Kindly Include her to your prayers =) please save Geraldine Oliva

[paulmherrie 1]

I just want to share this to you, her twitter account for reference. http://savegeraldine.tumblr.com/ Thanks.

Geraldine J. Oliva was once very beautiful. Because of a chronic kidney

disease she acquired while on dialysis and a metabolic problem in her bones

(causing them to deform), her life and the lives of those around her had

tragically changed when she failed to receive regular dialysis for many

reasons.

You can help Geraldine (Dane)'s cause by praying for her and her family's

well being.

If you so wish to bequeath any amount to help her, you may contact

savegeraldine@yahoo.com. You may also donate any amount that you should

wish to offer at her open account at Banco De Oro, Balayan, Batangas

Branch, Philippines.

Geraldine J. Oliva

5890-12991-1

Life Story

I am Geraldine Javier Oliva. 40 years of age. Married and with 4 children.

My close friends and family call me “DANE.” I was born on March 1, 1970. I

am the eldest in the brood of four. I graduated with academic honors from

tertiary until higher education at Immaculate Conception College, Balayan,

Batangas. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business

Administration, Major in Accountancy. After a year from graduation, I was

employed at Banco de Oro, Universal Bank Inc. It was a summer of March 6,

1994 when I was married to Mario Esguerra Oliva, an employee of Philsteen

Holdings Inc., and an active member of the Knights of Columbus. We have 4

children: Marione Dave (16), Marius Dale (14), Marcus Duane (12) and Mark

Dylan (10).

My Childhood, My Lifestyle

I grew up with doting grandparents Dominador and Leoncia Javier thus, I

became the little “star” in the family, because of my innate talents and

looks. My friends looked up to me. I was the center of attention in school,

at home, with the group that I belonged to and everywhere I went.

During my adolescent years, I indulged in socio-civic organizations, essay

writing competitions, beauty pageants, fellowships and many gatherings.

My diet included fatty, salty foods and cold iced tea. Though, in my

younger years, I never drank alcohol nor did I smoke. But I was addicted to

“junk food.” I confess, I loved to eat cornchips (chips, in general), salty

flakes, et cetera… I loved to drink cold cola with almost every meal and I

had less water intake. I can clearly recall that I had repeated attacks of

tonsilitis with rising fevers, accompanied by chills and aches in my back

and limbs.

My Journey

I remember when I was in high school, I had frequent fevers and the doctor

said that there was blood in my urine specimen. I believed it to be an

ordinary infection. I was not aware of the physical changes, though my

friends noticed sudden edema on my face, legs and feet; but, I mistook it

as simple weight gain.

I remember when I was 21, I was hospitalized due to acute pharyngitis. The

provincial doctor told me that it would endanger my life. There was an

intense soreness in my throat and I had difficulty swallowing and talking.

Ignorant on the proper management on the disease, I did not fully

comprehend the proper food pyramid that I should abide by and I continued

on with my habit of eating “garbage food.”

When I got married at the age of 24, the habit became worse. Our (my

family)’s died revolved on fatty, salty food that were rich in protein and

carbohydrates. When I got pregnant, the cravings for these foods increased.

I concentrated on canned, salty and processed foods so much that I seldom

ate fruits and vegetables.

It was in February 2000, four months before I gave birth to my fourth

child, when I had pre-eclampsia. I got homspitalized because of chest

heaviness, rise in my blood pressure and increase in the amount of tissue

fluid manifested by the sudden gain in my weight and the swelling of my

face and fingers.

Last August 16, 2000, my husband had a motorcycle accident. This resulted

into my having post-partum depression. Since then, I had occasional nausea

and extreme vomiting. I mistook those symptoms as migraines or other small

illnesses.

It was in the last week of July 2003, after a seminar I attended in Laguna,

that I began to experience severe abdominal pain. My family decided to

transport me to Makati Medical Center for proper management and evaluation.

I was seen by a nephrologist because my creatinine was above the usual norm

and I was diagnosed with Glomerulonephritis. I started on twice-a-week

hemodialysis on September 2003. I personally considered once a week

dialysis because of financial constraints.

In 2007, I felt sudden changes in my body. I had decreased appetite,

immense depression, I was losing weight mercurially and I was more

irritable than usual. I was obliged to resume my twice a week dialysis. A

year afterwards, I began to feel muscle weakness in my leg, in my arms and

in my body, especially after hemodialysis. It was in 2008 when a donor came

and offered my her kidney. But after the Stage 2 work-up, the possible

kidney donor vanished, together with my initial gift to her (which wasn’t

that large an amount). Since then, my world just stopped. I felt miserable,

hopeless and I became so desperate, that I missed the chance to perceive

the sudden change in my looks.

During the first quarter of 2009, I experienced occasional gumbleeding and

my dentist noticed my growing palate. I consulted a specialist, a head and

neck sugeon. After a CT scan, the findings were “Fibrous Dysplasia” and

suspicious “acromegaly.” I was referred to an endocrinologist. The doctor

told me that I would need surgery to remove the adenoma on the right of my

neck due to hyperparathyroidism. Several fears dawned on me. The fear from

the procedure. The fear of its cost. The fear of the complications.

