The Fight Is Over

More than two years ago when we first noticed this little angel snoring in his sleep. Since that time, we never stopped searching for the answer why he sleep that way. And I started the search, here on myLot.

His battle started when he was still a year and two months old. That was the time when he lost his breathing on night. We almost lost him.

We had been to a lot of doctors too. But only this July that we got a confirmation from a specialist, that he has sleep apnea.

The fight continues, not only for him but also for me to find the right source of funds, for medication and the surgery. You gave strength not to give up, with your support, your prayers, and with a little share of your blessings.

Then they came to the rescue. TV5 Alagang Kapatid, a local TV program that aims to give hope and help the needy with their medical problems promised to help us look for the right institution for Zayzay' operation.

Three months ago when the program brought us here in Manila and with us everytime Zayzay have to be in St. Luke's Medical Center for check-up, tests and until the actual operation.

December 6, 2010. The date for what I called the BIG DAY for Zyruz Jayneil came. My wife was in tears seeing him crying and in pain, while she left the O.R. But the proceedings run smoothly, in just an hour.

Days passed, and now he sleeps normally, without snoring, without stop breathing, without the apnea. He eats better now than ever before. And he's back to his hyper-activity, and for being a menace to his playmates.

And now, we can say The Fight is Over...

So, Thank God for we have YOU...

More Pre-Operation Tests at St. Luke's Medical Center

More tests prior to operation done on November 29 and 30, 2010 at St. Luke's Medical Center, Quezon City...

Magiting Supports TV5's Alagang Kapatid

I just want to repost this one from Facebook account of TV5's Alagang Kapatid. We fully support this program as we believe, this is one program that will help the less fortunate Filipinos with their health problems.

As the saying goes, Health is Wealth. So how do we protect ourselves from various threat to our well being? By being armed with proper knowledge and information.

“Alagang Kapatid” is a documentary and feature show that tackles various health concerns and medical developments. The show aims to be of service to the Filipino public by providing information related to health, and offer hope and inspiration to those in need of medical assistance, and during emergency situations.

The show’s pilot episode will start airing this coming September 11 and will be continuing its service every Saturday from four to five in the afternoon, it will be hosted by veteran broadcast journalist Ms. Cheryl Cosim.

To inform the public and save lives, that’s our mission. Because for every health crisis, we offer the gift of knowledge and healing; the gift of “Alagang Kapatid”

Just like Magiting or Zayzay, there are so many children who needs medical assistance. And we hope, with this program, many lives will be changed.

The Fight Will Soon Be Over

At four months, we first noticed Zayzay snores like a grown-up. Most people have said that it is just normal for babies to snore; they call them “noisy breathers”. And because it was the first time we see a baby snores loud, we were even amused to hear the sound coming out from his mouth.

For most babies, it is common to get sick. Colds, cough and fever are just common sickness that little angles get, as they grow older. Again, as most people say, this is normal for them. And of course, there is asthma.

At one year and four months, Zayzay had a terrible sickness. He had cough, fever and asthma. We have to rush him to the hospital in the middle of the night. He stopped breathing and the color of his skin already changed. Doctors said he had terrible asthma at that time. So he had to stay in the hospital for three days.

This stop breathing experience, the snoring, the hospital confinement, made me think that it is not normal or it is just asthma. I know doctors know very well because they are professionals and they should know. But parents should know better when it comes to the feelings with their children, how they feel when they are sick. They are always by their side.

It’s not that I don’t believe to the doctors, but given the benefit of the doubt, I researched the Internet why my son sleeps that way. And for over two years, I doubted my son has asthma, but has sleep apnea.

Every time my son gets sick and we consult the doctors, I always try to tell them that I doubted our son has sleep apnea. But most of them, the family doctor, the pediatrician, the neurologist, have told me that sleep apnea is something that could not be told easily. It will take a lot of time and money to diagnose our child with sleep apnea.

But we never stopped looking for the right professionals who would feel the way we feel about our son. Who will talk about sleep apnea with us deeply. And we are fortunate that we found them.

The pediatric and pulmonologist we met for the first time had a lot of experiences with children who had problems with their sleeps. So we talked a lot and she listened. She referred us to a surgeon whom she worked many times with patients, children with sleeping problems. These two doctors confirmed that our son is actually having obstructive sleep apnea.

Now comes the big problem with me as the father. The surgeon has recommended surgery to remove his tonsils and adenoids. These are the part of his throat that makes our son snore and stop breathing. And this operation, he said, needs a lot of money to be done.

I seek help to raise funds. I talked a lot with my friends and relatives. I talked a lot on the Internet, on social networking sites and other online communities that I joined. It took a lot of courage and humility to do it. It took me days and nights in front of the computer, trying to reach more people, more hearts, who will feel helping us with our son.

Prayers came in and so as assistance. They came from different places of the world, different races and religions. And they came in as overwhelming but isn’t enough. Even though, I thank God for the support that we have got from those people.

But what made our hearts, as parents, feel better after a lot of sacrifices for our son is the message from a television program who got interested to help us. Hopefully, with this show, our problem with our son will come to an end.

