Help save Johann's hearing - please donate
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Before you close this window thinking that this post might be a spam or a fraud, I would like to point out that this isn't. Please continue reading. This is not one of those emails you have been receiving asking for donations for a sick child in Africa who, in reality, does not exist. This is a legitimate appeal to save a child.
To establish proof that the child I am about to mention exist in person and to ascertain the authenticity of this plea, multiple links are provided at the end of the post. Links pointing to the department/college where the mother works, the university site and staff contact emails, the social bookmarking site of the mother (where you can see photos of the child and his family), even the email address of the mother and the contact number of the medical doctor.
I would like to introduce Janice Jamora. She was my colleague, a distant cousin and a very good friend when I was still a professor at the Civil Engineering Department of the University of San Carlos in Cebu, Philippines.
Since we've known each other since college days, Janice never missed to share her life's hurdles with me, especially when the problem involved her only child, Johann Marvel Vince.
In all our short sharing sessions about Johann, Janice would always shed a tear or two, enough to tap my heart and to bring me to a tearful situation as well. Stories of sacrifices that she'd been doing in order to give Johann a 'normal' childhood were heartbreaking.
I felt the pain in her when she began to accept the fact that her son isn't growing the way she hopes for him to be. When Johann was over two years old, he would have passed the crawling stage and started walking, or somehow attempted to walk. He would have been responding to noise and the call of his name. Sad to know, he didn't.
Janice was the one who cried more often.
Janice feels pain. She desires Johann to grow big and run. She wants him to walk and meet her when she gets home from work. She wishes him to talk and say ‘mama, I love you’. She yearns for him to see and feel how much she loves him. She wants to experience the delight of hearing his ‘first word’. She longs for him to hug her when she says “Come Johann”. She wants him to hear what she talks. Because she talks of love, patience and so much care!
In my last communication with Janice, she said Johann was diagnosed with Profound Hearing Loss on both ears. Johann needs cochlear implantation.
Janice's family doesn't have the financial capacity to send Johann for the necessary implantation. Coming from an average-income family, her husband runs a small "store" that earns a meager amount for their daily sustenance. Savings from her monthly salary are not sufficient to even shoulder half the expenses for one ear. Janice is doing her best to collect the needed amount for Johann's cochlear implantation. She is now selling bags, lotion, branded relief clothing and other stuff that can be sold to generate the money. Janice needs our financial help.
Today, September 10, 2008, Janice sent me a copy of a letter [download original letter complete with logo here] from Johann's Medical Doctor, Charlotte M. Chiong.
In my utmost desire to help Johann, Janice and her family, I am writing this post in hopes to accumulate the needed money to shoulder Johann's implantation. If the post above touches your generous heart, please click the PAYPAL button below (or on the sidebar) of this blog and donate any amount you like. A dollar donation (that's about 45 Philippine pesos) will go a long, long, long way for Johann's "new hearing". ALL PROCEEDS from this fund raising will go directly to Johann and Janice.
I will UPDATE this post every now and then for all donation updates. Please help me help this kid. He is awesome. A great future awaits him if we could give him the implantation as early as possible. Johann deserves to be happy just like any other child. Let us help ease Janice's pain.
This a big battle for Johann to fight to the finish. But every battle can be won. This is not a rare case and many have survived and ended with big happy stories to tell.
Janice’s comforts now lie on the reality that someday soon her son will be someone great – someone she would be so proud of. What Janice, a mother, cannot do is to desert Johann in grief.
Please support Johann, use the PAYPAL button to donate.
******
Important links and numbers - you can call the numbers to validate the existence of Janice Jamora (Civil Engineering Faculty member). You can even contact Johann's MD with these numbers (63-32)522-0946, (63-32)521-8095 and (63-32)521-8450 local 2153. These are all Philippine landline numbers.
