Year 2020 is a challenging year. It has been tough for my family because amidst the pandemic, my family is now facing a battle.
My dad, Lito, 71 years old, is a loving, caring, and hardworking father and husband, our family’s pillar. He worked as a seaman for over 30 years to provide for us. He (and us, his family) had to endure the loneliness of being away with us (with him) for months. He is a kind person, and a man with a few words.
Our parents are left in the Philippines ever since my siblings and I migrated to Canada. To reunite with them, we sometimes made them come to Canada as visitors. And so once again, in September 2019, they flew to Canada as visitors. It has been more than a year already and we thought that everything is going well until something happened to my dad’s health.
It was around 5:00 PM of November 18th, 2020 when we brought him to the HSC Adult Emergency because for a few days he was feeling sick, dizzy and had lost his appetite which we thought was a flu. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 protocols, companions are not allowed inside the Emergency.
In addition to his condition, our Dad had to wait in the Emergency for about four hours alone on a wheelchair, until there was an available bed in the Emergency. We waited outside the hospital and we could only check on him through video call.
With the discomfort that our dad experienced, he (and we) also had fears, uncertain of what’s going to happen and him being there alone with no one to comfort him. A heart breaking moment for us, especially for our mom who could only stay home and wait for updates.
The following day, Thursday, still in the Emergency Room, the doctors immediately performed a bone marrow biopsy. We could not imagine how one could stay calm while undergoing procedures without the presence of a family. The doctors decided to admit him into the hospital. They did blood transfusion right away, and several other transfusions the following days because his blood counts are very low.
Friday, the result of biopsy came. The specialists informed us the devastating news, our dad has blood cancer (Acute Myeloid Leukemia) and it is aggressive. The doctors recommended a treatment plan that they think is best for his age and condition. The treatment needs to be done as soon as possible.
The doctor told us that the number of treatment cycle that he needs is indefinite. One cycle is 7 days straight chemotherapy, which repeats every month. A visitor's hospital and treatment expenses cost thousands of dollars, and we have to pay for those out of our pockets. The estimated cost for one cycle of treatment, depending on the situation, is around $38,000, and he needs an indefinite number of treatment cycle.
Right now, he is still in the hospital, no visitors allowed, and no definite answer on when he can be discharged. While we are hoping for the best, we received another heart breaking news. More than two weeks after admission, my dad tested positive with Covid-19. That was his 5th swab test since his hospitalization. The first four tests were negative. Because of that, he is now transferred to the Covid-19 ward.
Our family is humbly asking you to help us raise funds for our dad's urgent medical treatment. Please, kindly help us to give our dad the chance to recover, to live a better life. We extremely want him to beat this disease and for him to live longer.
We fervently ask for prayers too for our dad's healing, restoration of his health, and for him and our family to get through this battle - with the leukemia, treatment and Covid-19.
All funds collected will be a great help to our dad’s treatment. No amount is too small. Thank you everyone for your kind hearts.
My dad, Lito, 71 years old, is a loving, caring, and hardworking father and husband, our family’s pillar. He worked as a seaman for over 30 years to provide for us. He (and us, his family) had to endure the loneliness of being away with us (with him) for months. He is a kind person, and a man with a few words.
Our parents are left in the Philippines ever since my siblings and I migrated to Canada. To reunite with them, we sometimes made them come to Canada as visitors. And so once again, in September 2019, they flew to Canada as visitors. It has been more than a year already and we thought that everything is going well until something happened to my dad’s health.
It was around 5:00 PM of November 18th, 2020 when we brought him to the HSC Adult Emergency because for a few days he was feeling sick, dizzy and had lost his appetite which we thought was a flu. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 protocols, companions are not allowed inside the Emergency.
In addition to his condition, our Dad had to wait in the Emergency for about four hours alone on a wheelchair, until there was an available bed in the Emergency. We waited outside the hospital and we could only check on him through video call.
With the discomfort that our dad experienced, he (and we) also had fears, uncertain of what’s going to happen and him being there alone with no one to comfort him. A heart breaking moment for us, especially for our mom who could only stay home and wait for updates.
The following day, Thursday, still in the Emergency Room, the doctors immediately performed a bone marrow biopsy. We could not imagine how one could stay calm while undergoing procedures without the presence of a family. The doctors decided to admit him into the hospital. They did blood transfusion right away, and several other transfusions the following days because his blood counts are very low.
Friday, the result of biopsy came. The specialists informed us the devastating news, our dad has blood cancer (Acute Myeloid Leukemia) and it is aggressive. The doctors recommended a treatment plan that they think is best for his age and condition. The treatment needs to be done as soon as possible.
The doctor told us that the number of treatment cycle that he needs is indefinite. One cycle is 7 days straight chemotherapy, which repeats every month. A visitor's hospital and treatment expenses cost thousands of dollars, and we have to pay for those out of our pockets. The estimated cost for one cycle of treatment, depending on the situation, is around $38,000, and he needs an indefinite number of treatment cycle.
Right now, he is still in the hospital, no visitors allowed, and no definite answer on when he can be discharged. While we are hoping for the best, we received another heart breaking news. More than two weeks after admission, my dad tested positive with Covid-19. That was his 5th swab test since his hospitalization. The first four tests were negative. Because of that, he is now transferred to the Covid-19 ward.
Our family is humbly asking you to help us raise funds for our dad's urgent medical treatment. Please, kindly help us to give our dad the chance to recover, to live a better life. We extremely want him to beat this disease and for him to live longer.
We fervently ask for prayers too for our dad's healing, restoration of his health, and for him and our family to get through this battle - with the leukemia, treatment and Covid-19.
All funds collected will be a great help to our dad’s treatment. No amount is too small. Thank you everyone for your kind hearts.