Here is a really tough situation that we’ve learnt about recently, namely the medical problems facing Eliana Kira, the 11 month old daughter of Jho Letada, a former full time worker and national president of the Philippines YCW, and her husband, Marwin, also a YCW leader.
In short, Eliana has a hole in the heart and other related ailments and needs an urgent operation as the hole is already enlarging. Aged eleven months, she weighs only 4.8kg, which places her below the 3% mark for babies her age, evidently another major concern.
The cost for heart in hole surgery in Filipino pesos is around 800,000 to one million pesos which is roughly between $19,500 and $25000 in AUD.
This is completely beyond the family’s means.
A group of former YCWs, including former international leaders Evelyn Victorino Lumiwan and Baltazar “Boy” Pascual are assisting the family and working on local fundraising. See their letter of support below.
But the financial cost of an operation like this is also way beyond their local fundraising capacity.
This is why we’re asking you to help as generously and as quickly as you can.
We all know it shouldn’t be like this and in Australia it wouldn’t be.
But right now we have no time to waste.
Let’s make this happen for Lent.
Others are also starting to get organised in Europe and elsewhere.
Thanks also to former Frankston YCW leader, Laurie Martin, who has organised a prayer chain for Eliana Kira.
DONATION LINK (Australian $) – PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY
https://www.trybooking.com/au/donate/eliana
OTHER CURRENCIES
USD
https://events.humanitix.com/baby-eliana-kira-usd
EURO
https://events.humanitix.com/baby-eliana-kira-eur
Statement of Support for Eliana Ayucocho’s Fundraising Campaign
Jhoan Letada Ayucocho is a young mother, parent, and a strong militant Leader of the Philippine Young Christian Workers. She was the former YCW President and had served and helped the young workers organize them for their just and equal rights. We feel what they felt when their 10-month-old baby, so young and already fighting a battle no baby should ever face. Eliana has Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) — specifically a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD).
With broken but hopeful hearts, we support this campaign to raise funds for their daughter, Baby Eliana Kira Letada Ayucocho. We are currently supporting Elliana, but not enough. If we could help them save their baby, any amount, big or small, will be a great help for the baby’s open-heart surgery in Manila. We also humbly ask for your prayers and support by sharing their daughter’s story and her plight. Thank you, and God bless Eliana!
AdultYCW PHILIPPINES
Evelyn Victorino Lumiwan
Liberato Lumiwan
Baltazar Pascual Jr.
Vilma Tohay Paghubasan
Marcelino Ambalneg
Ricardo Carpeso
Luningning Halili
Martha Jurado
Cora Demate
Alladin Diega
Rico Pascua
Carmen Pascua
Nita Torres
Maria Elsa Getigan
Rev Fr. Guido Everaert
Virgie Villanueva
Rebecca Sayson
Message from Jho Letada