Janice social bookmark account - Friendster. Email: janice_marlou [at] yahoo [dot] com
University of San Carlos (USC) contact number - (63)(32)253-1000
USC Civil Engineering Department - (63)(32) 344-3801
Photos of Johann with Mom Janice and Dad Marlou
Please leave a comment or words of support for Janice. If you own a blog or a website, you can embed either of the codes below that carry the image [Johann's donation banner], including the link of this post. Just highlight the code, copy and paste it into your blog template.
Original banner: Fits on the top of your post.
Button, 125x125: A standard size the fits most blog sidebars.
God bless you all!
Update: October 26, 2008
As of now, the PayPal donation button has received $125.00 US. Thank you so much for those who have donated for this cause.
We still need more to support Johann's operation. Keep the donation coming by clicking the PayPal button above. Thank you so much!
To establish proof that the child I am about to mention exist in person and to ascertain the authenticity of this plea, multiple links are provided at the end of the post. Links pointing to the department/college where the mother works, the university site and staff contact emails, the social bookmarking site of the mother (where you can see photos of the child and his family), even the email address of the mother and the contact number of the medical doctor.
I would like to introduce Janice Jamora. She was my colleague, a distant cousin and a very good friend when I was still a professor at the Civil Engineering Department of the University of San Carlos in Cebu, Philippines.
Since we've known each other since college days, Janice never missed to share her life's hurdles with me, especially when the problem involved her only child, Johann Marvel Vince.
In all our short sharing sessions about Johann, Janice would always shed a tear or two, enough to tap my heart and to bring me to a tearful situation as well. Stories of sacrifices that she'd been doing in order to give Johann a 'normal' childhood were heartbreaking.
Janice was the one who cried more often.
Janice feels pain. She desires Johann to grow big and run. She wants him to walk and meet her when she gets home from work. She wishes him to talk and say ‘mama, I love you’. She yearns for him to see and feel how much she loves him. She wants to experience the delight of hearing his ‘first word’. She longs for him to hug her when she says “Come Johann”. She wants him to hear what she talks. Because she talks of love, patience and so much care!
Janice's family doesn't have the financial capacity to send Johann for the necessary implantation. Coming from an average-income family, her husband runs a small "store" that earns a meager amount for their daily sustenance. Savings from her monthly salary are not sufficient to even shoulder half the expenses for one ear. Janice is doing her best to collect the needed amount for Johann's cochlear implantation. She is now selling bags, lotion, branded relief clothing and other stuff that can be sold to generate the money. Janice needs our financial help.
Philippine National Ear InstitutePlease share your blessings
UP-PGH Medical Center
Department of Otorhinolaryngology
2nd Floor Central Block, Philippine General Hospital
Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila 1000
Telephone: 521-8450 local 2153 Telefax 522-0946
September 11, 2008
Greetings!
We would like to refer Johann Marvel Vince Jamora, 3 years & 9 months old, boy, from Mandaue City to your good office for possible financial assistance for cochlear implantation.
Johann is diagnosed with Profound Hearing Loss on both ears as confirmed by a series of audiological tests done on him. Play Audiometry and ABR Studies results showed profound hearing loss on both ears.
Having a profound hearing loss at a very young age will have adverse effect on the child because speech and language development will be compromised as the child would not have any access to daily sounds and speech. Unless intervention is done (amplification) the chance of developing spoken language will be very minimal.
The cochlear implant will provide Johann access to normal daily sounds and voices that will be his guide and catalyst to develop spoken language…and a good chance for a better future.
For any further inquiries, you may contact me at the following numbers; (63-32)522-0946, (63-32)521-8095 & (63-32)521-8450 loc. 2153.
Sincerely yours,
Charlotte M. Chiong, M.D. [signed]
Deputy Director
Philippine National Ear Institute
PRC# 61381
PTR# B5412612A
In my utmost desire to help Johann, Janice and her family, I am writing this post in hopes to accumulate the needed money to shoulder Johann's implantation. If the post above touches your generous heart, please click the PAYPAL button below (or on the sidebar) of this blog and donate any amount you like. A dollar donation (that's about 45 Philippine pesos) will go a long, long, long way for Johann's "new hearing". ALL PROCEEDS from this fund raising will go directly to Johann and Janice.
