Supporting Anabelle Recover from Brain Aneurysm and Stroke

I never imagined I would find myself in the position of reaching out to social media to ask for help for my beloved sister-in-law, Anabelle—affectionately known as Bella or Anna.

On Wednesday afternoon, April 2nd, Anna had been feeling unwell and had vomited. She was screaming in agony about the severe pain in her head. Concerned, we checked her blood pressure, and it was alarmingly high. Then, out of nowhere, she experienced a seizure and lost consciousness as she was being rushed to the hospital.

Initially, she was taken to a small local hospital, but the doctors suspected she might have suffered a stroke, possibly due to a ruptured artery in her brain. Given the gravity of her condition, they quickly arranged for her transfer to a larger facility—East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City, Philippines (government hospital). Upon her arrival, she underwent a CT scan, which confirmed our worst fears: she had an aneurysm. Knowing the dangers associated with an aneurysm, particularly its potential to be fatal, we were deeply troubled by the overwhelming number of patients in the government hospital, which was causing delays in her examination and treatment.

Recognizing that time was of the essence, we made the heart-wrenching decision to transfer her once again, this time to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), where she arrived at midnight on Saturday. There, a series of tests were conducted to further investigate her condition and determine the necessary procedures. While still at East Avenue, Anna had mentioned that her vision had become blurry, which heightened our anxiety.

Last Monday, April 10th, we even had a family video call and her speech seemed normal, bringing us a glimmer of hope. However, on Tuesday, everything changed once again; her speech became slurred, and she struggled to communicate. The doctor informed us that the latest CT scan results confirmed the presence of a stroke. The medical team had discussed on the best course of action for her brain veins. Regrettably, the healthcare system in the Philippines has different protocols than those in the US, where patients are treated promptly and billed afterwards. In the Philippines, patients must pay for treatment upfront, and hospital discharge is contingent upon full payment. I have also attached an estimate of the procedure's cost in Pesos, excluding the running bill and doctor's fee.

This brings me to the purpose of my heartfelt plea. I am reaching out to you, asking for any financial assistance you can provide to support Anna’s upcoming surgery and the extensive therapy she will need for her recovery from the stroke. It breaks my heart to see her in this painful situation, and I am desperately seeking prayers and support during this trying time. Your contributions, regardless of their size, can create a meaningful impact on Anabelle’s life. Thank you so much for your consideration and kindness.