Saila Grace and her family - Kidney Failure

This summer, Zachary Cefaratti and Hannah Bindl are getting married! We are so grateful to have generous friends who are going to be celebrating with us, and who have asked us about gifts for our wedding. We want our friends to know their presence is all we could ask for, but for those who would like to consider to join us in supporting Ms Saila Grace, who is suffering from acute kidney failure, relying on regular dialysis and medicine costing $163,000 per year and whose home was badly damaged in the Philippines. We are fundraising to buy a safe home for her family near suitable dialysis center, so that she is able to visit her family.

I have been very fortunate to meet Saila Grace, who is someone who has genuine gratitude but has been less fortunate than many of us. I was so delighted to welcome her in my home, and I was happy to support her in advancing her education and skills in her free time by taking courses at the local Philippines institute while she helps me take care of our dogs and home.

In 2020, when she was nearly finished with her course, she was diagnosed with end stage kidney failure (stage 5, GFR<5). The first 2 doctors we visited said Sailas condition was terminal, and recommended that she be repatriated to the Philippines where she might be able to find charity dialysis for a few weeks or months, but would not survive more than 2 weeks thereafter. The 3rd doctor however helped us arrange a plan for her to receive regular dialysis treatment and medicine here in Dubai, which I am honored to have the financial means to continuously support. She is a good candidate for a kidney transplant and we continue to search for options for her to receive a suitable donor kidney - unfortunately I am unable to donate due to mismatch and local regulations.

In 2022, Saila was again struck with tragedy when she lost her mother, who was the sole caretaker of Saila’s son, and her home was badly damaged by a typhoon, for which I am delighted to have been able to support repairs.

I am truly privileged to have Saila, who has been a trustworthy and kind person in my life. I have had to insist on her accepting money to support her repairs and her treatment.

Unfortunately, her affliction has made it impossible for her to travel and look after her home in Philippines, which I am concerned remains unsafe given its lacking infrastructure and the recurrent natural disasters in her country. Because her current home is not near a suitable dialysis center, it is too dangerous for her to visit which means her family is only able to visit her here in Dubai. Therefore, in addition to being afflicted by disease she is very homesick and always worries about her son. 

While statistically her biggest risk is infection, I have seen that practically her biggest risk is psychological. On a few occassions she has come to me saying that she wanted to go to her home and be with her family, knowing that she will not be able to access outpatient dialysis she has told me that she would pray to God for a miracle. Fortunately, she has trusted me enough to stay with me and continue her dialysis treatment in Dubai. I am fearful, however, that someday she will not heed my advice and will return to her home, which her doctors have told me clearly even for a week would result in her being in ICU.

So we have decided in the celebration of our wedding that we would like to buy a home for Saila, so that her family who she supports can be under a safe roof and to help ensure that tragedy does not befall Saila again. I also want her to be able to visit home when she needs, without the risk that she has unsuitable dialysis. She is able to survive indefinitely on dialysis until we find a kidney donor, but her greatest risk is infection which is extremely dangerous if she is not in proximity of a good hospital.

While I will always support her and hope that she continues to work in my home as long as she likes to, and I will continue to cover any costs for her dialysis and kidney transplants indefinitely, I can only imagine the angst she must face knowing that she does not have financial independence or a home she can visit.

I appreciate any support from any friends to buy Saila a safe home.

Thank you so much for reading Sailas story. I would also welcome any comments (no need to make a donation) I can pass on to Saila to help encourage her to keep up hope as she fights this disease.