Help Bong fight brain disease and live!
Donation protected
My brother, Bon Gerard Deoso or Bong (as we siblings call him), 27 years old and a new dad to an almost-2-year-old baby girl named Bella, is currently admitted at Makati Medical Center with a working diagnosis of CNS Lymphoma - a rare non-Hodgkin lymphoma in which malignant (cancer) cells from lymph tissue form in the brain and/or spinal cord (primary CNS).
Several months ago, Bong started exhibiting neurological symptoms such as memory loss, weakness, and disorientation. He was seen by multiple doctors, went through many tests and exams, and was even admitted for observation but still, no definitive diagnosis was made. Meanwhile, his symptoms progressed and got worse: he lost his eyesight, he would forget where he was or who he was talking to, he lost weight rapidly and became so weak that he barely moved. His sickness was tagged as a "mystery disease" by his physicians and it was recommended to enroll him for a case study at Makati Medical Center.
On November 21st, Bong was brought to the hospital for a follow-up in preparation for the "index case" he is enrolling in when he suddenly had an epileptic episode (seizure). He was immediately admitted to the hospital and underwent his second MRI (the first one was in July and was negative). Multiple tumors on the right side of his brain and by the pituitary gland were found. Additional tests confirmed that there are no other lesions in the rest of his body (praise God!) and, as of December 2nd, a plan to do brain biopsy has been put in place to confirm/rule out CNS Lymphoma and start planning for treatment.
For those who don't know how healthcare works in the Philippines, government-provided insurance or aid is almost non-existent and most, if not everything, has to be paid out of pocket. Bong is still very blessed because several family and friends have already given financial support (thank you!) since a few months ago, with all of his tests, doctors' appointments, and hospitalization. He is, fortunately, admitted to a hospital where his welfare is their focus. They've provided care, performed tests and procedures with no demand for immediate funding; professional fees of his physicians have all been waived as he was approved as a "charity case." Even so, bills for everything else - his hospital stay, tests, procedures, and upcoming surgery (brain biopsy) - have been piling up, and we are afraid that this might derail or slow down all the urgent procedures and treatment he needs. His hospital bill as of December 2nd is about Php235,000 (almost $5000) and we're expecting it to increase as he undergoes biopsy, continues his nasogastric feeding, and undergoes other surgeries/treatments to address other concerns (intussusception, among other things).
We, his family, acknowledge that whatever it is exactly he is going through right now is very rare, with fair to poor prognosis, and possibly fatal. But we know Bong. He has expressed his will to live - "gusto kong gumaling." He has a daughter who he wants to see grow up. He is young! He has been through worse physical and emotional ordeals, so we know that he can do this. He wants to fight and we want to support him in this fight.
Please join us, Bong's family and friends, as we raise money to offset his current medical bills so he may be provided with the best and most immediate care possible to fight this disease! Any amount helps, and even if you are unable to help financially, your fervent prayers and thoughts are appreciated.
We cannot thank you enough!
Several months ago, Bong started exhibiting neurological symptoms such as memory loss, weakness, and disorientation. He was seen by multiple doctors, went through many tests and exams, and was even admitted for observation but still, no definitive diagnosis was made. Meanwhile, his symptoms progressed and got worse: he lost his eyesight, he would forget where he was or who he was talking to, he lost weight rapidly and became so weak that he barely moved. His sickness was tagged as a "mystery disease" by his physicians and it was recommended to enroll him for a case study at Makati Medical Center.
On November 21st, Bong was brought to the hospital for a follow-up in preparation for the "index case" he is enrolling in when he suddenly had an epileptic episode (seizure). He was immediately admitted to the hospital and underwent his second MRI (the first one was in July and was negative). Multiple tumors on the right side of his brain and by the pituitary gland were found. Additional tests confirmed that there are no other lesions in the rest of his body (praise God!) and, as of December 2nd, a plan to do brain biopsy has been put in place to confirm/rule out CNS Lymphoma and start planning for treatment.
For those who don't know how healthcare works in the Philippines, government-provided insurance or aid is almost non-existent and most, if not everything, has to be paid out of pocket. Bong is still very blessed because several family and friends have already given financial support (thank you!) since a few months ago, with all of his tests, doctors' appointments, and hospitalization. He is, fortunately, admitted to a hospital where his welfare is their focus. They've provided care, performed tests and procedures with no demand for immediate funding; professional fees of his physicians have all been waived as he was approved as a "charity case." Even so, bills for everything else - his hospital stay, tests, procedures, and upcoming surgery (brain biopsy) - have been piling up, and we are afraid that this might derail or slow down all the urgent procedures and treatment he needs. His hospital bill as of December 2nd is about Php235,000 (almost $5000) and we're expecting it to increase as he undergoes biopsy, continues his nasogastric feeding, and undergoes other surgeries/treatments to address other concerns (intussusception, among other things).
We, his family, acknowledge that whatever it is exactly he is going through right now is very rare, with fair to poor prognosis, and possibly fatal. But we know Bong. He has expressed his will to live - "gusto kong gumaling." He has a daughter who he wants to see grow up. He is young! He has been through worse physical and emotional ordeals, so we know that he can do this. He wants to fight and we want to support him in this fight.
Please join us, Bong's family and friends, as we raise money to offset his current medical bills so he may be provided with the best and most immediate care possible to fight this disease! Any amount helps, and even if you are unable to help financially, your fervent prayers and thoughts are appreciated.
We cannot thank you enough!
Organizer
Gaile Deoso
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
