EPISODE #005 – Cedrick
DIAGNOSIS: Congenital Heart Disease, PVA Intact Interventricular Septum, PNA, ASD, PFO Dysplastic IV

BACKGROUND:
Cedrick was born on February 5, 2022, when Covid 19 epidemic was still widespread. Thus, going in and out of the hospital was difficult during pregnancy check-ups and delivery of Cedrick. Hospitals were very strict and did not want to compromise the safety of hospital staff and patients who are confined. All adults were required to have full vaccination before they were allowed to go inside the hospital.  

Cedrick is the youngest of the 4 siblings. Their ages are 7, 5, 3, and 2-year-old Cedrick.  They are being raised by Irene, a 29-year-old single mother. In November 2022, when Cedrick was only 9 months old, his father was on his way to work as a garbage collector when he was hit by a truck that did not stop to help him. The hit and run occurred at 3am, unwitnessed, with no clear video surveillance available to catch the perpetrator. He went into a coma and died the next day. The case is still unsolved and sadly Irene and the 4 children are left with no father and no money.  

When Irene was 8 months pregnant, she was confined at Naga City Hospital for severe stomach pain. She thought she would have an unexpected delivery at that time. She was extensively monitored for four days. This is when she was told that the ultrasound showed that the baby has a slow heartbeat.

At 9 months, her delivery was normal and the baby was normal though his lips were blackened. So, they were sent home as normally done by the hospital. Two days later, Cedrick had difficulty breathing, problems swallowing (nabibilaukan), was unable to sleep flat on the bed, and looked very weak. He was rushed to Bicol Medical Center where several procedures were ordered by the doctor such as an EKG, 2D Echo, X-rays, and blood tests. The 2D Echo was not covered by Phil Health so they had to raise money for it.  The result was alarming and Cedrick was ordered to be brought to Philippine Heart Center (PHC) right away for a heart operation to repair a PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus). 

Despite the urgency, it still took 2 weeks before they were able to find a politician sponsor who paved the way in getting the required ambulance to bring Cedrick from Naga City to Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City.  

At one-month-old, this tiny baby had a balloon PDA surgery already. He stayed in the ICU for one week. Irene was not allowed to see him as PHC required Irene to be fully vaccinated and she was not. At night, Irene and her mom would just sleep outside the hospital on the floor with just a carton to sleep on during the time when Cedric was in surgery and later recovering in the ICU. Every morning at 5am, they would be awakened by the security guard to clear the area and the entrance to the hospital.  

When Cedrick was moved to the ward, Irene had been fully vaccinated already and was allowed to stay with her baby. However, she was not allowed to go in and out of the hospital as she would be required to get an antigen test each time. This made it challenging to care for her kids at home.

On December 28, 2022, Baby Cedrick was confined at Bicol Medical Center for pneumonia and therefore ended up celebrating New Year’s Day at the hospital. Because baby Cedrick is considered indigent, the first heart operation cost of P500,000 was taken care of by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) per Irene.  These costs were directly remitted to Philippine Heart Center. However, the cost of transportation, food, medicines, and various supplies, which are not covered by Phil Health, are the sole responsibility of Irene and her family. 

When baby Cedrick contracted E. coli, he was confined at the hospital for one month. Irene then stayed with him for one month eating only the hospital ration food and taking a shower there. It was Irene’s mom who stayed outside the hospital and ran errands for her to buy medicines and whatever supplies are needed for the baby. 

Baby Cedrick is scheduled for a check-up on June 20th in preparation for his second open-heart surgery.