21-year-old kidney patient fights for his life

This 52-year-old mother is staying strong for her son, who, she says, is a fighter despite his failing kidney.

"I have to be strong for my family. I can never give up. I don’t even want to think about that," said Minda Llorando, as she talked to The STAR about her 21-year-old son, Jinky.

Jinky was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease 15 years ago. This means that his kidney no longer functions.

As if life is not hard enough for the Llorando family, Jinky’s younger brother Jake was found suffering from glomerulonephritis – a disorder characterized by inflammation of part of the kidney – when he was eight years old.

If not given proper medical care, the condition of Jake, 20, might worsen and he would suffer the same fate as his elder brother.

Minda herself is afflicted with goiter, but she does not mind this.

At present, the family’s attention is focused on Jinky, who needs to undergo kidney transplant soon to save his life.

Since his diagnosis, Jinky has been undergoing dialysis. This was not done as regularly as required because of his family’s hand-to-mouth existence. If not for the kind-hearted individuals that helped him, Jinky’s condition would have rapidly deteriorated.

"My son has the will to survive. He’s fighting and maybe that’s the reason why he has made it all these years. I can’t imagine what would have happened to him if he was made of weaker stuff," Minda said in Filipino.

Despite his illness, Jinky made it through first year high school until he became too weak to attend class. For 10 years, Jinky was an altar boy in their parish church in Old Balara, Quezon City, until two years ago when he had to stop because of his illness.

Minda said her son really wants to finish his studies, and dreams of becoming a priest one day.

But now, the family is at a loss.

They need P350,000 for his transplant operation alone. But the combined income of Minda, a laundry woman, and her husband Pedro, a vendor, is not enough to raise this amount.

The family is spending P280 daily for Jinky’s medication and as much as P5,000 weekly for two sessions of dialysis.

Aside from this, Jinky is also undergoing treatment for Hepatitis A and hypertension at a cost of around P450 daily.

"He’ll get the kidney from a cadaver donor so we have to be prepared with the money all the time. There were donors who matched him in the past but since we didn’t have the money, he was not operated on. He could’ve missed that chance to survive," Minda said.

Jinky’s doctors are rushing the family because his condition has started to deteriorate.

"We appeal to everyone to please help my son. We want him to live and this will not happen without your help," Minda said.

Those interested to help Jinky may contact his family at tel. no. 456-3095 or 27 Purok 3 Area 5, Laura Street, Old Balara, Quezon City or Operation Damayan coordinator Milet Dioso at 527-7901 to 7910. — Sheila Crisostomo