Raymond and Caress have made initial coordination with the
Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan last October thru email. The hospital gave the following summary of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in Chang Gung:
1.
Total cost that the hospital requires wire-transferred before the patient arrives in Taiwan: NT$ 1.5 million (NT$ 1 = Phil Peso 1.5); that's roughly about Phil. Peso 2 million (depending on current exchange rate). This amount includes both recipient and donor operations. This amount covers operations,
hospitalization (3-in-a-room + ICU), medications, and diagnostic tests. This amount is for uncomplicated cases. If this cost is not consumed, all unused money will be refunded. This amount excludes all travel and living expenses while your family is in Taiwan.
2.
The family will stay in Taiwan for around 3 months. There may be a hostel (semi-furnished with kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom, telephone, cable TV, refrigerator, hot and cold water) available within the hospital compound. Rent is around NT$ 770/day or NT$20,000/month. Payment for the hostel is not included in the NT$ 1.5 million.
3.
Recipient will stay in ICU after the transplant for 2-3 weeks, 2-3 weeks in the ward, then 1 month in the house. The donor can go back to Philippines after 1 month.
4.
Donor and Recipient must have same blood type or ABO compatible. Donor must be negative for HBV or HCV. Donor must be within 5th degree of consanguinity with the recipient or the recipient's spouse. Donor must be at least above 20 years of age
oOo
The following tests on Wacky and his father Raymond (as candidate door) need to be submitted for further assessment of the hospital with Wacky’s case:
1. Hepatitis profile: HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, anti-HCV
2. Blood chem
a. For Wacky: CBC, Albumin, AST, ALT, total and direct bilirubin, creatinine, INR/protime, AFP
b. For Raymond: Albumin, AST, ALT, Total bil, creatinine, INR/protime, AFP
3. Liver ultrasound
4. Liver CT Angiogram
The hospital suggested that Wacky and Raymond go to Dr. Gregorio of Philippines General Hospital for preliminary tests. She will guide them to the relevant examination. They can do first the blood typing and hepatitis profile to screen both recipient and donor before going into the more expensive laboratory and diagnostics. Screening from the Philippines is necessary since if they go directly to Taiwan and if either recipient or donor is found to be unsuitable, it’s a waste of money (travel, laboratory, etc).
On November 13, Wacky was examined by Dra. Gregorio from the St Lukes Hospital. He's gained 0.4 kilos from the last check up on October, totaling to 7.2 kilos. All the result of blood tests revealed that his body is still well although the doctor is a bit concern with his protime result (measures clotting of liquid/plasma in blood).Thus dosage of his Vitamin K intake was doubled. His next blood test is scheduled on Dec 10 in San Juan de Dios (where blood test is cheaper); result will be brought to St Lukes the next day for further diagnosis by Dra. Gregorio and for Wacky's monthly check up. Hopefully the increased dosage will improve the condition of his blood.
Wacky needs to weigh 10 kilos for the operation and we are happy that he is continuing to weigh more as the weeks pass. However, the increase in the size of his abdomen is becoming more noticeable. His eyes and skin are becoming more yellow. In four months time,Wacky will be one year old and the family is still far from reaching the 3-4 million target for his liver transplantation.
