Kuwento ng 'Pamilya Egal,' tampok sa 'Front Row'

“PAMILYA EGAL”
July 22, Lunes ng gabi, pagkatapos ng Saksi sa GMA

Sa sampung supling ng mag-asawang Carmilo at Janeth, apat ang may kondisyon sa mga binti at hindi makapaglakad nang maayos. Si Jeffrey, 20, halos sampung taon nang hindi makapaglakad at nakaratay sa isang pinaglumaang wheelchair. Nagsimula raw ang kaniyang kondisyon sa edad na sampu. Si Jhon Rex, 11, tila hindi na tumubo ang kaliwang binti kaya naman kailangan tumalon-talon upang makagalaw. Hindi naman tuwid ang kanan ni Jhon Lloyd, 8. Ang bunsong si Jarred, hindi rin makapaglakad nang maayos.

May iba-ibang paniniwala ang mag-asawa kung ano ang sanhi ng kondisyon ng kanilang mga anak. Dahil sa matinding kahirapan, hindi nila mapatingin sa doktor ang mga bata. Kahit pa banat-buto ang kanilang ama sa bukid, sadyang hindi sapat sa pamilya ang kinikita nito.

(English)

Among the ten children of Carmilo and Janeth, four suffer from different conditions on their legs and cannot walk properly. One cannot walk at all. Jeffrey, 20, has been relying on an old dilapidated wheelchair for years. He says his condition started at age ten, around the age of his little brothers now. His 11 year-old brother Jhon Rex’s left leg did not grow properly, forcing him to hop around. Eight year-old Jhon Lloyd’s lower right leg and ankle seems to have grown into a different shape. The youngest, Jarred, also cannot walk properly.

The couple have different beliefs on what caused their children’s conditions. They are unable to bring the children to the hospital for proper diagnosis and treatment. The father works everyday as a farmer, but he can hardly make enough just to feed his entire family.