Urgent Financial Help Needed for Kidney Transplant

Many say that compared to other countries, the cost of kidney transplantation in the Philippines is cheaper. But for me, it is still very expensive. As early as the screening phase, the cost of the tests is like that of having one major surgery.

Tissue typing, Panel reactive antibody and tests for CMV and EBV is already very heavy on the pocket. That is why I thank my cash donors for their generosity as their donations really helped. There are still other tests to be done. And there are also tests for the donor like tissue typing and crossmatching among many others.

PHILHEALTH will really be a ray of sunshine for patients like me though. One thing I have to share is that there is this P600,000 Z package of Philhealth which can be availed for the meantime in only selected government hospitals. In Cebu, one can avail of this package at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center. Included in the said package are payment for hospital services such as hospital room and board meds and laboratory exams, operating room and professional fees for the entire course of treatment, including mandatory and other services required per illness. But one must qualify for the said package and I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Despite Philhealth, the cost still is very high since the Z package is good only for 1 year of posttransplant medications. I have to think of the anti-rejection meds. And I will have a nephrectomy prior to the transplant which will cost me even more.

The usual kidney transplant in the country based on my research is about 3 million pesos. Unfortunately, my salary as a teacher is not enough. 

And so now I humbly appeal to my Facebook friends, colleagues, former students, online and offline friends to help me have a second chance in life. I wish to continue molding future medical doctors. I wish to continue educating through my blogs. I want to see my students graduate and become successful physicians. I still want to see my dog wagging his tail with excitement when he sees me. I still want to come home to my wife. 

My creatinine is already too high and the sooner I have the surgery, the better the chances of success. My family just can't raise 3 million without others' help. 

1) You may send your cash donations to:
Account name: IVY MATA TAPIA
BPI Savings Account: 1026 9288 02
General Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City branch
or

2) Donate securely through Doc Buboy's Youcaring.com fundraiser at http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?fundraiser_id=12655&url=docbuboyskidneytransplantfund

or you can

3) Send funds securely online via Paypal and address your donation to: tapyboy2@yahoo.com

or you can find the DONATE button via Paypal in this blog on the left sidebar.

Thank you very much.

Thankful and hopeful

With the schedule of AV fistula creation nearing (with stress balls in hand), I thought to myself, "This is it. This will be the start of a new journey...beginning with a series of hemodialysis in the upcoming months." I know it will not be an easy one. For one, I saw my mother and my relatives before me go to this difficult process. Number 2, I know management of PKD is an expensive one, especially dialysis, transplant and post-transplant.

Because of the anticipated expenses, me and my wife has started a kidney transplant fund anchored on a Transplant Fund Facebook Page, and a Youcaring fundraising website. Instructions on the ways to donate as well as the form for contributions are found in this Google document.

God is so good to me.

I have one possible kidney donor so far and tests are to be done.

I can feel the support of friends and family and their support has kept me going. I am very grateful for their facebook shares also.

My creatinine is really high but at least I can still be functional with no edema or difficulty in breathing although I was already admitted for pancreatitis which was a very painful experience.

I have a wife who is always there for me even through these tough times. I don't know if I can bear all these without her.

Because of the support of God, family and friends, I have high hopes of the days ahead...that I have many years ahead of me doing what I love: mentoring future physicians, medical technologists, and researchers. Hanging out with the "unlikeliest" of buddies-- my blogger friends during events, speaking in front of a young crowd, singing my compositions, having a nice walk with my dog and enjoying the company of my wife.

Please do continue to be with me in this journey.
P.S. Thanks to my medical school classmates abroad...Karen, Evelyn, Steffan and Lizette, Rhea and my batchmates here in the Philippines particularly those based in CIM and in Cebu; my blogger friends (can't name them all), JP, MD who were among the first who responded to the online fundraiser. I can't thank all who agve me support this week.