MANILA, Philippines - It’s a race against time for the family of Mark Angelo Salazar who was diagnosed with biliary cirrhosis when he was barely six months old.
Doctors have warned his parents, Dennis and Maritess, that Mark may not reach his second birthday.
Now at two years and four months, Mark remains bubbly despite the discomfort and pain the illness brings, not least the itchy skin.
“If not for his yellowish skin and eyes and bloated stomach, no one would notice that he is sick. He loves to play with other kids. He has a ready smile for everyone,” related his father Dennis.
Biliary cirrhosis is a liver disorder characterized by irritation and inflammation of the bile ducts of the liver blocking the flow of the bile. This obstruction can damage the liver cells and lead to scaring or cirrhosis.
According to Dennis they already noticed that Mark, the fourth and youngest child, had “jaundice” or was yellowish when he was born.
“We were just told to expose him to sunlight in the morning. We did that every morning but nothing happened,” he noted.
The boy was brought back to hospital and this time, his parents were told he was suffering from “neo-natal hepatitis.”
Mark underwent treatment but his jaundice did not fade while his stomach started to swell.
His parents observed that the boy was becoming sickly and at six months old, he even developed pneumonia.
The parents were advised to consult Dr. Hermana Gregorio, head of the Philippine General Hospital - Gastroenterology and Nutrition Section, who diagnosed Mark to be suffering from biliary cirrhosis.
Mark’s family can be contacted at their residence in 869 Betina St. Sampaloc, Manila and through (0908) 366-4383 (Dennis) and (0933) 216-1991 (Maritess)
Those who wish to donate may deposit at Banco de Oro Savings Account No. 0300886918; Swift Code: BNORPHMM; under account name Mark Angelo Salazar.