The month of December is for the celebration of holiday festivities.
But for Mary Rose Hermosura from Tondo, Manila, her preparation for the season quickly turned into one of the most challenging periods of her life.
On December 15, 2024, Mary Rose’s mother was rushed to the Philippine Heart Center and was diagnosed with a ruptured aneurysm. What followed was a whirlwind of decisions, emotions, and a staggering hospital bill that loomed over their already weary family.
“So, that time po, malaki kaagad yung hinihingi sa aming down payment. Na-surgery na po siya, nalagyan siya ng stent dahil po doon sa nangyaring pagputok ng ugat nya sa utak. During recovery po, nagkaroon sya ng second stroke, na which is ‘yun po ang nakapagpalala nung sitwasyon niya kaya po hanggang ngayon nasa ICU kami,” Mary Rose narrated during an interview with the newest DSWD online program, ‘AICS Chronicles.’
Visitation was limited to an hour a day. And every day Mary Rose made the trip back and forth to the hospital to ensure that the needs of her mother were attended to.
“Kapag po may kailangan lang, tatawag po ang taga-ICU para babalik po ako ganun po,” Mary Rose explained.
The emotional toll was heavy, but so was the financial burden. The piling costs of medicines and hospital care were too much to carry for Mary Rose.
Desperate for help, she held on to the advice of a fellow patient’s companion to seek help from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
The AICS is one of the social protection services of the DSWD that provides medical, burial, transportation, education, food, and financial assistance to individuals who are in crisis as assessed by social workers.
“Marami po kasi dito akong nakausap na mga bantay rin ng mga
pasyente. Yun po nasabi po nila sa akin na pwede akong lumapit sa DSWD para po makahingi po ng medical assistance so nag-try po ako na lumapit sa DSWD,” Mary Rose recalled.
Mary Rose immediately gathered the documents she needed and headed to the DSWD Central Office in Batasan Hills, Quezon City.
“Madali naman po, mabilis lang. Although may pila, pero mabilis lang naman po ang pag-process po. Basic din naman po yung tinatanong
nila kung bakit na-ospital ang mother ko, kung first time po ba na lumapit ako sa DSWD, mga ganun lang po yung mga tanong,” Mary Rose told AICS Chronicles.
After undergoing the standard process of the Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU), the office in-charge of the AICS program, Mary Rose received the good news that she was issued a guarantee letter amounting to
Php300,000 to pay for her mother’s hospital bill.
“Masaya po kami na natulungan kami sa ganoong kalaking halaga po. Malaking tulong po siya actually kung iba-base mo pero dun sa amount po nung hospital bill namin sapat na po kasi hindi ko po expect na ganito nga po ang ibibigay sa aking tulong eh,” Mary Rose shared.
Because of the financial assistance, Mary Rose was able to pay a significant portion of her mother’s hospital expenses.
“Masaya po kasi sa panahon po natin ngayon hindi mo alam kung saan mo pwedeng makuha yung halaga na naibigay po sa akin,” a beaming Mary Rose said.
Today, Mary Rose’s mother is finally home, slowly regaining strength, and surrounded by her loved ones.
“As of now okay naman po siya may improvement naman na po kahit papano kaya sana po mag tuloy-tuloy na rin po yung recovery ng mother ko,” Mary Rose said.
Despite the challenges, Mary Rose’s heart remains full of gratitude to the people who offered guidance and assistance, to the medical team who helped save her mother’s life, and to the DSWD for the medical
assistance.
AICS Chronicles is a new online program of the DSWD hosted by Mel Cabigting of the Digital Media Service (DMS). The program, which airs every other Monday via the DSWD Facebook page, features the real-life stories of individuals and families who were able to overcome financial challenges through the help of the agency’s AICS Program. (AKDL)