Assisting a Filipino family living in a squatter area in Quezon City, Manila

Peniel (16 years old) , broke his wrist while playing a basketball try-out at school in the hopes of getting a subsidy for his university fees.

He had to wait days for enough money to be gifted to them and had to borrow (with high interest rates) money to pay for an x-ray BEFORE it was taken. He and his father waited in long cues over several days starting at 5.30am, until a surgeon was available just to assess the injury for which they had to pay BEFORE the wrist was checked and a plan made. Then they had to pay for the operation and nursing care BEFORE he could be admitted and be operated on. He had to wait a FULL MONTH before having the operation. Can you imagine the pain he must have endured? The medical costs amounted to $NZ1300. On top of that were the interest rates on borrowed money and travelling costs for the many trips to and from the hospital. They also had to provide a carer for his needs as well as all his meals while in hospital. The next step is for this young man to have physio on his wrist but the family have to, again, fundraise BEFORE he can receive this help

Roy has recently been diagnosed with osteophytomis due to osteodegenerative joint disease. He has had to attend many appointments to get this diagnosis and has had to borrow money to cover the costs of these as well as ongoing medication.