Single Father of 5 with Hemophilia Seeks Help for Treatment, Surgery
Jose Pepito Vasquez, 47, was diagnosed with hemophilia when he was still a child. Hemophilia is a rare bleeding disorder where the person’s blood lacks the ability to clot. It is a genetic condition and thus, it does not go away.
Vasquez usually has spontaneous bleeding in the iliopsoas muscle, an inner hip muscle that supports the straightening of the upper body. When he bleeds, like most persons with hemophilia, he is rendered immobile. Before he was hospitalized at the Philippine General Hospital in June this year, Vasquez has already developed a pseudo-tumor on his thigh that affected his hip bone. Doctors said he urgently needs surgery.
Vasquez is a single father who is left to care for his five young children — Gerard, 17; Princess, 15; Jose, 13; Joyjoy, 8 and Rica, 6. His wife abandoned them five years ago.
Vasquez is a single father who is left to care for his five young children — Gerard, 17; Princess, 15; Jose, 13; Joyjoy, 8 and Rica, 6. His wife abandoned them five years ago.
Due to lack of resources, Vasquez grew up without getting treatment. This led to irreversible deformities in his joints and he could no longer walk properly without cratches or walker.
Even when he started a family, Vasquez always prioritized his children’s needs over his. He was able to acquire three tricycles, the usual mode of transportation in the Philippines, as means of livelihood to support his family. With his recurrent hospital confinements, he lost all three tricycles when he could no longer pay the monthly dues that now left him jobless.
Vasquez’s 15-year-old daughter Princess manages their household.
As a member of Hemophilia Advocates-Philippines (HAP), Vasquez is able to get some help with medications donated by US-based program Project SHARE.
“We have been providing Jose Pepito with clotting factors to stop his bleeding. But because he has pseudo-tumor, he needs to undergo surgery or his bleed will never stop,” said Andrea Trinidad-Echavez, president of HAP.
The group receives humanitarian donations from Project SHARE and other donors. In turn, HAP distributes the medicines for free to patients all over the Philippines.
Vasquez needs a total of 320 mg of anti-inhibitor medicines for his surgery which costs around P16-million, if purchased. Project SHARE has provided Vasquez 120 mg but doctors would not risk doing the operation without completing the needed amount of medicines.
What the Vasquez family needs:
1) 200 mg of Novo Seven (approximately P50,000 per mg)
2) Livelihood (sari-sari store would be a good option)
3) New house (they live in a 20 square meter box in an environment not suitable for very young kids)
Please feel free to share and help us make a difference in the lives of these little children and their father. Help may be coursed through Hemophilia Advocates-Philippines (www.hemophilia.ph) or directly to the family. For their address and contact details, donors may email hemophilia.advocates@gmail.com.