Stray bullet victim attends graduation

MANILA, Philippines - A month after being hit by a stray bullet, 16-year-old Jhon Kerth Galang got his wish: he was able to join his classmates for his high school graduation yesterday morning.

Wearing shades to shield his eyes from the sun’s glare, the toga-clad Galang proudly marched to the stage to accept his diploma from the administrators of the Bagong Silang High School in North Caloocan City.

In an interview with The STAR, Galang said he was very happy that he was able to attend his graduation and personally receive his high school diploma.

“I am happy because I had the chance to get my diploma and see my friends and teachers,” he said in Filipino, adding that he has stayed inside their house since he was allowed to go home on March 9.

“My mother does not allow me to go out. I have to rest and recover,” he said.

Galang said he wants to pursue a degree in computer science, but added that he might skip an academic year to recover from the injuries he sustained from the incident.

Galang was sleeping when he was hit by a stray bullet in their house in Bagong Silang just before 1 a.m. on Feb. 19. He was immediately rushed to nearby Tala Hospital, and was later transferred to the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) in Quezon City.

Bullet still embedded

Days after the incident, Galang was able to tell his mother Marivic that he wants to attend his graduation. His mother then said they are still not sure if he can join his classmates as the bullet has yet to be removed from his head.

The bullet remains lodged inside Galang’s head, but Marivic said yesterday that the doctors have allowed her son to go home.

“But we have to go back to the hospital all the time,” she said. “He’s still under observation.”

In a text message to The STAR, Galang’s neurosurgeon, Janet Fabile, said they have yet to schedule the operation to remove the bullet lodged in Galang’s nasal area.

She earlier said that removing the slug would be dangerous as it might complicate the injuries the patient sustained.

Marivic said her son is scheduled for a CT scan this week. She said the doctors are still not sure if they can save the vision in his left eye.

She said she is very happy that her son was able to attend his graduation.

Financial assistance needed

According to Marivic, they spend more than P2,000 daily for the medicine prescribed for Galang. She said they have yet to raise money for the CT scan procedure scheduled this week.

Marivic thanked everyone who sent financial assistance for Galang, and asked those who have something to spare to help them cover her son’s treatment.

“I want him to recover,” she said.

Police have yet to arrest those who were responsible for the incident. It was reported earlier that members of the Tau Gamma Phi and the Batang Balwarte gangs reportedly had a confrontation seconds before Galang was hit by a stray bullet.

Before Galang, seven-year-old Stephanie Nicole Ella was also hit by a stray bullet in front of her house in Caloocan City during the New Year’s Eve revelry. She died at the EAMC almost two days later.