Dr. Mae Dolendo, founder of the House of Hope Foundation for Kids with Cancer (HoHF), said she dreams of a bigger facility for children with cancer as the current facility is expected to be overwhelmed with patients by next year.
In an interview, Dolendo said the Children’s Cancer Institute, located in the compound of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) is still manageable for now as everybody we’re just coming out of the pandemic and patients are coming back, but eventually, in one year or next year, patients are expected to overwhelm the place.
“Kaya isa sa mga dreams namin ay makakita ng bigger space para sa Children’s Cancer Institute at para mas maramin tayong ma-accommodate not only mga bata but also other services. We are hoping magkaroon kami ng genetics lab na state-of-the-art para sa mga bata in terms of diagnosis,” she said.
Dolendo said they already talked and discuss this with an individual but it was just a talk.
“Hopefully, this will be another dream come true para sa Davao City and the island of Mindanao,” she said.
She said during the New Year they sent the children home as a tradition to celebrate with their family. Currently, there are only about 10 children in the House of Hope but the admissions have increased, and is expected that the number will double within the year.
“All together meron 40 patients sa hospital some of them daily ang diagnose and some of them continue ang treatment,” she said.
According to Dolendo, 80 percent of the kids with cancer being housed at the said facility come from outside Davao City.
“Hindi lahat ng mga bata ay taga Davao dahil ang SPMC ay end-referral center for the whole island of Mindanao,” she explained.
She is also thankful because they were able to survive the pandemic. She explained that during the pandemic they are dealing with two things: cancer and Covid-19.
“Pero seguro inate na sa ating mga Pilipino na very resilient, so medyo konti ang pasyente namin during the pandemic kasi nga nag-lockdown ang Davao.We are vey happy also kasi ang daming blessings like the people na for the longest time nag-support sa House of Hope and our advocacy for children with cancer so we are very thankful for everyone at special mention ko si former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte kasi for more than 10 years na siya nagsupport before siya na president and after siya na president. Apart from him kay Senator Bong Go, sa mga ordinary na tao sa Davao City and even outside Davao City na nagbibigay ng kanilang suporta para sa mga bata,” she said.
HoHF, a non-profit organization to help support kids with cancer and their families, provide transient homes and opportunities to continue school from a hospital-based education program.
Rody the bear
Jasmin Egan, a former protocol director II of the Office of the President during the Duterte administration, initiated a project called “Rody the Bear”.
In her Facebook page “Egan Jasmin,” she encourages everyone to purchase “Rody the Bear,” a 15-inch plushie produced for FPRRD, for P1,600 each.
The post says the proceeds from the sales of “Rody the Bear” will go to House of Hope to kickstart the fundraising for the new building to be built in Tagum City, Davao del Norte to accommodate more children from different parts of the Philippines.
“We will be presenting the initial funds to HOH on PRRD’s birthday this year, in time for the meaningful unveiling of the renovated House of Hope. Supporting this initiative allows us to extend the legacy of our dear Tatay Digong, and would help many more children afflicted with cancer get the help they need,” it says.
