Mar 11, 2014 by -

Pinay OFW suffering kidney failure needs brothers to save her

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By Don Tagala, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

March 11, 2014

Bronx, New York – Overseas Filipino Worker Vida Dionne Chua has unusual bedroom accessories. It’s a peritoneal dialysis machine that is keeping her alive.

Known as Dionne to her friends, the 30-year-old Filipino was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2013.

Kidney disease is the ninth leading cause of death in the US. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two leading causes of kidney disease.

With end stage renal disease, Dionne gets home dialysis treatment every day for eight hours when she goes to bed at night.
“This is programmed to last through eight hours,” Chua said. “When I wake up, I unplug it. I barely get out of the house with my condition.”

This Bacoor, Cavite native came to New York in 2010 to work as a physical therapist in an orthopedic clinic at the Bronx through an H1B temporary work visa.

Despite her fragile condition, Dionne continues to work full time, not only to support her family but to pay for her bills and private health insurance.

Her mother Violeta is an undocumented immigrant who can only get odd jobs as a caregiver and nanny.

She wishes she could support her daughter financially, but it’s been tough.

Violeta said, “It’s hard to see her go through this. If I could only take away the pain, I would.”

Even if she is going through tough times, Dionne manages to blog and talk about healing.

Her only option right now is a kidney transplant – a surgery that would cost more than $250,000 with a maintenance cost of at least $6,000 for medications.

Dionne said, “I hope I can get the operation I need to become well. I want to live a normal life, like everyone else.”

“”I want her to get well because she has so many dreams. She wants to help so many people who need physical therapy,” Violeta said.

A few months ago, her father Virgilio came to the US on a visitor visa to donate his kidney.

He left Dionne’s three younger brothers in the Philippines.

To increase her chances of getting better her parents also want to bring two of Dionne’s brother to the US as possible donors.

They are hoping the US Embassy in the Philippines will grant them a visa – especially if it’s a life or death situation.

“I miss my other children,” Virgilio said. “Someday, I hope we will be together again as a family.”

You may contact Don Tagala at don_tagala@abs-cbn.com for more information.

by Balitang America - Mar 11, 2014

by Balitang America - Mar 11, 2014
One Comment

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  • Maria Elizabeth Embry
    12 March 2014 at 10:39 am - Reply

    @ Don Tagala, contact info ho needed for Ms. Chua….perhaps we could make the connection needed to help w/ her brothers’ visas…no harm trying…I tried to look for her name @facebook to no avail….pls give her my e-mail: maria.embry@att.net

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