Roberta’s blind courage

Some people may fault Roberta Sandejas for her blind courage.

Severely disfigured after concentrated acid was thrown in her face by a mentally ill relative early last year, Roberta has also lost her eyesight.

However, the 21-year-old coed has not lost hope.

"I am not giving up on life," says Roberta, a finance major at the De La Salle University and a member of its women’s football team before she was injured. "With all I’ve got within me, I want to be able to move on and be productive again."

After the acid attack, Roberta was admitted to the Makati Medical Center where she underwent a series of surgical procedures to reconstruct her face and save her vision.

"Despite all the efforts, however, we could not restore my eyesight," she recalls. "Their department of plastic surgery has also exhausted its resources and is now unable to offer me any more alternatives at this point."

Still recovering from severe burns on her face and different parts of her body, Roberta also has to cope with "immense" damage to her ears, nose, mouth, throat, esophagus, pharynx and arms.

"Thus, I am not able to function as best possible as before," says Roberta.

Undaunted, Roberta has been in touch with Dr. Robert Spence, chief of the Department of Plastic Surgery of the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. According to her, Spence has "been kind enough" to offer to try to do more reconstructive procedures on her.

Spence has assured Roberta he will refer her to the Wilmer Eye Institute in the same hospital so she may be examined to assess whether anything else can be done to restore her vision.

Roberta is grateful the surgeons have offered to operate on her for free. However, the hospital expenses for her treatment, estimated to be between $25,000 and $30,000, will not be shouldered by the hospital.

Her family can no longer afford the treatment for they still owe the Makati Medical Center for Roberta’s hospitalization.

"My family and I would want the benefit of the best that medicine can offer in order for me to function as optimally as possible, given the circumstances. A trip to Johns Hopkins will give me this chance," Roberta says.

Roberta is appealing for help from foundations or individuals who could assist her in her journey towards recovery.

Blinded by courage, she continues to hope.

(Prospective donors may call Operation Damayan’s Beth Burce at 527-79-01)