted by COVID, too. We are desperately trying to come up with the $7000 needed to help Mayang and Beck. Any contribution, no matter how small would be appreciated heart and soul. Salamat!
Organizer
Isabelle Deluce
Organizer
Vancouver, BC