Mother seeks help for 5-year-old daughter who has big lump on neck

A mother is asking for donations to help get medical treatment for her five-year-old daughter, who is suffering from a big lump on her neck.

In a report on "24 Oras," Monday, Karizza Manota said they noticed the lump on her daughter Athena when she was only one year and eight months old and it has continued to grow since.

According to Karizza, they already brought Athena to a pediatric surgeon in Tacloban, but they were disheartened to know that she cannot be treated there.

"The doctor said they can't do it because the lump is coming from her spinal cord. They can't do the operation there because they don't have enough supplies," she said in Filipino.

Their family flew from Samar to Manila in June last year so they could seek for professional help in the city, but they were greatly affected by the lockdown caused by the pandemic.

"We already experienced not eating in one day. The neighbors just give us some food. It's really hard," Karizza said.

Like her parents who are having a hard time looking for a permanent job, Athena also wishes to go home so she could be with her friends and family.

The GMA Kapuso Foundation visited Athena and gave the family some groceries. She was also brought to pediatric surgeon Dr. Beda Espineda.

"This case is uncommon because most who have cystic hygroma, the cyst on the neck is soft. This one with Athena, it's solid and hard. It's not an ordinary teratoma," he said.

Karizza is asking for financial help to answer Athena's medical expenses.

"Please help us so we can have Athena treated," she said.

The GMA Kapuso Foundation is accepting donations through bank deposits, Pay Maya, Cebuana Lhuillier, Shopee, GCash, Zalora, and Mega Mart.

For more information, visit GMA Kapuso Foundation's website.

—Franchesca Viernes/MGP, GMA News