Please help my little friend Gavin
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Hello my friends! It has been two years since I moved to the Philippines! The journey in this beautiful country has brought me so much of happiness and my little friend Gavin has been one of my great joy! Gavin is my dear friend’s son! My friend Don who showed me around the city for the first time when I moved here. We worked together, laughed together and shared our friendship & brotherhood together!
When he became a father of his precious son Gavin, he always had me join Gavin’s special occasion indeed I became a God-Father to Gavin also. Yes, Gavin is my great friend and little giant to me.
However, few days ago, when I heard Gavin got a severe illness I was speechless. Here is what happened to my little friend Gavin. (This is from Gavin’s aunt):
“On the evening of April 17 2020, his parents noticed a sudden growth of lump in his lower abdomen. This was immediately consulted to their pediatrician, but because of the travel restrictions implemented by the ECQ and threat of COVID exposure from visiting hospitals, they were limited to doing online consultation. Initial impression from the doctors was umbilical hernia but was advised to go the hospital clinic once the lockdown is lifted for further physical evaluation. In the days that followed, Gavin started to lose his appetite, rejecting milk and even his most well-loved food. While he continued with his usual activities, he also begun to cry more frequently. He became extremely cranky indicating that there was something bothering him. My brother (Gavin's father) noticed his tummy growing in a fast and worrisome pace. Gavin was also suddenly short of breath, doing deep breathing most of the time. Both he and his wife desperately looked for doctors who were doing video consultation during the lockdown and who can give out ultrasound request. They knew as parents that this wasn't something they can put on hold.
Ultrasound results on Apr 28 showed a tumor in his abdomen, mass and nodules in his liver and left lung which contained fluid. They were immediately advised to consult a pedia oncologist.
That afternoon of the same day, Gavin was rushed to St Luke's Quezon City where they were referred by their pediatrician to a hema oncologist. He had fever upon arrival and had to undergo a COVID test too while other tests were being performed. He underwent several CT scans, MRI, xrays, blood tests, and later on biopsy. Biopsy was taken at a later time as he was experiencing low oxygen level caused by the huge tumor in the abdomen pushing against his ribs and lungs.
COVID results came out negative but what we learned from the doctors after left the entire family in utter disbelief and left us all devastated.
Our precious little Gavin was diagnosed of Stage 4 Rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the muscle which according to cancer.org, is a "type of cancer that “starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control.” This has metastasized in his left lung, abdomen, and liver.
Due to the size of his abdominal tumor, several complications arose during their first 2 weeks in the hospital. The tumor continued to produce more fluid that doctors had to insert pigtail in both his left lung and abdomen to help in draining the fluid. Gavin became critical a few times and had to be moved to the ICU on May 7 for close monitoring. He was also intubated with a ventilator to help him breathe (His oxygen level once dropped to 79 and heart rate was at 200), and a central line had to be placed too”
This is the part of Gavin’s situation now. Living in the Philippines is an eye opening experience for me; seeing how people struggle from the disease and poverty. I hope and pray I can become a better help for them! Your kind donation and help will cover Gavin’s hospital bills and future expenses. My dear friends, I wish your safety and well-being and as pray for Gavin and his loved ones as well as bit of financial help! Please let us gather our faith and love. May God bless you all
When he became a father of his precious son Gavin, he always had me join Gavin’s special occasion indeed I became a God-Father to Gavin also. Yes, Gavin is my great friend and little giant to me.
However, few days ago, when I heard Gavin got a severe illness I was speechless. Here is what happened to my little friend Gavin. (This is from Gavin’s aunt):
“On the evening of April 17 2020, his parents noticed a sudden growth of lump in his lower abdomen. This was immediately consulted to their pediatrician, but because of the travel restrictions implemented by the ECQ and threat of COVID exposure from visiting hospitals, they were limited to doing online consultation. Initial impression from the doctors was umbilical hernia but was advised to go the hospital clinic once the lockdown is lifted for further physical evaluation. In the days that followed, Gavin started to lose his appetite, rejecting milk and even his most well-loved food. While he continued with his usual activities, he also begun to cry more frequently. He became extremely cranky indicating that there was something bothering him. My brother (Gavin's father) noticed his tummy growing in a fast and worrisome pace. Gavin was also suddenly short of breath, doing deep breathing most of the time. Both he and his wife desperately looked for doctors who were doing video consultation during the lockdown and who can give out ultrasound request. They knew as parents that this wasn't something they can put on hold.
Ultrasound results on Apr 28 showed a tumor in his abdomen, mass and nodules in his liver and left lung which contained fluid. They were immediately advised to consult a pedia oncologist.
That afternoon of the same day, Gavin was rushed to St Luke's Quezon City where they were referred by their pediatrician to a hema oncologist. He had fever upon arrival and had to undergo a COVID test too while other tests were being performed. He underwent several CT scans, MRI, xrays, blood tests, and later on biopsy. Biopsy was taken at a later time as he was experiencing low oxygen level caused by the huge tumor in the abdomen pushing against his ribs and lungs.
COVID results came out negative but what we learned from the doctors after left the entire family in utter disbelief and left us all devastated.
Our precious little Gavin was diagnosed of Stage 4 Rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the muscle which according to cancer.org, is a "type of cancer that “starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control.” This has metastasized in his left lung, abdomen, and liver.
Due to the size of his abdominal tumor, several complications arose during their first 2 weeks in the hospital. The tumor continued to produce more fluid that doctors had to insert pigtail in both his left lung and abdomen to help in draining the fluid. Gavin became critical a few times and had to be moved to the ICU on May 7 for close monitoring. He was also intubated with a ventilator to help him breathe (His oxygen level once dropped to 79 and heart rate was at 200), and a central line had to be placed too”
This is the part of Gavin’s situation now. Living in the Philippines is an eye opening experience for me; seeing how people struggle from the disease and poverty. I hope and pray I can become a better help for them! Your kind donation and help will cover Gavin’s hospital bills and future expenses. My dear friends, I wish your safety and well-being and as pray for Gavin and his loved ones as well as bit of financial help! Please let us gather our faith and love. May God bless you all
Fundraising team (2)
Kadee Campbell
Organizer
Hauula, HI
Jun Gyu Choi
Team member