New Year’s stay for young burn victims

Kind-hearted people show up at the hospital with unexpected aid.

Wiith a new year starting, 24-year-old Rowena Simbajon is grateful for help offered for her two children, who were badly burned in the December 14 fire in barangay Parian, Cebu City.

“Most of them won’t identify themselves. They just hand something over to me and immediately leave the room,” said the unemployed mother.

It’s timely because her daughter Mary Irene, 6, urgently needs a blood transfusion for her anemia.

The little girl and her 2-year-old brother Justin are confined in the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) for second-degree burns in their arms, legs and back.

When CDN discovered their case last Saturday, the mother wanted the boy discharged because the hospital bill had reached P8,000 and she had no means to pay it.

Out of work, Rowena, whose contract as a factory worker ended last month, spent Christmas in the hospital with her children and will welcome the New Year in the same female surgical ward.

Yesterday, Profoods, her former employer, gave P5,000 for the medicine of the children. A nongovernment organization also plans to contribute.

Doctors gave a list of materials needed for wound dressing. The procedure is done in the operating room with the children placed under general anesthesia because the pain is intense.

Dr. Sharie T. Angsa, pediatrician, told CDN the cash aid will be used to buy medicine and a pack of blood for Irene’s transfusion. CCMC has to purchase what is needed from the blood bank at P1,900 per unit. If blood donors come forward, they still need to undergo screening outside the city government hospital.

Rowena said she will use part of the cash to secure certifications since the fire consumed all their belongings, including her ID cards which she will need in applying for aid from charity-based groups. Since Rowena is a registered voter of Cabanglasan town, Bukidnon province, she was disqualified from using the city hospital’s charity program.

Strangers who read about the Simbajon children in CDN showed up at the ward. Last Sunday, an elderly lady came and handed over P1,200 cash for the kids. She stayed awhile to read aloud a story to the children then left. A few hours later, a man, who refused to be named, dropped by and gave P1,000 saying it was from “Unicef.” A pharmacy near CCMC donated vials of antibiotics.

For several days, 6-year-old Irene, has been feverish. She cries every time she moves to the other side of the bed because of the burns on her back.

Despite her condition, Irene, who is a grade 1 pupil in the Mabolo Elementary School, said she wants to attend classes when school resumes on Jan. 6.