The sky is often the limit as to what parents can endure just to show their love for their children.
This has been the story of Revine Carl Malco and his wife Erica, who never gave up on their sickly son, in miracles and in the good of others — even at such a point they were told their bundle of joy may not make it to his first birthday.
As recalled by Revine, their son Reverie was just a month old ever since he has gone in and out of the hospital and was diagnosed with “Biliary Atresia,” a rare condition in which a baby’s bile ducts are blocked.
“Actually po, nung pinagbubuntis siya, okay naman lahat ng mga check-ups. Tapos nung lumabas po siya mga one month, napansin namin na naninilaw ‘yung ano niya, balat. Tapos ‘yung mata naninilaw din. So, pinatignan namin hanggang ma-confine kami… doon po nalaman na meron s’yang Biliary Atresia,” Revine recalled in an interview with AICS Chronicles, the newest DSWD online documentary that features Filipinos in crisis.
The local hospital doctors told them that children with this illness may pass away early. Ravine said that there was never a more disheartening moment than hearing those words.
But in the million times their hearts shattered at the thought of losing their child, giving up was never the answer by the husband and wife as they believed that hope and miracle may just be around the corner.
The next thing they knew, Reverie made it past his first birthday. Revine and Erica also sought a second opinion in Manila, made possible by good-hearted strangers who paid for their plane tickets.
At the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), doctors gave them news they did not expect — that Reverie did not have Biliary Atresia but Alagille Syndrome.
While it was by far treatable compared to the previous diagnosis, it also had a deadline to beat. Baby Reverie has to undergo a liver transplant so he can survive.
It was another wave of challenge to conquer, and tons of bills to settle. The cost of having a liver transplant, particularly in this case could go up to Php3 million.
That is the time that Revine reached out for help on his Facebook.
“Sa tulong po ng social media platform eh mas napapabilis po at mas napapadami hindi lang po isa- isa ‘yung makakarating po ‘yung istorya ng aking anak,” Ravine narrated.
And true enough, the fathers’ plea for help did not go unnoticed by big-hearted generous individuals and groups — including the DSWD.
Through the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), the family was provided with immediate medical assistance to help keep Baby Reverie’s treatment going while the family was still preparing for his liver transplant.
‘Yun po, sa awa po ng Diyos marami pong nakakita. Maraming nakapansin. Marami pong tumulong kagaya po sa DSWD kaya minsan magpapasalamat ka din sa timing din minsan ng sitwasyon,” Revine said.
The AICS is one of the social welfare services of the DSWD that provides medical, burial, transportation, education, food, or financial assistance to individuals who are in crisis as assessed by social workers.
Revine said the DSWD’s gentle presence, along with good-hearted people who have reached out to them in their most difficult moments, continues to bring strength to their family.
“On behalf of my family, sa aking anak, sa aking partner… maraming salamat po kay President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at sa DSWD. Malaking tulong po ito, pinansyal para sa aking anak sa kanyang mga gastusin sa hospital at sa amin pong pang- araw-araw na gastusin. Maraming salamat po,” said Revine, who has nothing but gratitude to the government that stepped up.
For Revine and his wife, as long as their child refuses to let go and put up a fight, they will do just the same. They will make day their night and night their day, and continue believing that miracles are not only sent from above but also emanate from the goodness of people.
“Hanggang dulo, hanggang buhay pa ako kahit hanggang sa kabilang buhay, ipaglalaban ko pa rin ang anak ko,” Revine said with conviction.
The AICS Chronicles is a new online program of the DSWD hosted by Media Relations Officer Mel Cabigting of the Digital Media Service (DMS).
The program, which airs every other Monday via the DSWD Facebook page, features real-life stories of individuals and families who were able to overcome financial challenges through the help of the agency’s AICS. (LSJ)