A Focus on Rheumatic Heart Disease Philippines
Rheumatic Heart Disease Philippines was founded in 2017 because of my wife who has RHD. At first we didn’t know anything about RHD, but my search on social media connected us to a community of other RHD patients and their families. Together we exchange knowledge, and share experiences about the hardships and sacrifices we have experienced. So one of the goals of the group is to support each other, help each other without hesitation, and without reciprocation.
Some of the main challenges identified by our groups are the anxiety that comes with living with RHD, the medications that need to be taken, and the do’s and don’ts of how to live with RHD. My wife had her surgery in 2021, and we are very thankful to God.
Our group provides quality support to these patients and their families on their journey. We counsel families, connect them with our partner sponsors and medical practitioners, help them raise funds for their necessary surgeries and medical needs, and most importantly welcome them into a caring family. At Rheumatic Heart Disease Philippines we fully understand what they need and what they are going through because we have been there.
In 2019 we organized the first patient-family day in the Philippines, held at the Philippine Heart Center. We ran the event along with other groups as well as doctors, and it was repeated in 2021 online due to the pandemic. Some of the topics we discussed included How do you explain to your child his condition; the importance of addressing mental health issues early on; and identifying available support systems for the patient and family.
I want readers of this blog to know that Rheumatic Heart Disease Philippines is willing to help our fellow patients despite their illnesses, not necessarily financially, but through moral support and spiritual advice.
You can find Rheumatic Heart Disease Philippine’s Facebook page HERE.