I will UPDATE this post every now and then for all donation updates. Please help me help this kid. He is awesome. A great future awaits him if we could give him the implantation as early as possible. Johann deserves to be happy just like any other child. Let us help ease Janice's pain.
This a big battle for Johann to fight to the finish. But every battle can be won. This is not a rare case and many have survived and ended with big happy stories to tell.
Janice’s comforts now lie on the reality that someday soon her son will be someone great – someone she would be so proud of. What Janice, a mother, cannot do is to desert Johann in grief.
Please support Johann, use the PAYPAL button to donate.
******
Important links and numbers - you can call the numbers to validate the existence of Janice Jamora (Civil Engineering Faculty member). You can even contact Johann's MD with these numbers (63-32)522-0946, (63-32)521-8095 and (63-32)521-8450 local 2153. These are all Philippine landline numbers.
Janice social bookmark account - Friendster. Email: janice_marlou [at] yahoo [dot] com
University of San Carlos (USC) contact number - (63)(32)253-1000
USC Civil Engineering Department - (63)(32) 344-3801
Photos of Johann with Mom Janice and Dad Marlou
Original banner: Fits on the top of your post.
Button, 125x125: A standard size the fits most blog sidebars.
God bless you all!
Update: October 26, 2008
As of now, the PayPal donation button has received $125.00 US. Thank you so much for those who have donated for this cause.
We still need more to support Johann's operation. Keep the donation coming by clicking the PayPal button above. Thank you so much!
21 Comments:
Hi Eric!
You made me cry. I wasn't expecting this.
Thank you so much.
I don't know how to repay you but I know God will.
Janice
11 September, 2008
hi erick,
pwede ask?------
pila diay needs sa COCHLEAR IMPLANTATION.....
Sorry ask ko ha?
12 September, 2008
kay diri, hearing aid lang, an ear costed already 600-800 euro, depende sa klase.
pero kini kay implant man.....
curious lang ko ha...
hope makita ni nga funds........
God is Kind..........
vk
12 September, 2008
Hi everyone. I have asked Janice to answer every inquiry you have about Johann and the needed expenses. Thanks for droppin' by and leaving some comments.
Ciao!
12 September, 2008
i think it will cost a million 4 a cochlear implant.
rarely done here in the philippines.
i hope we can help the kid.
12 September, 2008
We have a GENEROUS GOD...I believe HE provides what our hearts will desire. I pray that the needed amount will be raised for Johann. My prayers are with him and his parents.
13 September, 2008
Oh dear...I saw your post in bisdak talksmart and thinking to spend a little amount here in your blog. Oh God, this thing is so hurting for the parents. He such a cute angel my goodness. To Janice and Marlou, this is a hard thing we all know that, hold on to prayers guys and believe. My prayers are with you especially to your precious son Johann.
13 September, 2008
hello! can you please send me the code for the 'help johann' banner? or better yet, could you make it available for copying in your site?
in case you're wondering, got your link through a webpost by ms. janice in our pf ygroup, most of the other pfs have blogs or friendster and facebooks, and i just thought that it would help if we could all sport the same help johann banners, like an online campaign or something
13 September, 2008
Hi Kakay. I already updated the post and added the code that you can embed into your blog. I might come up with a standard 125x125 button size for the sidebar.
Thanks for the support.
13 September, 2008
Hi!
I'm so grateful that a lot of people took time to read Eric's blog. Your comforting words really encouraged me to go on.
I am trying to raise 725,000 pesos (cost of implant for one ear only)and 175,000 pesos (doctor's package).The supplier of the implant is MED EL. I have talked with the manager, Mrs. Maribel Mueller and the ENT specialist at PGH, Dr. Charlotte Chiong. They gave me the above cost estimates.
