Rodin lives in the Philippines. He is diagnosed with Congenital Heart Disease and ABO Incompatibility. Incoming Letter, September 2001 The Original Internet Lifeline   Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 09:04:22 -0700 (PDT) From: Maribel Aguirre Subject: a mother's plea To: BOES.ORG   E-mail from Rodin's mother, Maribel:   To whom it may concern: I was 30 years old when I got married and was gifted with a beautiful child, a son. Not more than a day after while we were still in the hospital he was diagnosed with a congenital heart disease and ABO incompatibility. That began the series of trips to the doctor, punctures, diagnostic tests.   Despite all these, he grew up healthy, having the occassional flu and fever. What I cannot bear to look at is him turning blue with just a little exertion. This episode occurs more often now than when he was still a few days old. He is now 1 year and 9 months old and I can see the incomprehension in his eyes as he looks at me as if trying to ask why he cannot do more things just because he wants to, why he has to stop because he is having difficulty breathing whenever he exerts a little.     I am the sole breadwinner of our family. My husband and I prefered that he stay home because we do not want to entrust the care of our child, and our responsibility to him, to anyone else, even to our own families. I am a doctor who cannot practice because my son needs constant attention.   My husband is a fisherman but he cannot stay away from our child for long. We are advised that his condition is becoming worse and an early correction is necessary. Please help me. I am speaking as a mother who can only do so much.   Maribel S. Aguirre Pakil, Laguna Philippines Back to Main Index Multilingual Human Rights BOES.ORG Review BOES.ORG Action 1997 Ongoing Internet Lifelines 2002 Children's Rights Across the World