Group gives hope to hydrocephalic kids
A FILIPINO-American group, a local hospital and the Rotary Club of Central Pangasinan have agreed to collaborate to give hope to hydrocephalic children whose parents cannot afford a costly operation for them.
Dr. Carlito Arenas, medical director of Specialist Group Hospital and Trauma Center, said the “Shunt for Life”, based in the United States, and his hospital agreed to partner for the rescue of hydrocephalic children from certain death.
Hydrocephalic children suffer from an inborn disease called hydrocephalus, a medical condition characterized by an excess cerebrospinal fluid in the cranial cavity that is causing enlargement of the skull and mental retardation.
Arenas said the cost of operation for a hydrocephalic child is between P300,000 to P400,000 but “Shunt for Life”, the Specialist Group Hospital and Trauma Center and Rotary Club of Central Pangasinan, headed by Ashuck Vasandani, will provide the medical services and medicines free to the beneficiaries.
“Shunt for Life” donates the shunt, a tube that is used to drain the fluid of the sick child from the head to the stomach, where the fluid flows and stays before it joins the blood.
“These are the children that need immediate medical management because a delay could damage the brain,” Arenas told the breakfast forum Engkwentro sa Lenox on Wednesday.
He said without any medical intervention, the child’s attitude and mental capabilities will continue to deteriorate.
“If a child stays in this condition, their parents will have to attend to him 24/7 in every way, feeding him, putting himself to sit in the john and to sleep” he added.
According to Arenas, they have so far conducted 22 operations and all those who underwent the medical procedure have returned to normal life.—LM
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
