5-year-old boy in Zamboanga del Sur suffers from unnaturally swollen stomach

In the town of Dinas in Zamboanga del Sur, a young boy's world has shrunk to the confines of his bed.

Five-year-old JL suffers from the weight of his own swollen stomach, to the point where he mostly spends his days face-down in his pillow.

As seen in a report on "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," JL has an unnaturally large stomach, his veins prominent against his skin.

At 15 kilos, he is mostly skin and bones, but has difficulty in moving due to his condition.

And despite his distended stomach, he's always hungry. His mother, Lynie, said she thinks it might be malnutrition.

"Nu'ng baby pa po kasi si JL wala po siyang ulam kaya siguro malnutrisyon po," she said. "Minsan po wala po kaming makain."

["We did not have enough food when he was younger. That might be the reason why he is malnourished."]

Lynie and his husband James try to provide their son with his requests, but one thing they can't give him is a normal life.

JL sometimes stays by the door to look outside, which is the only way he can experience the world these days.

At night, he also struggles to sleep. To try and ease his pain, his parents would tap or squeeze his stomach.

Hirschsprung's Disease

Ever since he was born, JL has had a bloated stomach.

According to a doctor who gave him a check up just last year, JL has Hirschsprung's Disease.

"Congenital na sakit," Dr. Barbie Normita Talip-Lucero, a medical doctor from Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center said. "Mayroong ugat sa bituka na mula nu'ng pagkabata ay hindi talaga siya na-develop. 'Yung dumi niya sa tiyan ay hindi niya nailalabas, naiipon."

["It's a congenital disease. He has veins in his intestines that failed to develop. He's not able to empty his bowels."]

Lynie said she was told that he would need surgery. To save up enough money for the operation, she worked as a helper in Manila.

And to earn money for their daily needs, James harvests coconuts and sells them.

"Kulang na kulang talaga, hindi kasya sa pang araw-araw naming pamumuhay," he added. "Sobrang hirap talaga. 'Yung kita ko napupunta para sa mga pangangailangan ng anak ko."

["What we eat is not enough for our daily expenses. It's really tough. Whatever I earn goes to the needs of my child."]

When JL's condition worsened, Lynie had to return to Zamboanga.

She said that JL had to stop school due to his condition.

"Ang pangarap po ni JL paglaki niya po maging pulis po sana. 'Mama, hanggang kailan po ako maging ganito?' Sino na po daw mag-alaga sa kanya kapag matanda na po daw kami. Sabi ko sa kanya, magpagaling po siya. Lakasan po niya ang loob niya," Lynie said.

["My son wants to be a policeman when he grows up. He kept on asking how long he has to endure his condition. He asks who will look after him when we get old. I just told him to stay strong so he can get better."]

Treatment

Earlier this week, personnel from the Rural Health Unit visited JL. They conducted a home checkup.

"Based na din sa anthropometrics na ginawa natin, dapat, nasa 13 centimeters 'yung sukat ng dito sa kanyang mid upper arm circumference kung tama ang timbang sa kanyang age," Dra. Kimberly Estravillo said. "Siya is nasa 10 lang po. So very severe na 'yung malnutrition niya."

["Based on the anthropometric measurements we do, his mid upper arm circumference should be around 13 centimeters if his weight is appropriate for his age. However, he is only at 10 centimeters. So his malnutrition is very severe."]

The KMJS team also took JL for a fresh checkup this Friday. Doctors conducted an x-ray and ultrasound.

According to Dr. Lucero, JL's stomach is filled with air and food.

"Sa x-ray sobrang laki na ng bituka niya. Kalahati ng tiyan niya hangin ang laman. Tapos sa bandang ibaba naman napupuno na ng dumi na hindi pa nakakalabas," Dr. Lucero said.

["His intestines are enlarged, based on the x-ray. Half of his stomach is filled with air. The lower part of his stomach is filled with waste that hasn't been released yet."]

"Hindi po advisable na iniipit 'yun o pinipisil kasi malaki na po 'yung bituka niya. Puwede po kasing mabutas at pumutok 'yung bituka.  Puwede siguro 'yung rub or massage nila 'yung tiyan para lang mawala nang kaunti 'yung nararamdaman niyang sakit," Dr. Lucero added.

["It's not advisable to squeeze his stomach because he has an enlarged intestine. There's a risk of perforation or rupture. They can gently rub or massage his stomach to alleviate JL's discomfort."]

The doctor confirmed that JL would need to undergo surgery.

"Generally safe naman at madaling gawin. Ngunit po itong case kasi is iba. Medyo complicated na po. Malaking-malaki na 'yung tiyan niya."

["The operation is generally safe and easy to do. However, his case is different and it's quite complicated now since his stomach has gotten so big."]

According to nurse and MNAO and POPCOM officer Hazel Miñao, the number of underweight Filipinos has actually decreased.

"We have house-to-house visiting sa mga malnourished children. May seminar din kami ng effective feeding for malnourished children sa mga parents." she explained.

["We conduct house-to-house visits for malnourished children. We also hold seminars on effective feeding for malnourished children for parents."]

To help JL and his family, their local barangay community pitched in to help. They gave the family groceries, food packs, and cash assistance.

Lynie and James couldn't help but get emotional due to the generosity. They also appealed to the public for aid.

"Gusto naming humingi ng tulong kahit konti lang para sa anak namin na gumaling na siya para maoperahan siya," James said.

["Please help us so our child can recover and undergo the necessary operation."]

"Para kay JL, magpakatatag po. Hindi po tayo mawalan ng pag-asa. Mahal na mahal ka namin, anak," he added.

["Stay strong, JL. Let's not lose hope. We love you very much."]

For those who want to help JL, please deposit to:

LANDBANK - PAGADIAN BRANCH
Account Name: JAMES G. BIAD
Account Number: SA 0526 4833 08

—JCB/MGP, GMA Integrated News