Rainbow Families Foundation Newsletter - January 2003

January 2003

Today I wanted to catch up with you on what has been happening with Jose Antonio Alcantara. It's been quite a whirlwind. Jose drank Clorox bleach in late October 2001. I think I explained before that most products are sold in single serving sizes. In this case bleach is sold in a small plastic bag that holds about a cup. Water is also sold in small plastic bags of the same configuration. Jose's mother, Candida, says that he mistook the bleach for water. Unfortunately, as you have seen, the homes here do not have storage spaces that are for the safety of the children. His parents immediately took him to Hospital Ricardo Limardo, the public hospital in Puerto Plata. Because they live so far into the countryside, it takes about 45 minutes to get to Puerto Plata, first by motoconcho and then by public car. Jose was in the public hospital overnight for observation and then released. They did nothing. Jose was in the Centro Medico Bourignal private hospital in Puerto Plata 22-26 October 2001 but then released. On 19 November 2001 his parents took him to Centro Medico Cibao in Santiago with symptoms that Jose was unable to eat, severe weight loss, dehydration, fever and cough. Dra. Yolando Rodriguez was the attending physician. She directed many tests and determined his esophagus was closed and performed the surgery to insert a feeding tube in his stomach. He was there for seven days. At this time the father, Alionsio, worked in one of the hotels in Playa Dorada in the maintenance department and had insurance, however, he still had to pay 30,000 pesos that the insurance did not cover (about $1,875 = 16 pesos to 1 dollar during this time). As a result of 11 September many people were let go from their jobs because the hotels were not getting many tourists and unfortunately Alionsio lost his job and his insurance. He now works as a farmer and makes about 3,000 pesos per month with no insurance. Later Candida took Jose Antonio to the Maternity Hospital in Monte Llano where I have previously donated many medical supplies. Dr. Diaz at Maternity referred her to Dr. Montero at Plaza la Salud, a private hospital in Santo Domingo. Candida and Alionsio took Jose to see Dr. Montero. Dr. Montero explained that surgery would cost 50,000 pesos. Unfortunately since they don't have insurance or much money they have not been able to do anything more. When Jacobo and I were in the countryside investigating the school in Arroyo de Leche we were stopped by Candida. She briefly explained what happened to her son and asked if we could help. I told her I didn't have any money and didn't want to make any promises but would see what I could do. We started an inquiry about the family to learn their situation. They are indeed in a very bad situation with four other children. Sadly the youngest daughter, Lionela (now 1 year old), thinks her eight year old sister Jhoana is her mother since she cares for her all the time, simply because Jose Antonio requires so much care and attention. Jose cannot eat or drink anything and his saliva must be wiped from his mouth constantly. When Candida tries to hold Lionela she cries for her sister. Jacobo and I visited the family a few times unexpectedly and never saw any signs of alcohol or drug abuse in the home. Always the small house was tidy and the yard swept. I gave Candida pesos to take the motoconcho and meet me at the Maternity Hospital in Monte Llano for a checkup to ensure the feeding tube was clean and there were no signs of infection. Dr. Diaz is still working there and ensured me everything was fine. While talking this case to various people I was told that the doctors here are required by the government to work a certain number of hours in the public hospitals. I took Candida and Jose Antonio to Dr. Nuñez at the Ricardo Limardo Public Hospital in Puerto Plata for a checkup and asked that he prepare a letter to Dr. Montero explaining the case and request that he perform the surgery gratis in a public hospital in Santo Domingo. (Dr. Nuñez is the surgeon who donated the surgeries for the women who didn't want to have more babies.) Dr. Nuñez didn't recommend Dr. Montero or Plaza la Salud for the surgery and suggested Dr. Herbierto Rodriguez Bonet who is a surgeon specializing in the esophagus, oncology and pancreas. Dr. Bonet is at the Hospital Padre Billini in Santo Domingo (public hospital) and Centro Medico Antillano (private hospital) in Santo Domingo. Dr. Nuñez advised that Jose has severe anemia and the operation could not be done until he is