Five children paddle in pool

As an unusual treat, five children from Tina's Kalayaan household were able to go paddling in the baby pool at the Samonte resort in Lumban, Laguna.

Tina e-mailed me some photographs from the occasion.

I'd never been to the resort, I said: "Maybe one day."

"I'm wondering [when] and wish, too, you will be here with us," Tina replied.

Expenses overwhelm poor, pregnant, bleeding woman and relatives

E-mail from Tina sent at 14:42 GMT+8

Dear Bern,

1. This is the prescription of Dra. D . . . :

Duvadilan 1 tab, once a day, need 7 pcs, 17.20 each, total cost 119, Hemostan 500 mg 10 cap, 2 x a day 22.50 each, total cost 225, Beniforte or Hemarate 1 tab. once a day, only available in Mercury drugs was Hemarate cost 11.00 each, total cost 674.

2. Then I spend Dr. fee cost 1,500 in 2 times each, yesterday and today dra.* Fees.

3. Then after Dra.* D . . . give a request for ultrasound on May 28, to see if there [is] a development and to avoid premature labor, it will cost again 1,500.

4. I Hope you understand, I also scan the result of ultra sound before which [was] requested in doctor in Provincial hospital last April 27, 2007.

5. I almost spend 2,500 for Liza check up and medicine, then my problem was another 1,500 on May 28, for ultrasound and another dra.* fee, need another 2,500 almost.

6. The money I have was my allowance for operation maybe on the first week of June, and I don't know yet what will be the exact expenses, what I can do? I want to save the life of the baby, that why I do that, I [know] that will be my next problem soon, how I can return the money I spend for Liza, and another expenses on May 28?

7. The main problem of mine was the allowance of Liza ‘s 2 child Ken and Kert, which Ken now I need to enroll in kindergarten this coming June, it's also my responsibility, also the situation of Liza, I hope we avoid premature labor, coz we experience it before on her 2nd child Kert, [who] was [in an] incubator for 1 month, it's so hard and so expensive. The allowance for their milk, diaper, and food, that make my life harder, but what I can do, I'm the elder and my responsibility [is] to help them, specially this moment.

8. I try to open a ATM account so I did not bring cash in hospital - it was BPI Express Teller International . . .

9 I hope Bern you can help me regarding my problem about Liza and kids' situation.

[Liza's husband] Roderic was now in Alabang suffering illness in TB.

Tina.

*Dra. is an abbreviation for "Doktora", female doctor.

Pregnant woman still bleeds, sick sister uses funds set aside for own surgery

Tina (00:23:00): Gud evening Bern, how are you? I hope you're OK, if you ask me, I plan to go to PGH* on Thursday, to talk to my surgeon n private OB**, coz Liza was bleeding even [though] she was stay[ing] at home. We need to return tomorrow, I will scan prescription.

Tina (00:28:19): Sad to say, I used some of my money for my operation for Liza bleeding, coz my opinion my first priority is to save d life of d baby. I know you're so busy, I will scan.

* Philippine General Hospital.

** Obstetrician.

Texts received online at 10:20 AEST

Insufficient funds for trip to hospital

Tina (08:31:32): Gud am Bern! How are you? I hope you're OK? And Alice. I received withdrawal 5k, from Joe yesterday, I can buy [medications] on [i.e. at] PGH* on Monday, which was my schedule of my checkup in Dr. T, but sad to say I don't have allowance for d trip [Received Friday, 4 May 2007 at 15:26:15].

*Philippine General Hospital, Manila.

Sick woman worries about how family can survive

Tina (01:14:33): Bern gud evening, sorry if disturb you! It's so hard to have slept, coz of so much worried, I have now new bruises in my forearm and legs, in dis case I'm worried in platelet transfusion in my near operation.

Tina (01:17:48): I'm worried to Liza, she goes to Alabang today, to get d 2 child and bring it here. I'm worried how we can survive, if Liza don't have work and Roderic was sick, its back on my responsibility again.

Sick, worried woman seeks information

Tina (21:58:22): Gud evening Bern, how are you? I'm worried and thinking about you? I hope you're OK? Please kept in touch. Take care. [Text message received at 22:28:37.]

Venomous snakes and snakebite treatment in Asia

by Y. Sawai

Snakebite is a hazard in Asian areas. The mortality rate and morbidity rate by snakebites in these areas depend on the species and the density of venomous snakes in each area. Thus the mortality rate is higher in the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and India, where the bites by cobras, kraits and Russell's viper are frequent. On the other hand, lower rates of bite are recorded in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia and Indonesia, where the bites by pit viper of Agkistrodon and Trimeresurus species are predominant. The bite by the seasnakes of Hydrophiidae is also a problem among fishermen in Malaysia and Indonesia, Environment of human life, where the snakebites occur, is also another important factor. In most of the areas, modernization of the medical treatment is delayed because of shortage of specific antivenom, lack of the experts who are able to inject antivenom intravenously soon after the bite, popularization of herbal remedies, and poor mode of transportation of patients to hospital.

Source: http://rjh.folium.ru/contents/1998/1998-02.htm. Abstract of article in Russian Journal of Herpetology 1988, Vol. 5 No. 2.