Migrant family in struggle to get by
When the Basinal family arrived in Auckland from the Philippines, they did not imagine illness would see four family members living in one bedroom in a household of 10.
For almost two months, father and husband Jun, 47, has been fighting for his life after being rushed to Auckland City Hospital on July 13.
‘‘My husband is having a hard time in the hospital but I keep on praying to God he will give him more strength. I know He will heal my husband,’’ his wife told Stuff. Jun was diagnosed with severe acute pancreatitis and has undergone several surgical procedures.
With Jun, a heavy truck mechanic, being the main breadwinner, wife Dovie’s kitchen-hand wage has not been enough to support the family of five beyond their daily needs.
Dovie, sons John, 16, and Jude, 15, and daughter Jovien, 22, were forced to move out of their threebedroom, $580 per week rental and are now living with friends, bringing the house’s total occupants to 10.
The board was $250 per week, not including power or water.
‘‘It’s quite hard. We have a loan from the bank, the car ... for the moment I’m getting paid.’’
Married for 24 years, much of it long-distance, with Jun working in the Middle East, Dovie had cut down her hours at a resthome to spend time with Jun in hospital. ‘‘After work, I go straight to the hospital, just to be with him, so that he will feel comfortable.’’
When Dovie and Jun arrived from the Philippines in 2017, Jun had no signs of illness and they were granted three-year work visas. Jun had been drinking minimal alcohol, often associated with the disease, as he had been working in Dubai and Saudi Arabia since 1995.
Dovie’s biggest concern is Jun’s recovery.
‘‘I don’t know how long the recovery will take, so our finances, I don’t know. We will survive as long as I’m working but the thing is I worry about my husband’s recovery.’’
One of Dovie’s colleagues, Ken Whull Bolislis, set up a Givealittle page in the hope of helping the family. ‘‘It was heartbreaking to hear her story, when I found out her husband is in that state,’’ he said.’’ With only $780 raised since the page was set up two weeks ago, Bolislis said the family needed more help.
‘‘Listen to her story, maybe pray for her. We want to reach out to more kind-hearted people.’’