strong. He recommended Candida to liquify beans and meat to feed to him. Nena and Riza (sisters-in-law of Grimaldy) suggested a recipe of Vino de Sangre (blood wine). It is a liquid mixture of 2 bottles of malta alemana, ½ pound of bija, l liter of honey bee meal, 4 sobra dust of iron, extract of malta with hemoglobina, and ribalbo (some type of fish, I think) or arengue (herring). This is prepared in a 2 liter bottle and left to ferment for 3 days. It is fed to children and adults to keep the immune system strong and is given many times for gripe (cold and flu). I gave Nena the money to buy this in the pharmacy and supermarket and she immediately went to work. While in Puerto Plata with Candida we went to the pulga (flea market) to buy sneakers for the 9-year-old son. He hasn't been able to go to school since he didn't have any shoes. I stayed in the car in hopes that Candida would get a better price but she still had to pay 250 pesos ($12.50) for used sneakers. Because the Haitian government is so corrupt, the humanitarian aid that is shipped from the United States and Canada is sold by the bails as it comes off the containers. The Haitian people bring it across the border into the DR and sell the clothing, shoes and things in the pulgas. While waiting for Dr. Nuñez to prepare the letter I took Jose Antonio's father, Alionsio, to the Centro Medico Cibao in Santiago to get copies of the medical records. We met with Dra. Yolando Rodriguez who performed the surgery to insert a tube in his stomach. At first Dra. Rodriguez did not have a problem to give us the medical records. She told us to come back after 2PM when the staff returned from lunch. Alionsio and I walked to a little shack to have lunch. I showed him the photograph that was taken of his wife and Jose with his shirt pulled up to show the tube. He broke down and started crying. He apologized and took about 10 minutes to compose himself. We returned to the hospital promptly at 2PM and then waited an hour for Dra. Rodriguez to return. The secretary said there was a problem and that Dra. Rodriguez had to explain. Dra. Rodriguez explained the insurance company would not allow anyone outside the hospital to receive the medical records. I asked to speak to the Director of the hospital (I don't remember his name). She called him and we met. He didn't speak English, only Spanish and Portuguez since he is from Brazil. I explained about Rainbow Families Foundation and what I have been doing in the Dominican Republic. The director called Dra. Rodriguez and asked her to makes copies of the records for me. After waiting much time the secretary came with 3 pieces of paper consisting of laboratory results. I asked for the other records and she said it was not possible. I asked to speak to the Director once again. She called him and then told me the laboratory results were all I was allowed to receive and the Director could not see me again. She said she would prepare a letter summarizing what she did and would fax to me by noon the following day. I asked if I could see the file and she said the file was in administration, which was not true because I saw it on the secretary's desk, however, I did not dispute. At this time Alionsio became very angry with her and they got into an argument. Both were very upset and I took him away and we returned to Puerto Plata. I got copies of the records from Centro Medico Bourignal in Puerto Plata. The medical records from Ricardo Limardo, the public hospital in Puerto Plata, could not be found. Dr. Nunez prepared the letter to Dr. Bonet and Nena called to schedule an appointment with him. Grimaldy and I drove to Santo Domingo to meet with Dr. Bonet. He reviewed the records and said he could do the surgery. He offered to volunteer all of his services at the request of Dr. Nuñez but the hospital would charge 100,000 pesos. I asked why Dr. Montero at Plaza la Salud could do the surgery for 50,000 pesos. He said that Dr. Montero was his student while in medical school and is a gastroentologist but not a surgeon and could not do the surgery. That's when I learned Dr. Bonet is a professor at the university as well as surgeon. He went on to say that Plaza la Salud is notorious for quoting a price and then when the patient comes for the surgery they double or triple the price and it was not possible to do the surgery for 50,000 pesos. Dr. Bonet is volunteering all of his services before, during and after the surgery. He advised the surgery is major and very dangerous and would take a minimum of 4 hours and up to 8 hours. He highly recommended that the surgery is