Author Jessica Zafra hospitalized, needs help

MANILA, Philippines - Friends, family members and fellow writers of author Jessica Zafra are asking the public to help the writer pay her medical bills after she was hospitalized on Monday, according to a report by ABS-CBN News Channel.

“As in the case with almost all artists who work freelance, Jessica does not have health insurance,” said publisher Ramon “RayVi” Sunico in an “emergency message” posted on Facebook by Joel Pablo Salud, editor-in-chief of the Philippines Graphic.

Sunico’s message said Zafra was dehydrated and that “CT and MRI scans show some inflammation of the brain, which may be due to an infection.”

On Sunday, Zafra wrote a post on her blog, Jessica Rules the Universe, about “the worst flu (she’s) ever had.” She said she experienced “heaviness” in the joints, getting a fever, feeling nauseated and being exhausted in a span of five days.

Zafra is “under neurological observation,” Sunico’s emergency message said. The message goes on to say that Zafra had been “found on the staircase of her apartment building, conscious but disoriented.”

Salud posted Sunico’s message on Facebook as a status message at around 12:50 p.m. on Tuesday.

Later in the day, writer Danton Remoto, one of Zafra’s friends, posted more details for people who wish to help her. He said Zafra’s sister, Cheryl Ann Grace de Jesus, has an account at Security Bank, 0000000863890 and her email address is cheryl.zafra@emerson.com.