10/04/2025
WARNING LONG POST AHEAD:
I feel compelled to share the deeply challenging experience we’ve been facing, as I believe it’s important to shed light on what has truly transpired.
On March 26, my grandmother had her routine check-up with her neurologist, where they discovered her hemoglobin levels were alarmingly low. The doctor warned us that without improvement, she might need a blood transfusion. Alongside this, she was prescribed medications for her memory issues, hallucinations, and sleep disturbances. To add to our worries, she had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s just the month before.
The very next day, we noticed some blood in her diaper. Initially, we thought it was just a minor issue, perhaps hemorrhoids. However, on March 29, we took her to a local hospital to investigate the bleeding further. The doctor’s examination revealed concerning thickened blood in her a**s, and her pallor was alarming. They recommended a blood transfusion and a colonoscopy to understand what was going on.
Her team of doctors is at the Philippine Heart Center, a reputable institution, but sadly, the emergency room is often overwhelmed, leading to long wait times. During her last admission, she spent nearly three days in the ER, witnessing patients being overlooked, some tragically losing their lives. We insisted on staying by her side, refusing to leave as they tried to usher us out.
Fast forward to her current situation: the hospital was at capacity, and they didn’t want her to linger in the ER. Her neurologist suggested transferring her to FEU Hospital Fairview, nearly two hours from home. There, she received prompt treatment and was placed in a room, where the facilities were far more modern, though at a significantly higher cost.
As she underwent tests to prepare her for the transfusion and colonoscopy, we were unaware of the risks involved if she was not stable. The numerous needles and procedures triggered her Alzheimer’s, leading her into a state of depression and agitation, which in turn worsened her heart condition. Tragically, after the blood transfusion, she developed a blood infection, which spiraled into pneumonia, causing dangerously low blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels.
We found ourselves in the most harrowing situation imaginable when the doctors presented us with the choice of placing her in the ICU with a breathing tube or signing a Do Not Resuscitate form. They warned that resuscitation could result in broken ribs due to her fragile bones. We had to make an agonizing decision at her most critical moment. By some miracle, she has survived, but she remains in a precarious state.
This ordeal has led us to create this page, seeking help as her 14-day stay at FEU Hospital has been financially overwhelming. We are pursuing government support, but the hospital requires payment every 36 hours, or they won’t proceed with any further treatment.
If anyone in our network has connections at FEU Hospital who might assist us with our financial situation, it would mean the world to us.
Thank you from the depths of our hearts for taking the time to read our story. Your support and kindness are invaluable to us during this trying time.