not done in the public hospital and the public hospital that he practices (Hospital Padre Billini) is for adults only. Barring any complications, Jose would be in the hospital for minimum 7 days and his mother would be allowed to sleep in his room during the entire time. When Nena scheduled the appointment I asked her if Dr. Bonet needed to see Jose. She said no. I asked Grimaldy to ask her again in Spanish and she said no. When Grimaldy and I arrived in Dr. Bonet's office he asked where is Jose. He said he told the person on the phone to bring Jose to the appointment. An unfortunate miscommunication. So . . . an unnecessary trip to Santo Domingo. Dr. Bonet directed that we take Jose to Puerto Plata the next day (Saturday) for an esophagus x-ray with a liquid solution. He wrote the order, which I cannot pronounce or spell. Jacobo and I took Jose and Candida to Puerto Plata. Many of the laboratories were closed, one would not do the x-ray because the doctor said it could cause respiratory problems and he refused to call Dr. Bonet or allow me to call Dr. Bonet to explain his concern. The lab at the private hospital did not have time on this day since it takes about an hour and the doctor on call had to leave early. Grimaldy called Dr. Bonet and explained what happened. He said to bring Jose to Santo Domingo on Monday (two days later) for the x-ray and examination. Jacobo and I returned to Santo Domingo with Jose and Candida. Dr. Bonet told us to buy a baby bottle for Jose to suck the solution. Jose doesn't understand why he cannot eat foods like everyone else. He was crying when the tests were getting done. Grimaldy told him that he would be able to eat chicken, beans and rice and he stopped crying. I told him he would be able to eat crackers and cookies like the other children and he smiled very big with his eyes wide open. The technician took the x-ray and confirmed the solution did not pass and the esophagus is closed. Dr. Bonet ordered a blood test while we were there but the results would not be ready until Wednesday, Christmas Day. He gave me all of his phone numbers and said to call him at home. Dr. Bonet prescribed PediaSure nutrition drink for children at 2 cans each day. He had 6 cans in his office and donated them. I told him we gave Candida the concoction of Vino de Sangre and he said it was good to continue with it as well as the normal diet of liquid beans, meat, juices, oats and rice. Grimaldy called Dr. Bonet for me on Christmas Day and the blood test confirmed his protein level is very low, which at a normal level, allows wounds or incisions to heal. The test also revealed his iron is very low. Dr. said to continue with the PediaSure and then come to Santo Domingo on Monday for another blood test. Grimaldy asked if the test can be done locally and he agreed. This test is scheduled tomorrow at 8AM. The x-ray cost 1,070 pesos, first blood test 500 pesos, vino de sangre 179 pesos, baby bottle 30 pesos, not to mention gas, food, motoconcho, etc. Now I am buying the PediaSure at the pharmacy for 50 pesos each can. Even if the blood test shows the nutrition drink is increasing the iron and protein, we will have to continue until the surgery. Dr. Bonet said the surgery can be done two ways; one by substituting Jose's esophagus for part of his colon, the second by using part of his stomach. He will not know until the surgery. He explained Jose will be able to drink liquids after the first day of surgery, soft foods on the third day and then by the 9th day he should be able to eat solid foods. I continued to ask many, many questions, which Grimaldy and Jacobo translated. Dr. Bonet said has performed over 100 surgeries of this type on adults and over 60 on children. When Grimaldy and I saw him the first time he said 3 other cases came to his office the same day. I asked what types of complications could occur, if infection is ever a problem. He said none of his patients have gotten any infections and respiratory complications are most common. I said Jose has a constant wheeze and is sick with a cold most of the time. He prescribed a liquid antibiotic (199 pesos) which we got filled in Santiago on our way home. Dr. Bonet explained that follow-up visits must be done 1 or 2 weeks after surgery, then 1 month later every 3 months and then again in 4 to 6 months. He confirmed that the follow-up visits would be free, however, we'd have to pay for follow-up x-rays of esophagus x-rays and blood tests. I asked what would happen if he never got the surgery. Dr. Bonet said that the patients will not get the appropriate nutrition through