No ‘ayuda’ seen for retiree with end-stage cancer
Friends of Emma “Bing” Kasilag have been storming the heavens with prayers for her healing and recovery after she was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer with liver metastases.
They have also dug deep into their pockets to help pay for her treatment at a Cavite hospital where she has been confined for the past 12 days.
At 72 years old, Bing’s only source of income is her small government pension. She has tried to seek help from PhilHealth but was told that only patients with Stages 1 to 3 colorectal cancer are qualified for its assistance package.
Bing worked as executive director and curator at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Museum and Historical Library Foundation, Inc. until her retirement in 2007. She has also been active in several religious initiatives, including serving as a program coordinator for the Society of the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City, and in events conducted by the Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines.
Complications
Since her cancer diagnosis, she has undergone a colostomy procedure and two chemotherapy sessions. Her ongoing hospital confinement was caused by a bad reaction to chemotherapy (watery discharge), with the cause still undetermined.
Because of the difficulty in administering her medication intravenously, Bing will need to have a portacath inserted for her future chemotherapy sessions.
The procedure will cost around P160,000. This is on top of her hospital bill, which has reached P170,000 as of Oct. 22, excluding the professional fees of her five doctors and specialists.
In addition, Bing will also have to shell out P400,000 for her eight chemotherapy sessions in the next six months (P50,000 per session once every three weeks).
Those who want to help her can deposit their donations in her PSBank account (Ma. Emma Y. Kasilag with account number 049361004705) or in her son’s GCash account (09164082047 under account name Emil Carlo Ongchangco). Bing can be contacted through her son at 0916-4082047.
