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PH gov't to pay for brain surgery, air ambulance of OFWs' son in UAE
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Philippine government will shoulder the air transportation and medical expenses of a 7-year-old Filipino boy in Dubai suffering from a brain tumor and in urgent need of surgery in Taiwan.
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac reported the development in a Facebook post on Thursday, describing the sight of the young patient, Andrey Hunter Limbaring, as "extremely harrowing."
Limbaring, who has remained in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of an Abu Dhabi hospital since December 5 last year, is no longer able to move his hands and feet because these have been affected by his brainstem, his father, Jean Lloyd, told GMA News Online.
Andrey's coughing, swallowing, and speech have also been affected.
First Lady Marie Louise "Liza" Araneta-Marcos had a meeting with Jean Lloyd and Andrey's mother, Ana Clariz, during the former's stay for the working visit of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr to Abu Dhabi earlier this week.
'Heartbreaking'
Cacdac took to Facebook on Wednesday to speak about his visit to Andrey at the hospital.
"Nothing can be more heartbreaking than seeing this poor child suffer. For every father who has held a seven-year-old son or daughter in his arms, the sight of Andrey is extremely harrowing. What matters, however, is positive action," Cacdac said.
"Hence, upon the First Lady's meeting with Andrey's parents, we join them in the fight to save their son's life," he added.
Cacdac said the Department of Migrant Workers-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (DMW-OWWA) "shall provide full financial coverage of Andrey's air ambulance to his medical treatment."
"We shall likewise provide accommodation and other forms of support for Andrey and his parents. We storm heaven for Andrey's full recovery amid all odds," the DMW chief said.
The matter was brought to the attention of Cacdac after Ambassador Alfonso Ver, head of the Philippine mission to the UAE, informed him about it.
Sales representative
Jean Lloyd, 38, is a sales representative of medical rehabilitation supplies such as wheel chairs.
On the other hand, Ana Clariz, 36, has quit her job as food promoter in November 2019 to take care of their son, who has been in and out of hospitals in Abu Dhabi, South Korea, and Spain for treatment.
The couple has two other children, who are 10 years old and 11 months, respectively.
Cacdac told GMA News Online that: "As soon as (their) travel documentation and hospital coordination (are done), we will fly Andrey and his parents to Taiwan for the boy's brain tumor treatment."
Jean Lloyd said Andrey needs the surgery to be done by January 19 at the Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TVGH), after which doctors will offer boron neutron capture therapy, a high-risk procedure.
"I am asking people to pray for Andrey, and hoping that the process be expedited," Andrey's father said.
The Limbarings are living in Abu Dhabi. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