Thanks Be To God.

A New Look of the Site

We have made some changes with the look of this site.

The top portion of the page features an image of the subject child Zyruz. It has links to some sites and pages within the site.

Now you can see how or where you can send your donations if you wish to help for the surgery of the child. You can easily contact us with a simple form found in the Contact page.

We also set-up a Guestbook found at the right portion of the page, so you can leave your message/greetings for Zyruz to make him feel that you care.

We are still trying to make the site look better, so please feel free to give your comments and suggestions from anywhere within the site.

God Bless.

We Should Not Wait For A Sleep Study

Our son Zayzay always have cough and colds, keep coming almost every month, just like today for almost 2 or 3 days now. We decided to see a pulmonologist so that even tuberculosis issue will be given an end to our worries.


So we found one who seems to be the perfect medical practitioner for our child, after so many doctors who checked him. And we told her everything, his health history, from he was a baby who snores loudly, and so on. And so she is convinced it is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) for all the symptoms of it are present with our child.

But this, she said, still have to be referred to her most trusted ENT doctor who will reconfirm the OSA. She said she worked with this ENT several times and had their last team-up with a patient whom they done an operation, removing the tonsils.

She also added that sleep study is not necessary at this time or we are not supposed to wait for the study be done or something more serious might happen to the child. We should not wait for a sleep study, she said.

By this time, it is not yet final that the operation will really be necessary, but the pulmo-pedia looked at it as very much necessary, although she said, the ENT doctor will have the final say about it.

Let's see what will the ENT doctor will have to say once he see Zayzay. If he will find operation is unnecessary then it's good. But if not, we have to work more harder to raise the funds for the operation.

Medication for six months

We came about an hour after the clinic opened. We were at number 17 in the list but when we arrived, there were only 4 patients in the waiting area, so we thought we could be attended to at about an hour. But after two hours, there were more patients arrived and we never called until four hours of waiting. There seems to have some problems with their system. We though that even if we were last in the list, they could find ways to at least insert us in between patients, but we were wrong. My wife got pissed off, so she got out of the clinic for some air.

Well, after four hours, it was our turn. And everything was talked about for our little angel. And it turned out good and going better.

We have to continue the medication. There is the "montemax", the "aerus", and the "steam inhalation". The doctor added on more thing, nasal spray. She found out that Zayzay is responding well with the treatment of his sinusitis, so that's it, we will just continue giving him these medicines until the sixth month.

If the treatment will going to be great, the doctor said, we could be spared of with more expenses, specially for the operation to remove his tonsils. She don't want to do this, in the first place.

Well, until the next update...

What the laboratory tests reveal

January 6, 2010. This day revealed that according to the laboratory tests, Magiting only have thick sinusitis, that the doctor said, it a bit easy to treat, Blood tests showed that he is fine, but the x-ray results showed sinusitis at his nasal airways. Practically, causing him to breath hard, that could be the cause of choking.

His apnea is not clear this point of time, as the doctor said, we still have to attend to sinusitis, for say, six months. Until then, if the situation is still the same, we have to go for the sleep test.

So far, our little angel is doing fine, although the snoring is still there, which is the one thing that we really have to get rid of.

But anyway, medication is on going, and so as the steam inhalation regularly.

And good thing, we have no problem with him in taking the meds.

We have just started

December 22, 2009. We have just started with the series of tests. The doctor recommended complete blood count, peripheral smear check and complete paranasal x-ray.

The results of the tests are already out and we are about to get back to the doctor's clinic tomorrow. The results will be interpreted to us, so within two days or so, I could go back here and tell about the findings.

More painful to parents

We all know that when it comes to our children, we will do everything just to see them in good condition, with regards to their basic needs, health, school, etc. And it is very painful to parents to see them bad.

With Zyruz's health condition, the doctors wants to be sure what really causes his loud snoring and if it has really something to do with sleeping apnea.

The doctors recommendation is x-ray of the neck portion and sleep test.

Sleep test alone, in one and the only hospital who has facilities here in Cebu will cost us about 20,000 Pesos (or an equivalent to USD $415.00)

And we can't find that said amount to bring him to that hospital. We can't do anything, so far, as the economy is getting worst. The income I earn is just as enough for our basic needs.

It's so painful to see Zyruz in his condition as he sleeps. The chocking time, the untimely waking-up as he cries, as he cries for help. We can't do something to help him, but to make sure he will not again stay longer in that position. Only to put him on his sides. To monitor his position in his sleeps, and that's all.

So far, that is all we can do to help him. We have nothing to make sure his condition will get better or the problem disappears. Nothing, only when help comes.

No more deep sleep with apnea

Aside from having light sleeps at night, to monitor how the child sleeps, one of the painful experiences for parents is to see the child sleeping uncomfortable.

There are lots of time you can see and feel that the child is uncomfortable while he is sleeping. He always move from side to side. He cannot stay in one position. You can compare it to the clock, who always in the move.

Worst, is when you hear the snore stops for awhile and then you see him as if was chocked. At this point, he usually gets awaken, and then he cries. And my wife usually gets awaken too. Or anyone sleeping beside him.

