- J
- R
Hello,
My name is Ramela. My family and I are knocking on your generous hearts for the benefit of my mother Agnes who is currently in hospital because of a recently diagnosed brain tumor. Any amount raised will be withdrawn by me and given directly to my mother to cover the medical costs incurred for this unexpected diagnosis.
Her story....
My name is Agnes Picar. I’m a retired office worker. I traveled to Australia in January 2020 with my then 8-year-old grandson to reunite him with his mother, my daughter who is an Overseas Filipino Worker in Adelaide. In my short stay here, I have come to love Adelaide despite experiencing it during the course of the pandemic.
I have always been proud of my healthy lifestyle. I don’t smoke or drink, and I get plenty of exercise walking my grandson to his school and back every day. So, it really came as a surprise to me and my family when I was diagnosed with a brain tumor on the lower left side of my skull. The procedure to take this tumor out would cost me thousands of dollars as I was told that my case is very specialised and complicated. There are only 3 specialists in Adelaide who are qualified to perform the operation.
I need constant medication to relieve the edema and swelling in my brain, and the operation to know whether or not the growth is cancerous. Being a tourist in this country during the pandemic, my options are very limited.
It started with a minor headache last December 14, 2020. I went to a General Practitioner (GP) who told me that I had an ear infection. I was prescribed medication but it made my headache worse. This prompted me to get a second opinion from another GP who diagnosed my case as mild osteoarthritis after examining my X-ray. I was given another prescription which I religiously followed. I felt relief for the first time in days.
However, in the morning of January 13, I woke up feeling incredible pain at the back of my head that radiated to my entire back. I immediately went to my second GP again that morning and he told me that my symptoms were disproportionate with my initial diagnosis of mild osteoarthritis. After a standard physical exam and not finding any abnormalities, the GP suggested that I should go to a hospital, instead.
The next day, my pregnant daughter took me to Lylle McEwin Hospital where my first diagnosis was a bad case of migraine. But because of the severe headache, the hospital conducted a CT scan to rule everything out. The CT scan revealed a brain mass on the lower left side of my brain. This prompted the hospital to transfer me to the neurological unit of the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) who then conducted an MRI scan.
The MRI scan at RAH revealed a 2cm intracranial lesion. I was informed that a surgery is to be scheduled to take out the mass, but they cannot perform the operation until the inflammation in my brain subsides.
I have been staying in RAH since then. As I am not an Australian resident, I am not entitled to any public medical benefit and my health insurance will only cover very minimal medical costs. Going back to the Philippines is not an option at the moment because of COVID-19 related flight restrictions. It is also very risky considering my condition.
Due to the complicated nature of my diagnosis, the neurologists are still discussing the best approach for my surgery and they strongly communicated that I have to stay in the hospital indefinitely to monitor my condition until the surgery is scheduled.
Only the RAH has the facility for surgery and ICU to look after my post-operations treatment. As of the moment, I am already racking up $4000 daily charges excluding any bills for tests and future fees for surgical theater. My daughter has been saving for emergencies, but the money that we have delicately set aside for the past few years can only cover my 3 days ($12,000) stay at RAH.
Unfortunately, I will have to find funds for medical and treatment costs for doctor examinations, tests, post-operations costs, hence my call for help to all of you to assist me.
Any assistance you can provide me, no matter how big or small, will be a huge help to me while I endure this horrible and unexpected disease.
I would also like to take my circumstance to remind everyone to not take a minor headache lightly especially if it persists for days. I do not regret coming to Australia to spend time with my grandson and my daughter who I have been far away from for many years. I hope to overcome this dilemma so I can see my granddaughter who is due to be born this coming April. Life is short and every moment with family counts.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support, and having me in your prayers.
My name is Ramela. My family and I are knocking on your generous hearts for the benefit of my mother Agnes who is currently in hospital because of a recently diagnosed brain tumor. Any amount raised will be withdrawn by me and given directly to my mother to cover the medical costs incurred for this unexpected diagnosis.
Her story....
My name is Agnes Picar. I’m a retired office worker. I traveled to Australia in January 2020 with my then 8-year-old grandson to reunite him with his mother, my daughter who is an Overseas Filipino Worker in Adelaide. In my short stay here, I have come to love Adelaide despite experiencing it during the course of the pandemic.
I have always been proud of my healthy lifestyle. I don’t smoke or drink, and I get plenty of exercise walking my grandson to his school and back every day. So, it really came as a surprise to me and my family when I was diagnosed with a brain tumor on the lower left side of my skull. The procedure to take this tumor out would cost me thousands of dollars as I was told that my case is very specialised and complicated. There are only 3 specialists in Adelaide who are qualified to perform the operation.
I need constant medication to relieve the edema and swelling in my brain, and the operation to know whether or not the growth is cancerous. Being a tourist in this country during the pandemic, my options are very limited.
It started with a minor headache last December 14, 2020. I went to a General Practitioner (GP) who told me that I had an ear infection. I was prescribed medication but it made my headache worse. This prompted me to get a second opinion from another GP who diagnosed my case as mild osteoarthritis after examining my X-ray. I was given another prescription which I religiously followed. I felt relief for the first time in days.
However, in the morning of January 13, I woke up feeling incredible pain at the back of my head that radiated to my entire back. I immediately went to my second GP again that morning and he told me that my symptoms were disproportionate with my initial diagnosis of mild osteoarthritis. After a standard physical exam and not finding any abnormalities, the GP suggested that I should go to a hospital, instead.
The next day, my pregnant daughter took me to Lylle McEwin Hospital where my first diagnosis was a bad case of migraine. But because of the severe headache, the hospital conducted a CT scan to rule everything out. The CT scan revealed a brain mass on the lower left side of my brain. This prompted the hospital to transfer me to the neurological unit of the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) who then conducted an MRI scan.
The MRI scan at RAH revealed a 2cm intracranial lesion. I was informed that a surgery is to be scheduled to take out the mass, but they cannot perform the operation until the inflammation in my brain subsides.
I have been staying in RAH since then. As I am not an Australian resident, I am not entitled to any public medical benefit and my health insurance will only cover very minimal medical costs. Going back to the Philippines is not an option at the moment because of COVID-19 related flight restrictions. It is also very risky considering my condition.
Due to the complicated nature of my diagnosis, the neurologists are still discussing the best approach for my surgery and they strongly communicated that I have to stay in the hospital indefinitely to monitor my condition until the surgery is scheduled.
Only the RAH has the facility for surgery and ICU to look after my post-operations treatment. As of the moment, I am already racking up $4000 daily charges excluding any bills for tests and future fees for surgical theater. My daughter has been saving for emergencies, but the money that we have delicately set aside for the past few years can only cover my 3 days ($12,000) stay at RAH.
Unfortunately, I will have to find funds for medical and treatment costs for doctor examinations, tests, post-operations costs, hence my call for help to all of you to assist me.
Any assistance you can provide me, no matter how big or small, will be a huge help to me while I endure this horrible and unexpected disease.
I would also like to take my circumstance to remind everyone to not take a minor headache lightly especially if it persists for days. I do not regret coming to Australia to spend time with my grandson and my daughter who I have been far away from for many years. I hope to overcome this dilemma so I can see my granddaughter who is due to be born this coming April. Life is short and every moment with family counts.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support, and having me in your prayers.