solid foods and their bodies will not develop and their brain will not develop. Jose could live to about 12 years old but will have a small boys mind and body. He will continue to have respiratory problems and will eventually die from complications of respiratory problems or pneumonia. I constantly asked Candida if she understood everything and if she had any questions. She said she understood everything and didn't have any questions. The volunteers and I started a campaign to raise money for expenses and the surgery for Jose Antonio. We prepared 8 tickets per page to sell for 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pesos. We printed the color photo of Jose and Candida and I wrote a brief description on the back for translation in Spanish, English and German and had it laminated. Each volunteer received a laminated copy and some tickets and we went to work. To date we have raised 5,922 pesos or about $296 U.S. dollars. Josue and I went to the school in Monte Llano but the director explained that someone was in the school earlier in the night campaigning for money for a little girl that needs hip surgery in the United States and didn't guarantee we would receive many pesos. Our campaign with the kids was successful. We received about 700 pesos just from the high school students in the night classes, their last day before the holiday vacation. I have been going to different businesses asking for donations. I met with the owners of a restaurant who are from Holland. They are collaborating by printing my campaign letter on their letterhead and added the Rainbow Families Foundation name and address on the letterhead. The owner and I signed the letter and they are distributing 50 copies to businesses to solicit donations. Corina and I opened an account at the bank in the name of Jose Antonio so the businesses can deposit money directly into the account. I went to the bank yesterday to make a deposit but so far none of the businesses deposited any money, though the time has been quite short. Jacobo and his sister Elsa are distributing my campaign letter and a photo to the churches and posted a couple of the photos with the bank account information in banks in Puerto Plata. I met with a prominate German couple who sponsor street parties for the German community and tourists. They had a street party last night and were going to solicit donations. I was to speak in English and they were going to speak in German and another person from the tourism board was going to speak in Spanish. Unfortunately about an hour into the party it started raining and everyone disbursed quickly. I will have to visit them to see what we can do next. Jacobo, Elsa and I visited Jose and his family on Christmas Day and explained what we are doing. Candida explained a neighbor is friends with an attorney and the attorney came to her house to offer his help. She gave me his phone number and learned where his office is located. I camped out in his office yesterday until he arrived. Fortunately he spoke English. I showed him the picture of Candida and Jose and asked if he knew this family. He did and then I explained everything I have done in this country and what I am doing to help Jose and his family. He invited two more people into his office, one was the President of City Hall and the other was a member of the City Hall and also a pediatrician. They agreed to write a letter to city hall to solicit a donation of 20,000 pesos. He couldn't make any promises but will prepare the letter for me to sign as well. Grimaldy's sister-in-law Riza has been selling the tickets and inviting other people to sell the tickets. She knows a woman who is the distributor for the PediaSure and has been trying to contact her to get a donation. Surprising the PediaSure is made in Columbus, Ohio at Ross Laboratories. My solicitations to the pharmacies for a donation fell on deaf ears. Grimaldy's brother, Aronis, who has the business in Monte Llano has been incredibly patient in keeping up with my requests to translate and print letters, print the color photos and laminate them, design, print and cut the tickets for sale. Grimaldy is usually available for translation when I get in a bind or need advice. He has been busy overseeing the remodeling of his mother's house. Jacobo was fired at the hotel and is busy trying to find another job. In his business of timeshare sales, it seems when he nears the one year anniversary the hotels want to renegotiate the commission rate of pay and it is always much lower. He does not accept the new rate so he is fired. Seems to be a perpetual cycle.