Capitol Helps Boy With Heart Problem

A one-month old baby boy, Vinz Emmanuel Balo, who is suffering from congenital heart defect, gets financial assistance from the Cebu Provincial Government to facilitate his immediate operation.

His father Vincent Theodore Balo, 30, is an Instructor of Cebu Normal University – Main Campus and his mother Leah Balo, 31, is a housewife. Both of them hail from the town of Bantayan. Vincent Balo said the baby is their first child. His wife gave birth last December 16, 2015 at St. Vincent Hospital via normal delivery.

The baby was fine at first but after four (4) days in the hospital the baby suddenly contracted pneumonia. It was later found out that baby Vinz has a hole in his heart. “At first, pagpanganak gisud man siya sa nursery kay gamay man kaayo siya, less than two kilograms. Actually normal ra gyud kaayo siya then after four days nasurprise nalang me gi oxygen na man siya. Niya maglisod yaha breathing and nagduda man pud ang doctor nga basig nay problema sa iyaha heart maong nataptan siya ug pneumonia. So mao to gi 2D Echo. Nakita jud nga nay bangag” Balo said.
Balo added that after a series of medical examinations, they found out that the baby has a congenital heart disease and was then referred to Cebu Doctor’s University Hospital for further assessment.

Vincent cried saying “ Guol kaayo me nga murag wala name pag-asa nya. Sige ato na lang huwaton siguro nga mawala siya. Gi-out namo siya. Actually pag –out namo mas sakit magtan-aw sa amo bata gud nga ingun ani yaha sitwasyon. Daman-damanon mi. Murag molagom sa among panan-aw kung ubhon. Mao to ni decide na lang me nga ipa opera, although resgo gihapon kay conditional man yaha state”.

Baby Vinz stayed at St. Vincent Hospital for 26 days and three days at Cebu Doctors University Hospital. He is now admitted at Perpetual Succour Hospital and is scheduled to undergo an operation next week.

The baby’s heart surgery will cost no less than Php800, 000.00. “The doctor said that the operation will cost up to P1million but with at least P800,000 mapadayon ang surgery then e bypass pod ang amo baby,” Balo said.
He also said that the doctor told them that if ever the operation is successful then the condition of their child will normalize.

The family still needs assistance since their personal money and PhilHealth insurance were already spent during the previous admissions of their baby.

The Cebu Provincial Government, through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, already gave financial assistance to cover a portion of the expenses.

The Balo couple was fortunate to have found a good Samaritan in one of Vincent’s students at CNU. It was the student who thought of referring them to the Cebu Provincial Government for possible assistance. “Magpasalamat me ni Governor Hilario P. Davide III ug sa mga tawo behind sa program. Blessed pod kaayo me nga naa ang Cebu Provincial Government nga ma push through ang operation sa bata, “ Balo said.

They are still hoping to raise the remaining amount and praying for the success of the child’s operation.

By Lee De la Cerna