The abnormal growth of my palate continued and it led to frequent

gumbleeding. I had difficulty in eating. I could not chew food. My body

decreased in weight. I had a hard time walking so I spent less time on my

routine activities. I was not aware that I spent more time in a wheelchair

than anywhere else. Because of the frequent gumbleeding, I decided to seek

the aid of a head and neck surgeon in Asian Hospital. After a string of

bloodworks and CT scans, the doctor referred me to an endocrinologist.

Again.

When my medical insurance exhausted, I felt so powerless, helpess and

hopeless. According to my father, my financial steward, we already spent

PHP7 Million (approximately $155000) for almost 7 years of medication and

confinement. I disclosed my financial dilemma to my endocrinologist. Little

did I know that God answered my prayers through her. Truly, God works. She

organized a conference for some medical professionals to raise funds for

further management of my disease.

Reawakening the hope, my zest to live stir. I know I can never cling to

money, because I have none, I know I can never cling to destiny, because it

is fate, but I know I can cling to my Faith. God is there…

- Geraldine “Dane” J. Oliva.

Up to this time, she is still working in Banco de Oro (Balayan, Batangas)

as an Accounting Assistant but, because of her medical condition, her

branch manager is offering early retirement. Her retirement would mean that

she would not be able to sustain her dialysis treatment. The very treatment

keeping her alive. And the salary that she receives is also used for her

children’s sake so that they may study.

I want to help my cousin. But I’m in no position to do so. So I am using

what resources I have. The wonderful people of the internet. I would like

to ask for your prayers for my cousin. To think of her well being and for

her family’s good future. The chances of her surviving are bleak. Doctors

believe that she has but weeks to live. But she’s still going strong and

we, her family, will never give up on her. Please. Think, pray and hope for

the best for my dear cousin.

She’s worked too hard for too long.

If you wish to help her financially and you are able to do so, please do.

Any amount would be of great assistance to her need and her family’s need.

You can contact savegeraldine@yahoo.com for contact information or donate

money by transferring money to her open account at Banco de Oro.

Account number: 5890-12991-1

Under her name: Geraldine J. Oliva.

Stay strong, Ate Dane. Save Geraldine J. Oliva.

This is the original email of Geraldine's doctor asking for help.

Thank you for responding so quickly. I encountered this patient about 4 months ago at Asian hospital who presented

with a very awful looking face with expanded and protruding facial bones, jaw, and palate which has occupied almost

the whole oral cavity that solid food could hardly enter her mouth. Her teeth were separated far apart from the next

due to the expansion. Her rib cage and spine were collapsed resulting in a hunchback position with mounds and

depressions all over her chest wall. All her long bones are very thin and looks emaciated.

This came about because of undertreament due to financial drain as she has been undergoing dialysis for the last 7

years. Her Father has spent 7 million already for her treatment. When one has chronic renal failure, the kidneys

cannot excrete the mineral phosphorus. The kidneys also cannot produce active vitamin D. So low Vit D with Elevated

phosphorus stimulates secretion of Parathyroid hormone (PTH) which erodes calcium from bones. Her nephrologist

advised 3x weekly dialysis but due to poverty, she could only have it once a week. In 2008, Her PTH level reached

4,400 pg/ml which normally is 65pg in its upper limit. This led his doctor to suspect that she has developed a

Parathyroid tumor as a result of the chronic stimulation of PTH secretion by high levels of phosphorus. Indeed on

further testing she had 1 right Parathyroid tumor in 2008 which became 3 to 4 tumors on repeat testing this month.

Surgery to remove the tumors were advised in 2008 but she had no money.

We discussed her case 2x this month. I gathered nephrologists and endocrinologists, and some specialists,

cardiologist, pulmonologist,rheumatologist,orthopedic surgeon whom we needed to consult to decide whether she still

can undergo surgery.

It seems that she missed the boat. The medical junta decided that it will be too risky to subject her to surgery

because she is poorly nourished and extending her neck during anesthesia might cause fracture of her cervical spine

as it is severely osteoporotic. This might result in harm to her spinal cord and paralysis and death intra op and

post op. We decided to put her on medical treatment with Cinacalcet which will lower her PTH, Phosphorus and calcium

levels hopefully significantly. This drug is very expensive and is not available in the philippines.

I have wriiten Mr. Phillip Juico to connect me to his wife, Margie Juico, the PCSO chairman so that we can ask PCSO

for help but he did not reply. The next move that I did was to write the general manager,Mr Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas

II for help. I also asked geraldine to write her autobiography and placed it in a brochure to be distributed to the

public. In front of my clinic table is a big frame of her picture and an appeal for help. So far in 3 days, A total

of 30 thousand pesos was donated by my patients.

I hope that you can help us raise funds. Please connect me to powerful people in your company so that together we

can a little difference in her life. Dr. Claver Ramos is helping me with the expenses of the laboratory exams that

she needs to evaluate her situation fully. I will also try to get in touch with Bone and Kidney experts abroad.

Thank you so much. Will attach some of her pictures.

Sincerely,

Thelma D. Crisostomo M.D.