By Daisy CL Mandap
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| Young mother Cyril has difficulty getting out of bed because of her cancer |
A Filipina domestic
helper whose cervical cancer has deteriorated to stage 4 is set to fly home to her
family in San Jose, Antique on Feb 4, after the agency that placed her with her
last employer agreed to shoulder the cost of her air ticket and that of an
escort.
Cyril S. Galvez, who
will be celebrating her 36th birthday on Feb 26, will go home in a
wheelchair as she is said to be too weak to even get out of her hospital bed in Queen Elizabeth Hospital. She is also in
pain from tumors in her lower back.
Her sister, Mary Grace
G. Latorilla, who also works in Hong Kong as a domestic helper, told The SUN
her family would have wanted Cyril to go home on a stretcher as she has difficulty
sitting down but the fare for that would cost more than $30,000 which they don’t
have.
She said she and some
of Cyril’s friends have initiated a fundraiser but the money that they managed
to raise was just enough for the patient to have some pocket money for her
return home. Cyril has two small children, aged 9 and 11, with her partner who
is currently unemployed.
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| Cyril used to hike in her spare time before she was diagnosed with cancer |
Initially, they had
sought help for Cyril, thinking that they would have to shoulder her air fare,
but a timely intervention by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration has
resolved the issue.
Welfare Officer Virsie
Tamayao informed The SUN that after Cyril’s case was brought to their attention
they immediately contacted her last employment agency and they immediately
agreed to shoulder the cost of two air tickets.
“The agency has
already bought the tickets, including that for the escort. Flight on Feb 4 via
Cathay Pacific,” said Tamayao in a
text reply.
OWWA also committed to help transport the patient to Hong Kong International
Airport, then have her fetched at Ninoy Aquino International Airport for her
onward trip to Iloilo City where she will be taken to a hospital.
According to
Latorilla, her sister was diagnosed with stage 2 cervical cancer in March last
year, and with help and support from her employer then, was able to undergo
chemotherapy and radiotherapy. “Naging ok
siya” she said. (She became ok).
Thinking that she was
well enough to continue working and also because she wanted to continue
providing for her two children, Cyril signed up with a new employer in
September last year.
But the stress of
adjusting to a new job apparently caused her cancer not just to return but
deteriorate. In October, just a month after she joined her new employer, she was
told her cancer had returned.
With her sick leave
exhausted, her employer terminated their contract early this month, and booked
her return air ticket for Jan 16. Cyril was paid more than $7,000.
Unfortunately, three
days before her flight she had to be rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital after
she suffered from extreme stomach pain while in a boarding house. The doctor
who attended to her said she had to be operated on immediately due to kidney
malfunction.
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| Cyril and Grace share a meal in a boarding house just before she was rushed to hospital |
“Nung pagdala namin sa ospital nagtanong kami sa doctor kung bakit ganun
na sitwasyon nya e stage 2 pa lang siya. Bakit ang mga organ niya naapektuhan
na? Tiningnan ng doctor ang computer, at ang sabi, nasa stage 4 na siya,”
said Latorilla.
(When we took her to
the hospital we asked the doctor why she was in that situation when her cancer
was only at stage 2. Why were her organs affected? The doctor checked the
computer and said, ‘She’s already at stage 4’)
After her operation,
the doctor said she could already go home, but she could not be discharged as
she had nowhere to go. Besides, she no longer had an air ticket to use in
flying home to the Philippines.
A group of her friends
posted an urgent appeal for help, saying Cyril needed to fly home immediately
as was her wish. The doctors also reportedly warned them that her condition
could deteriorate fast.
Luckily, with OWWA’s
help, the air tickets were secured. Latorilla said her sister had hoped to go
home earlier, and was in tears when told she had to wait a few more days to go
home.
But there is nothing
left for them to do now but wait. “Magpapasalamat
po ako talaga kung makauwi na siya nang maayos at makita niya ang mga anak nya,”
said Latorilla.
(I will be really
grateful if she could just go home without a hitch so she could see her
children).
Those who wish to donate to Cyril’s needs may send money to Latorilla’s Alipay account, 91558279. Her QR code is here:
