Angelo's Fight Against Sarcoma

My brother, Gelo (my Puy or Gelo Melo) was diagnosed with proximinal-type epithelioid sarcoma with rhabdoid features last August 1, 2016. It started with a simple series of cough and colds that lasted for months. He wasn't in pain or anything but it was a nuisance since he had to wipe his nose every so often. We went to a couple of doctors and an ENT specialist and he was given a nasal spray. Next thing we knew, he had a bump on his left cheek that got a bit bigger over the next couple of months.

We then got an endoscopic biopsy. The procedure took longer than expected and Puy was confined in the hospital for over a week. After numerous blood tests, re examination of the biopsy sample, and more tests, the doctors couldn't determine why he had a bump on his cheek. We didn't stop searching for answers. My mom sent the biopsy sample to the states and we kept on going back to the hospital for more tests. Finally, his pathology report revealed the results and the dreaded word "malignant" stopped me in my tracks.

But since then, Puy has been gracious and strong willed - he continued to go to school while he was under oral chemo (pills called Pazopanib). My favorite part of him is his brilliant mind. He finished two semesters while on oral chemo until his body felt the side effects of it.

Last August 8, 2017, he went through a 35-day radiation therapy that targeted his tumor in his cheek. He was the jolliest and friendliest patient in the radiation oncology department. He greeted all the doctors, nurses, and staff with his warm smile and never forgot to say thank you for helping him.

While that radiation phase was helpful, he was in pain in different parts of his body. He was back on that oral chemo medication for a few months but he had to undergo another round of radiation therapy as his cancer cells metastasized to his bones - in his skull, left scapula, sternum, multiple ribs, and proximal left femur. His left hip was in danger of getting fractured so we had to act on it fast.

The second round of radiation helped Puy, he wasn't in pain nor did he need to use his cane to help him walk. As advised by his oncologist, he went back to the oral chemo medication until it stopped working on him and he had to undergo the traditional chemotherapy treatment. He had to be confined in the hospital for each cycle of chemotherapy.

The chemotherapy was successful and he was scheduled to see his oncologist after 3 months. While waiting, he had four seizures and he was rushed to the hospital last July 23, 2018. He's been in the ICU since then. He had several seizures in the ER and had several tests to determine why he was having seizures too. He was sedated and given anti seizure medication. He didn't wake up until four days after that.

Since July 23rd, he's been on a ventilator, had seizures, had MRI, spinal tap procedure, and numerous tests, hospital-acquired pneumonia and showing signs of cognitive problems (confusion, memory loss, gibberish words, etc.). The spinal tap procedure and MRI revealed that he has meningeal metastasis (malignant cancer cells in the cerebrospinal fluid).

In behalf of my family, I am asking for financial support as the hospital bills are getting higher and higher by the minute. Our current bill (as of August 28) is Php2.4 million, excluding all doctors' fees (he currently has 15 specialized doctors looking after him). Once he survives this, he's due for a round of brain radiation therapy to target the meningeal metastasis.

Any amount would go a long way, and I assure you I will return it in whatever way I can. I will forever be grateful. Namaste.

P.S. Just in case it's easier for you, I also have a BPI account:
Abigail Ang 
9829-3162-74