Doctors did everything they could to help father of seven during 68 days in treatment.
Funding request: $7,257.74 CAD
Critical Need: CN-PTM0425
Danilo is a father of seven children who are now all young adults. One of his youngest daughters, Diane, is studying in the polytechnic with the support of her Chalice sponsor through our Tondo site. Danilo’s wife, Maria Cristina, earns her income as a neighbourhood councillor, and works pro bono as the Tondo site’s medical fieldworker, helping sponsored children and families access medical consultations and care.
Danilo had been experiencing severe headaches since 2022. He took anti-inflammatories and pain relievers, but they rarely helped. By April 2024, his headaches were unbearable, he had ringing in his ears, had difficulty swallowing food, and his nose bled.
He was brought for consultation with an ENT who told him to undergo a cranial CT scan and a biopsy. With that, Danilo was diagnosed with stage IV Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (head and neck cancer). He began months of intense treatment, punctuated by multiple ER visits.
At last, he was admitted for inpatient treatment. For 68 days, the doctors did everything possible, and he received four radiation sessions to reduce the size of the tumour. His team treated his concurrent infections and pneumonia with intubation. Before they could move him to the ICU, Danilo died a few days before Christmas 2024. He was 65 years old.
As she grieves her husband, Maria Cristina also faces $7,257.74 CAD in Danilo’s treatment costs, mostly for medicines. With three children in college, these costs are well beyond her humble income. The Tondo site staff have therefore requested to cover Danilo’s outstanding medical fees, allowing her and her children to mourn in peace.
DONATEPlease note that any donations that exceed the request will be used to fund other critical need emergencies that may arise.