Hospital bill & continued dialysis
Donation protected
Hi, this is my father, Florencio Casano from the Philippines. He came to Canada just this April 3, 2017 on a visitor visa. I haven't seen him for almost 13 years. It was way back when I was working in Saudi Arabia in Riyadh for 4yrs, and here in Canada for 9yrs. I have been here for 9 years, working at a fastfood restaurant. I've been a permanent resident here for almost three years.
My father is 73 years old, a retired teacher from the Philippines. My mother died six years ago due to cancer of the ovary. My father has been living alone since the passing of my mother, that's why I decided to convince him to come over here and visit me.
After he arrived here in Halifax, Nova Scotia, I noticed him getting sick. I was thinking maybe it's just the cold Canadian weather and he hasn't adjusted to it yet. Then soon after, he was losing appetite and wasn't able to eat. He kept on vomiting everything he ate. He got sicker and sicker.
One night, May 17, 2017, when I went home, he was complaining that he couldn't breathe well. I told him to wait until tomorrow morning. I stayed with him to make sure he was ok until the next morning. The travel insurance that I applied for him wasn't mature yet in order for him to qualify if he gets sick.
As a tourist in Canada he has no provincial health card, no MSI privilege. On May 18, 2017, as soon as the morning came, I took him myself to the QE II Emergency on Robie St in Halifax. It was a struggle for him to walk from the parkade to the emergency. It took us like 10 stops to catch his breath. He was so weak and tired; and that's when I realized he was really sick.
As soon as we were in the emergency room, he vomited right in front of the nurse who was interviewing and assessing him. They decided to put him in room 1 for testing. They took all the tests: blood test, stool, x-ray, heart test. They concluded that he has a kidney failure. They decided to transfer him through an ambulance to The VG Hospital in Halifax for an admission at the Nephrology unit to be treated by a kidney specialist. They inserted a urinary catheter on him which took them for almost an hour. As soon as they were finally able to put it on, three liters of urine poured out. When the doctor arrived and checked on him, I was told that my father was really sick and had a kidney failure. He also had a mild heart attack because of that. If not treated, he could die in two weeks time. He said he needed to be on dialysis as soon as possible. So they did. They put a tube in his chest from his neck downward near his heart. He was also treated and needed five bags of blood transfusion because his hemoglobin level was too low.
After all the tremendous tests and every-other-day dialysis, he was slowly improving and was able to eat. He gained strength and soon after, he's slowly recovering.
On May 31, 2017, Wednesday, after 14 days in the hospital, he was allowed to go home. That 14 days in the hospital costed him $60,000 on hospital bills. With his travel insurance still under review and with only $10,000 coverage, it won't be enough to cover the cost of his bills. Besides, he needs to go for dialysis three times a week. They said without insurance it will cost us $800-$900 per session. If his kidneys won't recover in a few months, he will be on dialysis for life. He needs constant dialysis until his kidneys recover and hopefully functions by themselves.
I am asking for your help because I love my dad and he means everything to me. I would give my life for him if God allows it. Sooner or later again the bill from the hospital will accumulate and add up from the $60,000 plus the three-times-a-week dialysis.
Soon the hospital will obligate me to pay all of the bills on my father's behalf. I work in a fastfood restaurant. I have 4 kids and my wife to support as well. They also arrived here two years ago. I have no other means of livelihood. My salary is just enough to pay all my family's expenses.
I am asking, reaching, and begging from your kind hearts to please help me. I don't know what else to do but ask for your help on my dad's hospital bills and his continuing dialysis. I don't know how to repay you guys back, but in advance, I would like to say thank you form the bottom of my heart and I will always remember your kindness until my last breath.
My father is 73 years old, a retired teacher from the Philippines. My mother died six years ago due to cancer of the ovary. My father has been living alone since the passing of my mother, that's why I decided to convince him to come over here and visit me.
After he arrived here in Halifax, Nova Scotia, I noticed him getting sick. I was thinking maybe it's just the cold Canadian weather and he hasn't adjusted to it yet. Then soon after, he was losing appetite and wasn't able to eat. He kept on vomiting everything he ate. He got sicker and sicker.
One night, May 17, 2017, when I went home, he was complaining that he couldn't breathe well. I told him to wait until tomorrow morning. I stayed with him to make sure he was ok until the next morning. The travel insurance that I applied for him wasn't mature yet in order for him to qualify if he gets sick.
As a tourist in Canada he has no provincial health card, no MSI privilege. On May 18, 2017, as soon as the morning came, I took him myself to the QE II Emergency on Robie St in Halifax. It was a struggle for him to walk from the parkade to the emergency. It took us like 10 stops to catch his breath. He was so weak and tired; and that's when I realized he was really sick.
As soon as we were in the emergency room, he vomited right in front of the nurse who was interviewing and assessing him. They decided to put him in room 1 for testing. They took all the tests: blood test, stool, x-ray, heart test. They concluded that he has a kidney failure. They decided to transfer him through an ambulance to The VG Hospital in Halifax for an admission at the Nephrology unit to be treated by a kidney specialist. They inserted a urinary catheter on him which took them for almost an hour. As soon as they were finally able to put it on, three liters of urine poured out. When the doctor arrived and checked on him, I was told that my father was really sick and had a kidney failure. He also had a mild heart attack because of that. If not treated, he could die in two weeks time. He said he needed to be on dialysis as soon as possible. So they did. They put a tube in his chest from his neck downward near his heart. He was also treated and needed five bags of blood transfusion because his hemoglobin level was too low.
After all the tremendous tests and every-other-day dialysis, he was slowly improving and was able to eat. He gained strength and soon after, he's slowly recovering.
On May 31, 2017, Wednesday, after 14 days in the hospital, he was allowed to go home. That 14 days in the hospital costed him $60,000 on hospital bills. With his travel insurance still under review and with only $10,000 coverage, it won't be enough to cover the cost of his bills. Besides, he needs to go for dialysis three times a week. They said without insurance it will cost us $800-$900 per session. If his kidneys won't recover in a few months, he will be on dialysis for life. He needs constant dialysis until his kidneys recover and hopefully functions by themselves.
I am asking for your help because I love my dad and he means everything to me. I would give my life for him if God allows it. Sooner or later again the bill from the hospital will accumulate and add up from the $60,000 plus the three-times-a-week dialysis.
Soon the hospital will obligate me to pay all of the bills on my father's behalf. I work in a fastfood restaurant. I have 4 kids and my wife to support as well. They also arrived here two years ago. I have no other means of livelihood. My salary is just enough to pay all my family's expenses.
I am asking, reaching, and begging from your kind hearts to please help me. I don't know what else to do but ask for your help on my dad's hospital bills and his continuing dialysis. I don't know how to repay you guys back, but in advance, I would like to say thank you form the bottom of my heart and I will always remember your kindness until my last breath.
Organizer
Neil Casano
Organizer
Halifax, NS
