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The First Gentleman Foundation, Inc. (FGFI) shouldered the expenses for the operation of 15 more children with congenital hydrocephalus, nasoethmoidal, cervical and lumobsacral meningocoele last Saturday, 6 June 2009, at the Philippine General Hospital.

First Gentleman Foundation, lnc. (FGFI) holds another Hydrocephalus and Meningocoele Mission.

ln photo: Dr. Reynaldo Benedict villamor, Jr. (right), FGFI/PGH coordinator of this neurosurgery mission, assures the mother of S-month-old patient, Alyzza Catalla that Alyzza will live a normal life after the operation. Also in photo: Dr. Christine Florendo and Dr. Louie Gayao.

The fifteen beneficiaries who came from different parts of the country were operated in 3 batches and lasted less than 2 hours for each surgery.

The parents of the children were in tears in thanking the First Gentleman for the second chance in life given to their children.

“Taos-puso akong nagpapasalamat kay First Gentleman. Ngayon, magiging normal na ang buhay namin at ng anak ko,” said Mrs. Vilma Bustamante, mother of 10-month-old Jean Bustamante who had the ailment since birth. Jean is the fourth child in the family of six. Her father sells ice drop for a living.

A favorite of the hospital staff was a bubbly 1-year-old, Janica Yap, who was the darling of the medical team for her cheerfulness. While another patient, 5-month-old Alyzza Catalla was accompanied by her single-mother, Alyzza was abandoned by her father when she was born.

The other patients who were also treated for the same ailment, were Raeven Mirasol, Miriam, Amparo, Aevan Calpito, Trixia Puasan, Jerome Agamos, Jeff Matias, Steven Limen, Cymeth Mecayer, Jona Abraham Joshua Aguiller, Heimer Naling, Raniel Onte and Andrew Tagapan.

Since 2001 FGFI has been giving free medical and surgical operation for children with hydrocephalus and meningocoele at Philippine General Hospital. To-date, about 240 children have benefitted from this project of the First Gentleman.

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