THE POOR and the sick continue to receive the gift of life from the First Gentleman Foundation Inc. (FGFI).
Last month, the GMA 7 Network’s top-rating Emergency program hosted by Arnold Clavio approached the FGFI for financial support to “cover the life-changing operation” for Rowena Salas, 20, of Paclasan, Roxas, Mindoro.
Her medical abstract said Salas was afflicted with a severe case of “ossifying fibroma.” Her tumors were removed from her jaw three years ago and replaced with a metal plate which however protruded out by two inches and got infected. A follow-up operations was urgently needed.
“The UST Hospital quoted the total cost of operation which involves a bone harvest at P150,000, exclusive of the doctors’ professional fees and the patient’s board and lodging that UST waived.”
On the very day – October 17 – FGFI received the letter, the amount of P150,000 was released for Salas’ operation.
At about the same time, the first beneficiary of Project Heart Matters (PHM) of the Rortary Club of Cubao West underwent her successful operation too.
Elenita de Jesus suffered from aortic aneurysm dissection (AAD) until her surgery at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City.
Project Heart Matters is an endowment fund project of the FGFI launched on August 25, 2007 following the successful open heart operation of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.
Arroyo had donated P1 million in seed money to PHM for the continuing research and outreach program for acute AAD cases.
Project Chair Dr. Lorenzo Rommel G. Carino reported that through PHM AAD procedures have been performed on 10 other patients.
In a letter to Arroyo, Carino expressed their “sincere gratitude for the support and contribution” which, he said, “have inspired us to extend more service to our community.”
A case of service begetting more service – all for the poorest of the poor. The FGFI core value continues to permeate more sectors of the community.
