A journal of mama Loree’s kidney condition.
DIAGNOSIS:
Stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease
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30 SEPTEMBER 2018
Mama is finally home from the hospital! ❤
Thank you to everyone who walked with our family for the past 23 days (10 days in Singapore plus 13 days in the Philippines). Love in different kinds and forms have reached us from all around the globe.
We may not be able to repay you for your kindness, but we pray that God will bless your hearts, more than we can ever ask for or imagine.
According to the doctor, mom’s angioplasty would have to be rescheduled. Her main problem is the loss of her kidney function, a complication of her diabetes.
NEEDS & CONCERNS
Pray with us as we step into the world of dialysis in the Philippines. Big changes await our family in the next few weeks. May we be led to the right facility and community that can help us.
- Apart from her heaps of medicine, mama needs to go for dialysis 3 times a week. One session ranges from 2,800 to 7,000 pesos.
- We have debts incurred (over half a million pesos) during her emergency hospitalization in Singapore and the Philippines. Sadly, her PhilHealth and Senior Citizen discounts covered only a small percentage of our expenses in the Philippine Heart Center. 😦
- Our family is considering to move to a new town where dialysis is cheaper and more accessible.
- Mama requires assistance and constant monitoring since her BP and blood sugar keeps fluctuating. She also needs a haircut. Hopefully she gets one tomorrow. 😛
In all circumstances, we give thanks to the Lord. He has done and He will do wonderful things for you and for us through this journey.
29 SEPTEMBER 2018
4 PM – She is on her way home!
Thank you to everyone who has been praying for mama. Please continue to pray with us as we raise funds to pay our hospital bills.
2 PM – Another dialysis session done. Now waiting to be discharged.
28 SEPTEMBER 2018
The doctors have cleared mama and we could have been discharged today. But sadly, even after the PhilHealth benefits and Senior Citizen discount, we still did not have enough funds to pay off our hospital bills.
We had to stay one more night. 😦
Thank you, uncle Gilbert, for helping us sort the bills.
But happy news here! Someone arrived today…
The Lucasi sisters are all in! Welcome home, Doree Joy.
Our last visitors for the night…
27 SEPTEMBER 2018
Another God-given day in here. We are very thankful to all the nurses and staff who are taking good care of mama.
Happy birthday, Violet!
Our visitors for the day…
26 SEPTEMBER 2018
Mama’s fistula surgery went well yesterday. Yey! She is being monitored consistently to make sure all is well with her arm.
Her tube was also fixed after her operation and she resumed her 4th dialysis last night.
Found our hospital bill dated 23 September…
Hello Kalinga, Isabela, Ilocos and Paracelis! ❤
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
Her Cimino Fistula operation is scheduled today. Its the procedure to make a direct connection between an artery and a vein in her arm for her long-term dialysis. Pray that all goes well.
In the morning, Mama’s 4th dialysis session was cut short because of a hole in her tube. She was brought back to her room to wait for further instructions.
Campus Crusade for Christ Bayombong represented…
The midnight shifter…
24 SEPTEMBER 2018
It’s been 1 week now at the Philippine Heart Center. ❤ Thanking all the doctors and nurses for the work you do.
23 SEPTEMBER 2018
3rd dialysis session today.
Kuya Leo will be travelling back to Abu Dhabi. Praying that Doree Joy gets her renewed passport soon so she can fly to the Philippines too.
The Bangilans…
22 SEPTEMBER 2018
Playing with mama’s hair 😛
The Opongu and Fangonon fambam ❤
21 SEPTEMBER 2018
2nd dialysis today.
Siblings reunited ❤
The Chongawen-Galdayens ❤
20 SEPTEMBER 2018
First day of dialysis today. Yey!
Mama, I’m sure you’re scared and exhausted but we are all cheering for you. ❤
19 SEPTEMBER 2018
Today, mama was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Disorder due to stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease.
Our hospital bill in Singapore amounting to 25,000 SGD (Almost 1 million PHP), was finally paid off. We were able to loan half of the amount and half of the amount was sponsored by you – our family, friends and ministry partners.
Another journey starts this week at the Philippine Heart Center. We continually ask for your help and prayers.
18 SEPTEMBER 2018
Admitted at the Philippine Heart Center.
17 SEPTEMBER 2018
A dear couple sponsored mom’s flight ticket from Singapore to Manila and she flew home through PAL’s Business Class. Apart from one episode (tightness and chest pains) in the plane, mama and kuya Leo arrived in Manila with no major assistance.
15 SEPTEMBER 2018
Friends in Singapore stepped up as guarantors for the unpaid bills. Mama was released and checked in at a nearby hotel to wait for her flight home.
While in the Philippines, mom’s brothers and relatives prepare for her return. Yey, we found a heart doctor for mama!
14 SEPTEMBER 2018
ASKING FOR HELP AND PRAYERS
After 1 week, mama is now ready to be discharged from the hospital in Singapore, to be transferred to the Philippine Heart Center in Manila. But the hospital bills are yet to be settled. Our bill has reached more than 25,000 SGD (Almost 1 million PHP). Thanks to all the generous hearts who have been helping us meet this need.
Today, we still have to pay the remaining bill of 13,882.94 SGD (approximately 526,000 PHP), before we could get her out of the hospital and fly her home. Pray with us and see how God will do miracles in this seemingly helpless situation.
12 SEPTEMBER 2018
Mama suffered from a heart attack (NSTEMI) resulting to blockages in her arteries. We are hoping to have her transferred to the Philippines once her condition stabilizes enough for travel.
8 SEPTEMBER 2018
Mama was rushed to Parkway East Hospital. She tried hard to endure the pain so she can make it for her flight home tomorrow but it became unbearable early this morning. The doctors’ findings during this week: UTI, slight kidney stone and kidney infection.
Relatives and friends took care of her for us.
Kuya Leo arrived in Singapore on September 11.
Visit from the Embassy of the Philippines in Singapore.
Overwhelmed with all the love and support of family and friends in Singapore who came to visit.
4 SEPTEMBER 2018
Mama went to see a doctor because of severe abdominal pain, nausea and high blood pressure. She was prescribed medicine for UTI.
1 SEPTEMBER 2018
On the way back to the Philippines, she had a stopover in Singapore to visit and supposedly encourage her cousins who are working there.
28 AUGUST 2018
Mama travelled to Penang, Malaysia to attend a church conference (13th Asian Baptist Women’s Union Assembly). On the last day of the conference, she started feeling sick.
ABOUT GLORIA LUCASI
Our mom is a Christian missionary, a widow and a diabetic. After our father’s death in 2007, she continued doing her part of the mission work, discipling children in our neighborhood, mentoring university students, and giving talks to conferences for women in the northern tribes of the Philippines.
VIOLETOLOGY 