Help with Medical Expenses for Roger de Guzman
Donation protected
APRIL 26, 2019 UPDATE:
(From Mira's Facebook:)
Hello, Facebook fam and friends. I've been fairly absent from here and it has done wonders for my health and my family. But I have a need to tell you what's going on because I need your support.
This is a text that was forwarded to me from my brother, which is from either one of the nurses or doctors (and if you are medically trained in this field, please shed some translation light on what this means exactly):
"...the official result of the repeat cranial ct scan showed infarction with hemorrhagic conversion and surrounding cerebral edema. There is a need to resume mannitol. Ill resume it once blood pressure is stable"
Essentially, from what we can gather (and we are not cranial specialists in medicine)... Roger has more bleeding in the brain. He needs to be put on more antibiotics again to fight the infection that came back into his system - not sure if his latest fever triggered it, or what - but he has an episode yesterday where he began to shake uncontrollably at 3 AM and was immediately wheeled to the Intensive Care Unit for closer monitoring and for another CT scan. This text above came from the results of that CT scan.
Now, if you are still here with us and have been following our marathon journey (because this IS a marathon, not a sprint), you've gotten a taste of what the costs of the medical system is like in the Philippines. My family DID have insurance, but it was explained to me that the way that Fil-Health is set up, the insurance coverage benefits are only applicable to ONE HOSPITAL PER YEAR... and my father has already been attended to at three hospitals since January. So, in short.... they are out. Belongings such as vehicles, animals, personal effects, clothing, etc. are all trying to be liquidated to help cover costs. Family members on site are on rotating shifts night and day to keep watch on Dad and offer some company and reprieve from duties.... and they are exhausted. So exhausted. Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. Grace and I are exhausted. Keeping ourselves together for our own families here in Canada has been challenging. Being so far away from Mom, Dad, and our brother is painful. Not being able to take one of those shifts is painful. Seeing daily videos of my vibrant Dad move his body so gently, struggling to communicate or express emotions but trying so hard, has been encouraging but upsetting at the same time, if I am to be honest. And now this news... we feel like we are back at square one.
I guess what I am trying to say is... gosh. I don't really know what I'm trying to say... My family needs your prayers more than ever, I guess??? We are trying to be modest and respectful with our news and requests. It is humbling to have to express a need for help. It is upsetting to give anyone a glance into our current financial situation, or to allow anyone to see our incredibly strong father so vulnerable. But we are literally running out of steam and resources. Personally, I have been looking into fundraising efforts other than the GoFundMe. There is hesitation to ask for more money that way, so I have been considering partnering with a non profit organization (e.g. a church) to collect donations to sell to Value Village. I have been looking at options to sell my hair and my blood plasma. I have been sneaking e-transfers of my child tax and my paycheck to my brother. Lines of credit have been accessed to offer some relief.
I'm sorry, this is a lot to confess. But if we are to ask for your help, I feel like there is a need to be completely transparent. Please. Offer your prayers and your thoughts. And if you can spare anything else --- money, fundraising brainstorming, time to help our families somehow, another voice to campaign on our behalf --- please do. We need you.
UPDATE:
My friends! We have reached our surgery payment goal!!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!
My sister Grace has been diligent in pouring out the remainder of the story in the Updates section of this campaign, in order to give you, our loving and concerned friends and family, a view into how you are directly helping our family. As you know, his medical expenses do continue to pile up - this was major cranial surgery, after all. Due to incredible overwhelming support, we have decided to keep the campaign open with no goal limit or time limit. If you feel so inclined to keep up with your generosity, do know that every penny and peso will only go towards a much better quality of medical care for Roger. He is blessed, and so are you. Thank you for sharing this journey with us.
My father, Roger, had an accident in the Philippines on the weekend that resulted in a head injury that landed him in the hospital. Turns out it was a big stroke. He was healing very well, but then the blood in his brain began to clot (as blood does), and the pressure on his brain began to cause him to lose some functionality on one side of his body. Blood thinners are currently not an option, as it will cause bleeding in the brain and a bunch of other fancy and terrible stuff. The surgeons are saying he needs "craniectomy surgery" - they will take out a piece of his skull where the swelling is, to relieve pressure and (we think) some fluids. Hopefully it is successful and Roger blows everyone away with how awesome he is at recovering from such an event.
A lot of you are asking how to help. This is the only way I can think of. The Philippines does not have free health care, like Canada, and they ask for everything to be paid for up front before care can be administered. Man, we are so SO lucky to live in Canada!
I'm asking you for help. I am begging you and pleading with you - please, help my family!! Every little bit helps! Every thought, every prayer, every well wish, and every dollar, every understanding heart.