But what else can we do? So far, that's all, to monitor him while asleep.
To change his position if we feel he breathes with difficulties.
And have patience.

Monitor child while asleep

It will not depend on what time the child will sleep, daytime or night-time, you have to check his position. You should always make sure he sleeps on his side, not on his back.

Just like today when we took a nap in the afternoon. We all fell asleep so we were awaken by a loud crying voice of Zyruz. Though we are sleeping, we can still hear his loud snore. But suddenly, he cry out loud.

Maybe, he had dreamt or maybe he really had hard breathing that time. He's gasping for air too, just like he came from a long run.

But how can you tell a child like Zyruz, that he has sleeping problem? No way you can say he has until you see him sleep.

This boy is super hyper-active. He plays a lot. He always run, dance, sing, etc. He always wants to be with his mom at the backyard while she is doing the laundry, or will always soak his body in the basin full of water. He loves water so much.

Another day has passed. And this means, another struggle for a night of noisy sleep for him. Another night for me and my wife, to always check him, while he sleeps.

Smiles are back

On September, 2008, some few days after Ting had been discharged from the hospital, and still recovering from his LBM.

He was slowly recovering his appetite. Though he didn't like the taste of the oral dehydration fluid, we mix it with his milk. He likes to drink gatorade, so we also put in some fluid with gatorade, just to trick him.

He continue to take paracetamol to let his temperature at the normal range.

Slowly, he take more solid food without vomiting. He drinks his milk well. He can now plays with the kids, and already dances with them. Back to normal, at last.

One time, while my wife is feeding Ting, she noticed some white portion of his gum. As there were some more teeth coming out. And looks like there were four of them, coming out all together. This maybe the reason for his fever and LBM.

The Day after the Discharge

On Friday, August 29, 2009, Magiting manifested LBM (loose bowel movement) and vomits though his temperature is normal and his breathing is normal too. We thought that the problem with his health will be gone with the continued medication.

The doctor advised us to stop giving him some of the medicine with only to kinds to continue. She also mentioned the his milk and other solid food should be stopped while his tummy is being treated.

She mentioned about the milk. We can continue to give him milk, she said, but only that is lactose-free.

The stool should be collected too, for another laboratory test.

One medicine the doctor mentioned, was that of an anti-biotic. She advised to stop giving that one and had prescribed another one. She said that the previous one might be the one that caused him to loose movement.

Discharged and back to normal

On August 28, 2008, Magiting had been discharged by the doctors.

A lot of laboratory tests had been done to him. A lot of medicines had been given. A the doctors found nothing wrong with him, it's only that his asthma worsens.

At least, Ting is already okay. And when I come back in the evening from the three-day seminar in Iloilo City, I can see him back to normal. Normal as in the naughty Ting again.

Rushing Magiting to the Hospital

It was August 26, 2008. I was about to attend a three-day seminar in Iloilo City. So I have to prepare myself for the morning trip.

Magiting has fever at that day. And all the night, we were monitoring his temperature. But with the said seminar, I have to get myself prepared and have to rest.

As I was already finds myself sleeping, my wife pokes me and calls my name. Magiting raises temperature, though we never forgot to give him paracetamol. We can feel his difficulties in breathing. But suddenly, his breathing almost stop. We decided to bring him to the hospital.

It was already three in the morning when we arrived the hospital. I have to be in the airport at eight but I still have to see that they will be okay when I leave them.

My wife gave me go signal to leave. But of course, I can never be fine at the seminar. My mind will be left with my baby, though I'm sure his mom can handle everything in the hospital.

The Loudest Snorer in the House

At about eight months or maybe earlier, we noticed that Magiting or Ting as we fondly calls him, snores in his sleeps. We were having fun at him as he snores. Can you imagine a baby who snores louder than any adult in the house?

Wife gets her phone and records while he sleeps so we can have time see review and so that we can also let other relatives see how he snores. No one who the video can tell that it was actually a baby that snores like that.

There was someone who actually saw and witness Ting in his sleeps. And she said that, wow, this is something not ordinary, he seems like an adult that snores too much. He seems he's raising the roof. He really is the loudest snorer in the house.

The Birth of Magiting

During World War II, the American forces in Bataan, Philippines, surrendered to the Japanese forces. There were about 70,000 soldiers marched from Mariveles town to San Fernando, in Pampanga.

The death march was a long line of soldiers walking under the heat of the sun, guarded by Japanese soldiers on both sides. Thousands died from disease, hunger and fatigue, while many of them stumbled and were bayoneted.

But it was also the time that Filipinos showed their courage. While the guards were looking elsewhere, they pulled out soldiers from the ranks and saved them from death. Quite a number of the marchers survived the death march.

That was April 9, 1942. And that was how the Philippines called this day, "Araw ng Kagitingan" (Day of Valour) a national holiday in the country.

But in 2007, one courageous baby boy was born in the city of Lapu-Lapu, in the province of Cebu.

He was named Zyruz Jayneil, and because of the holiday, we call him, MAGITING.