Help comes for scholar

by Apple Mae Ta-as
Correspondent

Help is now pouring in for 21-year-old psychology student Neil Jed Castro who needs to undergo an operation to save his eyesight.
Castro said he received calls and private messages in Facebook from relatives, strangers and even local officials asking how they can help in raising P100,000 for his eye operation.
“I felt so loved. I guess it is not the end of the road for me,” said Castro, a magna cum laude candidate of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJR) who was diagnosed with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome last February 7.
VKH is a severe eye condition that can lead to glaucoma, an eye disorder that can lead to permanent blindness.
“Like ganiha pag-check nako sa (Like before when I checked into) Facebook, there were 17 messages from people I know and some strangers willing to help me. I am so positive that both my graduation and birthday wish – to retain my vision- is not that far away,” he said.
Castro will turn 22 years old on Wednesday this week.
A doctor at Chong Hua Hospital called Cebu Daily News yesterday, saying she wants to meet Castro so she can schedule an appointment with him in her clinic.
Castro said he agreed to meet the doctor in her clinic in Chong Hua Hospital today.
He also received a call from Tuburan Mayor Aljun Diamante who is also willing to help.
Castro’s story came out in last Sunday’s issue of Cebu Daily News.
Graduation wish
Castro shared his struggles as a working scholar as well as his birthday and graduation wish for an operation that can save his eyesight.
Castro was initially diagnosed with VKH last November 2013 and was advised to take some steroidal medications.
His doctor told him that he might develop steroid-induced glaucoma so he also takes medicines to counteract the effects.
Despite the medications, Castro’s condition worsened.
Last week, he was told by his doctor that he needed an operation and he was referred to another clinic that specializes in VKH.
“My doctor said I have to undergo the operation immediately since glaucoma’s effects are irreversible. It would be best to undergo the operation as soon as possible before I develop tunnel vision,” he said.
Castro managed to raise P8,000 cash for his eye operation from his relatives and Vice Mayor Alfonso Lim of Medellin town, northern Cebu where he and his family reside.