Pinoy in UAE needs P3.14M for bone marrow transplant
Urgent help is needed for a Filipino based in the United Arab Emirates who now needs Dh260,000 (P3.14 million) for a bone marrow transplant.
Genna Gagola, 33, told UAE news site Gulf News she only earns Dh2,500 (roughly P30,000) as a sales executive at a furniture shop and could not afford the operation for her husband Alden.
"Doctors here have now referred Alden for bone marrow transplantation abroad because they say he is a high risk patient. Thankfully we have found a matching bone marrow donor in Alden’s sister in the Philippines but the hospital there [wants] us to pay P3 million up front," she said.
The amount does not include outpatient care and fees but is still cheaper and convenient than in other areas like India or Germany.
She added Alden’s insurance partly shouldered the costs but this was not enough.
Alden, a cook at a restaurant chain, was diagnosed with leukemia and had to stop work in April 2014. He returned to work last September but was hospitalized for more chemotherapy.
Genna has set up a Facebook page called "Alden Gagola’s BONE Marrow Transplant FUND." She also set up a stall at the Dubai Flea Market to sell books, old clothes and special T-shirts with the lines "Alden’s Battle is my Battle" for Dh20 each.
The Gulf News report said some buyers upon learning of Alden's plight even bought the shirts for up to Dh40.
“We have been a loving couple and we were even looking forward to having kids together. Please help us resume our normal lives together again,” she said. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News
Genna Gagola, 33, told UAE news site Gulf News she only earns Dh2,500 (roughly P30,000) as a sales executive at a furniture shop and could not afford the operation for her husband Alden.
"Doctors here have now referred Alden for bone marrow transplantation abroad because they say he is a high risk patient. Thankfully we have found a matching bone marrow donor in Alden’s sister in the Philippines but the hospital there [wants] us to pay P3 million up front," she said.
The amount does not include outpatient care and fees but is still cheaper and convenient than in other areas like India or Germany.
She added Alden’s insurance partly shouldered the costs but this was not enough.
Alden, a cook at a restaurant chain, was diagnosed with leukemia and had to stop work in April 2014. He returned to work last September but was hospitalized for more chemotherapy.
Genna has set up a Facebook page called "Alden Gagola’s BONE Marrow Transplant FUND." She also set up a stall at the Dubai Flea Market to sell books, old clothes and special T-shirts with the lines "Alden’s Battle is my Battle" for Dh20 each.
The Gulf News report said some buyers upon learning of Alden's plight even bought the shirts for up to Dh40.
“We have been a loving couple and we were even looking forward to having kids together. Please help us resume our normal lives together again,” she said. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News
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