By Marisol Bo-oc | 08:58 PM May 12, 2020
A few weeks before summer last year, Raffy Tamarra learned he had end-stage renal failure — a total shutdown of his kidneys.
He was just 30 years old.
The struggles he went through as the disease took over him, the very independent and a happy young man lost enthusiasm when he briefly underwent dialysis.
Since he lived in Barangay Eastern Cabul-an in Buenavista town, he preferred to have his dialysis in Cebu City because of the proximity and cheaper price.
His mother Esteria accompanied him where they stayed at his sister’s house in Barangay Cordova in Cebu City while he underwent dialysis.
Dialysis prolongs survival, but it also imposes burdens — like traveling to a clinic three times a week for four-hour sessions of hemodialysis, or doing multiple fluid exchanges daily for peritoneal dialysis.
Day by day the readings on his monthly blood tests grew troubling; he felt cold and tired; his hands and feet began to swell. Esteria who took care of him could not bear the pain he suffered.
Last March, Raffy persuaded his mother to return to Bohol but lockdown was implemented in provinces of Cebu and Bohol to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.
According to Gerwin Yudelmo of the “2nd District Volunteer Leaders of Stranded Boholanos in Cebu”, Tamarra even asked help to buy medicines.
He also waited for a government aid but he died before he could receive one.
He died on April 28, 2020. He was 31.
“Apan subo pamalandungon nga, wala na sya kapaabot sa maong ayuda,” said Yudelmo in a Facebook post.
Before he died, Yudelmo said, he requested Esteria that he would like to be buried in his hometown.
However, his wish was not granted because of the “No Sail Policy.”
Boholanos also stranded in Cebu through #ProjectHOPE were able to raise P10,000 as financial assistance for the burial last May 1.
#ProjectHOPE is composed of young people who aimed at helping fellow Boholanos who are stranded in Cebu.
For those who want to help his family in cash:
GCASH ACCOUNT
ACCOUNT NAME: JUNREY MENGUITO
ACCOUNT NUMBER : 09508931897
PAYMAYA ACCOUNT
ACCOUNT NAME: JUNREY MENGUITO
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 09508931897
BDO ACCOUNT
ACCOUNT NAME: JUNREY MENGUITO
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 002680117022
BPI acct number: 1199515825
Acct name: Jan Vier Yudelmo
Palawan/Cebuana/Mhulier :
Ruzzell June Bondad
09355525274
