Boy, 13, has mind and body of a baby after postnatal infection goes untreated

A 13-year-old boy from Bohol still has the mind and body of a one-year-old baby after suffering from the complications of an untreated postnatal infection.

The child, MJ, cannot move or speak properly and fully depends on his mother, Emma Nacario, for his daily life. Just like a newborn, he has to be fed, bathed, clothed, and put to bed.

In an episode of “Reporter’s Notebook,” Emma said she gave birth to MJ at home and both of them did not receive postnatal care.

At that time in 2007, their family still lived in a remote area in Bicol and the nearest hospital or birthing clinic was four hours away.

The family could not afford the fare for the trip, so Emma did not get checked by a medical professional during her pregnancy and opted to give birth with the aid of a “hilot.”

It was after a week since giving birth when she realized something was wrong with her child. He suddenly did not want to breastfeed.

“We brought him to a private hospital but we had no money then so until now, we still have debt,” the mother said in Filipino.

According to Emma, the doctor told her that MJ was suffering from tetanus and navel infection. They were adviced to go to a specialist but they didn’t have the money to do so, as her husband was unemployed and had just undergone surgery himself for his appendix.

“Kung ano ang kinikita namin, kung meron man, ‘yon ang paghahatian namin sa pagkain at pangangailangan sa araw-araw kaya wala kaming maipon na gagastusin,” she said.

(“Whatever we earn, if there’s any, that’s what we budget for food and our everyday needs so we can’t save anything.”)

Emma makes brooms and sells them for P20 each, but her meager earnings is not enough for MJ to be brought to a hospital. He gets checked when there is a medical mission in their area, but they could not afford any further treatment.

“Naaawa talaga ako sa anak ko,” she said crying. “Kahit may edad na siya, gano’n pa rin ang mga kilos niya, parang batang maliit pa siya.”

(“I feel bad for my child. Even though he’s grown, his actions are still the same, like he’s still a young child.”)

“Sa kanya na lang po tumatakbo ang buhay ko. Parang hindi ko na nga po napapansin ang iba kong anak,” she said.

(“My life revolves around him. I can’t even pay attention to my other children anymore.”)

“Reporter’s Notebook” referred MJ’s case to the local government unit of Guindulman, Bohol to help him get medical attention. After the initial assessment from the municipal health office, it was discovered that he weighed only 7.7 kilos.

According to the National Nutrition Council’s child growth standards, it is the same as the weight of a one-year-old male baby.

Dr. Baltazar Federico Liao, the municipal health officer, also said MJ was suffering from stunted growth.

MJ was then brought to a provincial hospital in Tagbiliran City for further assessment by a pediatrician. There, it was found that MJ is suffering from several conditions.

According to Dr. Fressel Angeli U. Meru, MJ was diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, severe mental retardation, chronic malnutrition, and severe microcephaly.

“He has a small head so that means his brain also didn’t grow to the size appropriate for his age,” Dr. Meru said in mix of English and Filipino.

She said that these are likely complications from a tetanus infection gotten shortly after his birth.

Dr. Maria Isabel Quilendrino, a consultant at the Department of Pediatrics at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), also had the same findings.

“Birthing at home, if not done with sterile or clean instruments, may be a source of neonatal tetanus which is usually gotten from birth,” she said.

“This stems from not using a clean instrument to cut the navel or how the navel was cleaned when he came out,” she added.

According to the National Safe Motherhood Program of the Department of Health (DOH), all pregnant women should give birth to proper facilities like hospitals and birthing clinics.

However, not everyone has access to it especially in areas where healthcare facilities are not easily accessible.

According 2019 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, 94.3% of births were done in a healthcare facility and 5.5% were done at home. Meanwhile, 70.1% of births are attended by a physician, 23.8% by a midwife, and 4.4% by a “hilot.”

“When you’re in far-flung areas, facilities are either not enough or too far. It depends on where you live. You’ll either live or die while pregnant and giving birth,” said Dr. Junice Demeterio-Melgar, executive director at Likhaan Center for Women’s Health.

Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho from the Public Health Services Team of the DOH, meanwhile, added that it is the LGUs’ responsibility to oversee their healthcare conditions.

As for MJ, Dr. Meru said that he has no chance of recovering now since it’s too late.

“In terms of walking, speaking or being a normal 13-year-old, we can’t do anything. What we should focus on now is his survival,” she said in Filipino.

“Our main priority now is his nutrition. He should be given vaccines to prevent other diseases and should be seen by a rehabilitation medicine specialist,” she added.

Emma accepted that MJ will never be able to live like a normal child. But no matter what happens, she will still keep caring for her son.

“Parang nawawalan na ng pag-asa pero pinipilit ko pa rin na ‘wag mawalan ng pag-asa [I’m losing hope but I’m fighting to not lose hope],” she said.

For those who want to extend their help to Emma and MJ, you can send your cash donations to Marcial Entia through GCash (09355758416).

—Franchesca Viernes/MGP, GMA News