Pinoy couple in HK seeks help to send daughter’s body home

A Filipino couple based in Hong Kong is seeking help to send the body of their daughter to the Philippines after their child died due to a rare congenital condition, according to a report on South China Morning Post.

Warlito and JB Taleon, through their employer, created a GoFundMe page for two-year-old Harriet Espanola, who passed away due to seizures from TORCH Syndrome.

"JB and Warlito are now facing the unimaginable. To assist them through this dark time we would like to offer our support by rallying together as a community and helping to raise funds which will allow them to take their precious baby home to the Philippines where she can finally rest in peace," the GoFundMe page read.

"Please consider a donation to relieve the financial burden from a wonderful pair of hard working domestic helpers."

Harriet Sumner, the couple's employer, said TORCH is a group of infectious diseases that causes seizures, organs to not develop properly, and a host of other diseases.

The couple lived with Sumner and her family as stay-in domestic helpers in Hong Kong's Pok Fu Lam — JB for seven years, and Warlito for almost four years — and named Harriet after her when she was born in 2015.

Harriet was born with an underdeveloped brain, impaired vision and hearing at the Queen Mary Hospital in November 2015, the report said. She suffered seizures frequently, and one particular episode landed her in the hospital on January 21. She died two days later.

The couple aims to use their target fund of A$6,400 or US$5,100 to repatriate Harriet's body. This amount does not cover the funeral costs.

As of January 24, the couple has raised $2,525. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News