American finds meaning in helping sick children

MANILA, Philippines - While reading The Philippine STAR in his hotel room, American Dana Wesley said he was “struck and heartbroken” by an article on two poor and sick children who badly needed P100,000 for their operations.

Dana, who frequently visits the Philippines on business, said the story made him re-examine his 58-year-old life.

“I had wanted to buy a new car to replace my 2002 Volvo. But I decided that the car can wait, but these sick kids cannot wait. If I can do something to save the lives of a few children, then I can go to bed and sleep a contented man. All I want is to save the children,” Dana told The STAR.

He donated P1 million for the operation of the kids and for the needs of other children at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC).

After contacting The STAR’s Operation Damayan coordinator Melita Diosa, Dana met the two kids, as well as other sick children at the Intensive Care Unit and the Child Neuroscience ward of the PCMC.

“It was heartbreaking to see their situation,” Dana said.

Around P550,000 of his donation has been allocated to help 13-year-old Clark Pabsanon, who has spinal cord compression and needs a special imported brace worth P160,000; one-month-old Jasmin Fae Lapiguerra who has brain abscess and hydrocephalus and needs P28,989; four-year-old Mark Lester Santos who has obstructive hydrocephalus and needs treatment worth P29,000; 11-year-old Jahshen Janaban who has a brain tumor and needs initial treatment worth P36,000; and eight other critically ill children.

Dana said his task now is to convince other people to donate like he did, to help sick and poor children.

“Right now, I don’t have much money anymore to donate. But I do hope I can make other people aware of how pitiful the lives of these sick children are. My goal is to find another donor who will match my P1-million donation,” he said.

When he retires soon, Dana hopes to join the US Peace Corps and devote the next chapter of his life to helping poor communities in developing countries.

“As of February, my business in the Philippines has ended. If I’m coming back here again, it will just be to visit the children,” Dana said.

Before he left the country, Dana met with PCMC hospital director Dr. Julius Lecciones and chairman of the Child Neuroscience Division Dr. Jose Robles, who both thanked him and The STAR for raising money for the young patients.

At the meeting, Robles gave a parting prayer to the group: “For the sake of our patients, we hope that more donors like Dana Wesley will come and help the children. And we pray that more angels will deliver a copy of The STAR to kind and generous people everywhere.”

Robles was referring to Dana finding a copy of The STAR outside his hotel room instead of another newspaper usually given to the hotel’s guests.

The hotel concierge was actually baffled as to how a copy of The STAR found its way to Dana’s room. Dana said it must have been divine intervention.

Operation Damayan is The STAR’s socio-humanitarian arm established in 1988 by STAR founding chairman, the late Betty Go-Belmonte.

After Mrs. Belmonte’s passing in 1994, her son, The STAR president and CEO Miguel G. Belmonte, continued her legacy of helping the poor.

Those who would like to help the patients of the Child Neuroscience Division of PCMC, please send your donations to: Operation Damayan Philippine STAR, Metrobank Port Area Branch, Account No. 15130-4161-6229, Swift Code MBT CPH MM.

They may also contact The STAR at 527-7777 to confirm their donations. A visit to the PCMC on Quezon Avenue, Quezon City is most welcome.