Dad collects coins to save up for baby’s liver transplant

A young father is literally counting coins to pay for his 11-month-old daughter's treatment for a liver disease, including a transplant that costs millions.

According to a 24 Oras report by Katrina Son on Sunday, Jeric Trestre rushed his baby Zhianna all the way from Isabela province to Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila in July last year after they noticed that her skin and eyes had turned yellowish.

Zhianna—known to her family as Baby Esang—was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a rare disease of the liver and bile ducts that occurs in infants in which bile flow from the liver to the gallbladder is blocked.

According to the University of California San Francisco's Department of Surgery, an infant with biliary atresia must undergo surgery to treat the condition and "prevent irreversible liver damage." When the liver fails, it added, "a liver transplant is required."

The Trestre family now needs P5 million for the liver transplant.

"Napanghinaan po kami ng loob tapos inisip po namin na parang isuko po namin 'yung parang susuko na lang po namin 'yung bata," Trestre said.

"Hindi naman po namin alam kung saan kukunin 'yung pera tapos milyon po ang halaga kahit nga po isandaang libo di namin alam kung san kukunin. Kaya sobrang sakit po. Nawalan po kami ng pag-asa," he added.

Trestre said he has been joining various Facebook groups to seek monetary help. A photo of him counting coins in the hospital at the foot of Zhianna's crib has gone viral on social media.

"Mahal na mahal po namin 'yung bata kahit mamalimos po kami sa daan para lang po mabuhay 'yung bata," he said.

He is appealing to the public to help them save Zhianna's life.

"Sana po meron pong tumulong po sa amin. Para mapagamot po 'yung bata, makaligtas po," Trestre said. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BM, GMA News