The 4-year-old granddaughter of a couple who have roots in Silay City, Negros Occidental, is fighting for her life at a Metro Manila hospital and needs help.
The once bubbly Kassandra Eva Marie Legarde is confined at the pediatric intensive care unit of the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City and her medical bills are now over P1 million.
The bills are beyond what her parents can afford, and the ECMO machine that she may need to save her life will cost about P210,000 a day.
Kassandra is the granddaughter of Art and Lucille Lagarde and the only child of John Karlo and Elaine Legarde.
John Karlo said they are appealing for financial help because “Kassy is a wonderful, smart, loving child who is a fighter and has her whole life ahead of her”.
“What started out as a common virus among children called the Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has wreaked havoc on Kassy’s respiratory system and caused secondary bacterial infection, and as of Monday septic shock,” he said.
The 4-year-old was brought to St. Luke’s on July 26, and from regular confinement, her condition deteriorated quickly, and she was transferred to the ICU the next day, John Karlo said.
“We initially feared it was COVID-19, but it is not. Sadly, it’s seems much worse. She in unresponsive to the powerful antibiotics her doctors have given her. They have also given her Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg)in an attempt to increase her antibodies,” he said.
Since July 30, the child has been intubated and sedated. “We and our prayer warriors were all hoping that by now, the virus would have finished its journey through her body but because of her weakened immune system, things have taken a turn for the worse,” he said.
He said they were informed by their daughter’s doctors that as a last ditch effort she may have to be attached to an ECMO machine. In simple terms is it like a heart and lung machine, because it supports these organs and allows the patient time to recuperate, he said.
“We, her parents, are both employed and working but have now depleted all our resources. Family and friends have come forward to help in whatever way they can, but seeing the long battle ahead, we are forced to seek the kindness of other people for Kassy’s sake”, he said.
John Karlo can be reached at 0917-300-3821 and Elaine at 0917-146-4550.
Those who wish to help may make deposits to BPI Savings Account No. 2959059368 of John Karlo L. Legarde.*