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Young boy with asthma uses a tire pump to power his nebulizer


Due to the lack of funds and low electricity supply in the area, a young boy and his family from Leyte resorted to using a manual tire pump to power the child's nebulizer — a method, according to a medical specialist, is not safe.

A nebulizer is a crucial tool used during asthma attacks. Nebulizers, which are usually powered by electricity, turn liquid medicine into mist so that asthma-stricken patients can breathe easier.

In the case of the eight-year-old Lee Begnotea, his father has to make do with continuously pumping air into the boy's nebulizer for five to ten minutes.

 


"Kasi minsan, sumasama yung anak ko sa trabaho. Wala namang kuryente doon. ‘Yun, dinadala ko yung bomba. Pag inatake, nahirapan siya ding maghinga...Hindi naman mahirap kaso kailangan bantayan," said Noel Begnotea, the father of Lee, on Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho Sunday.

[Sometimes, Lee would come to work with me. But there’s no electricity there. So I had to bring the tire pump for when he has asthma attacks.]

Although the makeshift nebulizer seemed to alleviate Lee's condition, he admitted that having asthma makes it difficult for him to play with other kids.

"Nasasaktan kami para sa kanya dahil bata siya. Hirap sa sakit niya, hindi naman niya gusto," said his mother Babielyn.

[It pains us to see our son in such a difficult situation. No one wanted it to happen to him.]

Lee used to have an electricity-powered nebulizer, but it broke. His parents then had to improvise.

 


The boy was diagnosed with asthma when he was only two years old. It wasn't easy for the young boy to cope, especially since his mother was working in another country as a domestic helper at that time.

When Babielyn came home, all the money she saved was spent on Lee's medications. Then they borrowed money for his medication expenses.

When the KMJS team accompanied Lee to a medical specialist, they found out that the boy had bronchial asthma.

Bronchial asthma can sometimes be a serious condition. The doctor reminded Lee’s family that using a tire pump as a makeshift nebulizer was not safe.

The viral video of Lee’s dad using a tire pump to power his nebulizer touched many hearts. Several netizens even donated a nebulizer machine. A non-government organization (NGO) provided him with medicines. A private sector also granted Lee a scholarship.

In the KMJS episode, his parents expressed their gratitude to the individuals and groups that helped their son.

For those who want to help Lee and his family, please deposit to:

FIRST CONSOLIDATED BANK - ABUYOG, LEYTE
ACCOUNT NAME: NOEL C. BEGNOTEA
ACCOUNT NO: 054-1001-001235-4

— Angelica Y. Yang/LA, GMA News

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