As advised by the doctor, the implant has to be performed as soon as possible because what is at stake here is the language development of Johann. As per assessment, Johann who will turn 4 this November 24 has receptive language of 12-15 months and expressive language of 9-10 months. These developmental delays are all due to his impairment. But this condition can be improved through cochlear implantation and therapy.
The original target month for the implant is October but due to lack of funds, we're rescheduling it on December this year.
I wish I have enough resources to pursue with the surgery but my earnings as a teacher is not enough.That's why I tried to sell things to start Johann's funds.
I have met children with cochlear implants and I have seen how their speech were improved and how they can carry a conversation like normal hearing peers. And like other parents, I'm also dreaming and hoping that my little boy could also do the same.
Again, thank you so much.
And God bless you.
Janice
14 September, 2008
Hi Engr. Salas! I made a blog for johann too and quoted some of the facts you posted here. and copied the codes of the banner as well.. thanks for posting this..
God Bless..=)
21 September, 2008
I'm from batch '09. yes, coz i was on my 2nd yr or 3rd when you left USC...=)
21 September, 2008
Dear Janice and family,
Im not sure if it will help, but i copied the banner and put it on my bebo page. So far already 15 people have used it on their page. i hope this helps. Hopeful this will help raise money for johann.
13 October, 2008
Please let us know the exact amount this will cost so we can petition God.
Thanks :)
25 October, 2008
hi janice......
i feel sorry for your kid.i may not have a lot of money to help you,but dec 16,2008,i'll be going back to phil.you said that you're selling things to generate money.so maybe,i can give you things you can sell.
12 November, 2008
ka-apelyido ko sya. got her trhough dearbloggery. i'm sure along the parada, relative ko ang batang to. let me pick up the story and blog abou this.
22 November, 2008
by the way, the banners you have are all the same in small size.
22 November, 2008
hi reyna~ the two banners have different links. I think they do have different sizes.
22 November, 2008
Hi Janice,
You can enroll Johann in Mission for the Deaf school. Students there are all hearing impaired and they are taught lip-reading. They are not encouraged to do sign language. According to the staff there (which is run by nuns) most of the students are being sponsored (if I'm not mistaken) by Italians. I've talked with these kids and I'm amazed at how they can strike a conversation even though they can't hear you. They say that it's better to enroll the kid at an earlier age so that they can easily learn. I'll refer your case to one of the people here in Cebu who really is an advocate for this cause.
02 December, 2008
Hi! Thank you for your comments.
Johann is currently enrolled at Gualandi. He started here when he was just two years old. I do admit that the children are talking but not in a normal way. I have met children with implants and they talked as if they're normal. Children with implants react to sounds. When you react to sounds, this would mean that you can be trained to listen, comprehend and eventually produce the sound without having the speaker always facing infront of you. Children at gualandi lipread so you have to make sure they're looking at you when you do say something and you have to make it really slow and very clear what you say to them. And unlike the blind they are difficult to bring in a regular classroom (mainstream)because they cannot hear. And this is what I am aiming at to raise my son as close to normal as possible. This is the ultimate aim of Special Education: making special kids live a normal life.
I hope you will include Johann in your prayers because he will have surgery (cochlear implant) on January 9, 2009 Ftiday at Manila Doctors Hospital. Please pray for a successful operation and speedy recovery.
Thank you.
07 January, 2009
"Wisdom, glory and honor belong to God. It is worthy and fitting indeed to exalt Him, give Him thanks, praise Him always. Doctor treats, God heals. God's victory!"
I would like to share with you that with your prayers Johann's operation went well. It only took three hours. He was almost his usual bubbly, fun and entertaining child hours after the operation. He even manages to pose in front of a cellphone camera. God is really good.
Right now, we still need your prayers because Johann's speech development is a long and tedious process considering that he is already four years old. He has a lot to catch up.
So I am asking you again to pray for the complete healing of Johann's incision so that his implant will be "switch on" on time.
Thank you and God bless you.
Janice
26 January, 2009
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