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HELLO everyone! I am new to this site and i am glad I found my fellow thallasemics here...i am no stranger anymore
! We are two thallasemics in the family, my sister Jessica is 42 year old,married with two kids. Thallasemia has overpower her with being shy and naive, socially withdrawn . I am the opposite, vocal, has strong personality, sociable, pissimistic, outgoing person. We had our yearly regular check-up with our hematologist since childhood and being prescribed with folic acid 5mg. I rarely undergo into blood transfusions but Jessica has been always transfused especially during her pregnancies and the latest, when she has just undergone operation on gallbladder and spleen in September 2007 at Cebu Doctor's Hospital, Philippines. I believe that her case was a product of divine intervention, a miracle from God and overflowing grace that she was able to cope the physical and emotional turmoil of needles, antibiotics, bags of RBC,subsequent lab tests and the facing of 5 specialist doctors. The doctors said her case was not ordinary being a thallasemic that eventually affect irregular beating of her heart. I was there during her admission, I witnessed the pain and discomfort thallasemia has complicate her health. I bear the pain too emotionally , my family as well, her family the most. And when I thought of her growing kids, I wished at that time to replace her situation . Her kids are still young and innocent to experience the pain of the possibility of losing their mother. That was I thought thallasemia is cruel, not only depriving of happiness we ought to have living normal life but sharing the pain to our loved ones. I was in panic when she was brought to ICU when she experienced seizure after few days of operation. God has been our stronghold, our strong tower to take refuge when matters come to worst, and u feel as if nowhere to go and nobody to help for impossibilities. I called friends and families to pray and intercede for Jessica, I just cant afford to loose her, my close fellow thallasemic in the family..no not yet... I'd rather want to be the first, yes, I may be stronger than her, but I felt to be the weakest if I lost a loved one. God is sooo good! Of what goodness have I and family have done that we are worthy of answered prayers? God's grace is immeasurable, His love we can't fathom, awesome! Jessica has been delivered from that shaky journey of thallasemic life. She's back home and on vacation from work (a teacher) for full recovery. However, latest check up revealed that her iron level has gone up so high due to subsequent blood transfusions, mine is lower than her but already beyond normal level also.Our hematologist said that we need to be chelated the soonest possible to avoid more complications.
. We are required to buy a desferral machine/device. This machine is not locally available to hospitals and pharmacies. And we are told that this machine may cost from Php 15 thou - Php 20 thou ($350-$450) . Does anyone confirm this price and could tell us where to buy this one? The truth is, it would take us months to save and be able to buy this machine as we have just spent big amount on Jessica's operation . So if possible, please recommend the cheapest one, if there's is 2nd hand, we would prefer it as long as we can afford it. Thank you, and God bless you all!
jane