Wacky's Liver CT Angiogram

Both Wacky and his father, Raymond, underwent Liver CT Angiogram in Makati Medical Center. This is to test the condition of both their livers, and eventually, check their compatibility.

Liver CT Angiogram is a procedure where contrast dye is injected into the body of the patient, and then he is placed under the CT scanner to observe the flow of the blood in the body, particularly in the liver. A damaged liver tissue will be emphasized and the remaining good liver tissue will appear darker.

Wacky waiting to be prepped up for the liver CT angiogram

Nurses sedated Wacky before injecting the contrast dye (Raymond on the other hand was awake during the procedure)

under the CT Scan

In the recovery room

We were relieved to receive the results indicating that Raymond is a possible donor for Wacky's liver transplant, and that Wacky's is a good recipient since the veins around his liver is functioning well.

The results are already fowarded to the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital for the review and acceptance. Afterwhich, a schedule for the liver transplant will be fixed and the hospital will also endorse the operation to the Taiwanese embassy.

Please continue praying for Wacky's health. Thank you & God bless!

Merry Christmas!

Raising Funds this New Year

It's the season for Christmas and New Year celebration. You may also help Wacky raise his liver transplant funds this season by buying luces (P50/bundle), picollo (P15), pop (P10) and firecracker fountain (P60). To order please send Wacky's mom, Caress, a text message @ (0917) 4515602. Thank you! =)

Wacky @ 8 months old

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.

Please continue helping the family in raising the funds needed. You may also help us by spreading the word toyour family and friends. Thank you and God bless!

correspondence with hospital

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).

Thank You

We would like to thank everyone who joined the Dinner for a Cause last November 6 -- including those who  bought the tickets even if they knew they couldn't come, and those who simply gave the amount without getting the tickets. No words in writing can express our gratitude and so we're posting this video taken during the dinner in the hopes that our gratitude will reach all the people who made the fund raising event a success.



We would also like to share this video built by Ms Maureen Hernandez, a co-worker of Raymond from MVC, and was shown during the dinner. It gave information about biliary atresia and the status of Wacky's fund raising. We hope this will also raise the awareness about biliary atresia on newborn babies.

Dinner for a Cause

 

The family is holding a Dinner-for-a-Cause activity to raise funds for Wacky on November 6, Saturday @ 7:00-9:00PM in Hacienda Ohio, Bacao, Gen. Trias Cavite. Ticket price ranges from P300, P500 to P1000. For inquiries please call or text Caress @ 0917-451-5602 or 0922-828-4457.

Thank you for the continued support! =)