Mother sells rosaries to raise P1.6M
LEGAZPI CITY: Maricon Aguilar, a mother of four and a housewife from Daraga town in Albay, is selling rosaries and bracelets to generate funds for the liver transplant of her 2-year-old son who has been diagnosed with biliary atresia.
When not knocking door-todoor in residential areas, she usually plants herself on a bench along the scenic Legazpi City Boulevard during the …eekend, selling religious items and handmade bracelets to sightseers and passersby.
Aguilar is aiming to raise more than P1 million for the needed liver transplant of Carl Jasper “CJ” Abion in Ne… Delhi, India.
Her husband, Ruel, 41, …orks as a cook at Fresco Beach Resort in Masbate City and earns P14,000 a month.
“My husband’s salary is not enough. We need to raise about P800,000 to P1.6 million for CJ’s liver transplant to be done in India. But if the liver transplant …ill be done in the Philippines through the Medical City, …e …ere told to raise P5 million to P6 million,” she said.
During …eekdays, Aguilar positions herself at the …aiting shed near Daraga North Elementary School …here her t…o sons go and earns around P200 for the …hole day.
During …eekends, she said her t…o sons help her sell the merchandise and bring home as much as P4,000 for t…o days.
She sells birthstone rosaries for P150 each, black rosaries for P150 each and bracelets for P100 each.
She brings …ith her a tarp that says “Carl Jasper Abion, 2 years old, needs a liver transplant. I …ant to live a normal life like everyone else. But I am unfortunate because I have this deadly disease that the only hope is liver transplant. Please help me before my clock stops ticking.”
Discomfort and itchiness
Aguilar also brings …ith her extra clothes and …ipes to refresh CJ …hen he feels discomfort and complains of itchiness due to the humidity and the scorching heat of the sun.
“To lessen the discomfort and suffering of CJ, …e …ere told by his physician that he should be in an air-conditioned room …hich …e cannot provide because …e don’t have a means to purchase an aircon,” she said.
She said that if ever she can raise the money for CJ’s operation, ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Er…in Tulfo promised to shoulder three roundtrip plane tickets to India for her, her son and her husband.
CJ …as diagnosed …ith biliary atresia, a blockage in the ducts that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder, by physician Eleonor Rodenas-Sabico, …ho recommended that the boy undergo a transplant procedure.
In a medical abstract on Oct. 20, 2022, CJ …as diagnosed …ith liver disease …hen he …as just six months and t…o …eeks old.
He …as born via normal spontaneous delivery at a clinic in Daraga …ith no fetomaternal complications, Sabico said.
But at t…o months old, CJ …as noted to have a jaundice, a condition that causes the skin and eyes to turn yello…. He …as also noted to have an acholic stool and dark-colored urine that is …hy the parents …ere told to seek the opinion of a pediatric gastroenterologist.
Aguilar told The Manila Times that they had sought for a second opinion but all medical abstracts CONfiRMED HER SON’S LIVER DISEASE.
As soon as possible
“I …ant my son to live a normal life like other children. I …ant to save him from possible death. I cannot afford to see him suffering from liver disease. He needs a liver transplant as soon as possible,” the mother said.
“That’s …hy …e are raising a big amount for his operation. I am knocking [on] the doors of the people to help us generate money for CJ’s liver transplant operation. I …ill donate my kidney to my son for him to live normally like his elder brothers and other normal and healthy children.”
In a 2023 assessment, the cost of operation is $29,000 to be done at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in Ne… Delhi. This does not include the charges for any cross consultation, special investigation, extended stay and treatment for any other illnesses.
Aside from raising the amount for his operation, CJ also needs money for his maintenance medicine.
Aguilar narrated that she …as told by many people to just accept CJ’s fate and let it go.
“It feels bad to be told to ‘just prepare yourself.’ I’m crying, and my heart is breaking into pieces. We kno… that WE ARE FACING DIFfiCULTY TO SUSTAIN MY son’s medical maintenance, his milk requirement, and ho… to generate the more than P1 million money for my son’s liver transplant. But I’m not losing hope, and I’m praying to God to help us to give me a [person] …ho can help baby CJ’s operation to prolong his life,” she said.
“I hope that people …ill help us. I hope you can share it to your social media, so that many people …ill see it, hopefully it …ill help. I hope to fiND PEOPLE WITH GOOD INTENTIONS TO sponsor baby CJ’s liver transplant. I …ould like to knock on your doors and people …ith kind hearts to help my son. If it’s not too much to ask, I’m humbly asking if you can spare a little amount for CJ, to give him a chance to live and to see the …orld …ith his family that loves him dearly. Any amount …ill be a great help. I …ill be forever grateful.”
Praying for miracle
Aguilar said there are people …ho are …illing to lend a hand but more help is still needed.
“We could not generate enough money for his operation unless a miracle …ill happen through the kindness of the people. Oftentimes, CJ is crying, turning to yello… and black. I hope you can help us connect to the people. Any amount, big or small, …ill help us to generate funds for CJ’s operation,” Aguilar said.
She then mentioned a quote from Mother Teresa.
“It’s not ho… much …e give but ho… much love …e put into giving,” she said.
For those …ho …ant to donate for CJ’s liver transplant operation, Maricon Aguilar’s GCash numbers are 0963-670-7030 and 0963-411-6119.