(From Mira's Facebook:)
Hello, Facebook fam and friends. I've been fairly absent from here and it has done wonders for my health and my family. But I have a need to tell you what's going on because I need your support.
This is a text that was forwarded to me from my brother, which is from either one of the nurses or doctors (and if you are medically trained in this field, please shed some translation light on what this means exactly):
"...the official result of the repeat cranial ct scan showed infarction with hemorrhagic conversion and surrounding cerebral edema. There is a need to resume mannitol. Ill resume it once blood pressure is stable"
Essentially, from what we can gather (and we are not cranial specialists in medicine)... Roger has more bleeding in the brain. He needs to be put on more antibiotics again to fight the infection that came back into his system - not sure if his latest fever triggered it, or what - but he has an episode yesterday where he began to shake uncontrollably at 3 AM and was immediately wheeled to the Intensive Care Unit for closer monitoring and for another CT scan. This text above came from the results of that CT scan.
Now, if you are still here with us and have been following our marathon journey (because this IS a marathon, not a sprint), you've gotten a taste of what the costs of the medical system is like in the Philippines. My family DID have insurance, but it was explained to me that the way that Fil-Health is set up, the insurance coverage benefits are only applicable to ONE HOSPITAL PER YEAR... and my father has already been attended to at three hospitals since January. So, in short.... they are out. Belongings such as vehicles, animals, personal effects, clothing, etc. are all trying to be liquidated to help cover costs. Family members on site are on rotating shifts night and day to keep watch on Dad and offer some company and reprieve from duties.... and they are exhausted. So exhausted. Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. Grace and I are exhausted. Keeping ourselves together for our own families here in Canada has been challenging. Being so far away from Mom, Dad, and our brother is painful. Not being able to take one of those shifts is painful. Seeing daily videos of my vibrant Dad move his body so gently, struggling to communicate or express emotions but trying so hard, has been encouraging but upsetting at the same time, if I am to be honest. And now this news... we feel like we are back at square one.
I guess what I am trying to say is... gosh. I don't really know what I'm trying to say... My family needs your prayers more than ever, I guess??? We are trying to be modest and respectful with our news and requests. It is humbling to have to express a need for help. It is upsetting to give anyone a glance into our current financial situation, or to allow anyone to see our incredibly strong father so vulnerable. But we are literally running out of steam and resources. Personally, I have been looking into fundraising efforts other than the GoFundMe. There is hesitation to ask for more money that way, so I have been considering partnering with a non profit organization (e.g. a church) to collect donations to sell to Value Village. I have been looking at options to sell my hair and my blood plasma. I have been sneaking e-transfers of my child tax and my paycheck to my brother. Lines of credit have been accessed to offer some relief.
I'm sorry, this is a lot to confess. But if we are to ask for your help, I feel like there is a need to be completely transparent. Please. Offer your prayers and your thoughts. And if you can spare anything else --- money, fundraising brainstorming, time to help our families somehow, another voice to campaign on our behalf --- please do. We need you.
UPDATE:
My friends! We have reached our surgery payment goal!!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!
My sister Grace has been diligent in pouring out the remainder of the story in the Updates section of this campaign, in order to give you, our loving and concerned friends and family, a view into how you are directly helping our family. As you know, his medical expenses do continue to pile up - this was major cranial surgery, after all. Due to incredible overwhelming support, we have decided to keep the campaign open with no goal limit or time limit. If you feel so inclined to keep up with your generosity, do know that every penny and peso will only go towards a much better quality of medical care for Roger. He is blessed, and so are you. Thank you for sharing this journey with us.
My father, Roger, had an accident in the Philippines on the weekend that resulted in a head injury that landed him in the hospital. Turns out it was a big stroke. He was healing very well, but then the blood in his brain began to clot (as blood does), and the pressure on his brain began to cause him to lose some functionality on one side of his body. Blood thinners are currently not an option, as it will cause bleeding in the brain and a bunch of other fancy and terrible stuff. The surgeons are saying he needs "craniectomy surgery" - they will take out a piece of his skull where the swelling is, to relieve pressure and (we think) some fluids. Hopefully it is successful and Roger blows everyone away with how awesome he is at recovering from such an event.
A lot of you are asking how to help. This is the only way I can think of. The Philippines does not have free health care, like Canada, and they ask for everything to be paid for up front before care can be administered. Man, we are so SO lucky to live in Canada!
I'm asking you for help. I am begging you and pleading with you - please, help my family!! Every little bit helps! Every thought, every prayer, every well wish, and every dollar, every understanding heart.
Co-organizers (2)
Mira Campbell
Organizer
Edmonton, AB
Grace De Guzman
Co-organizer