Hydrocephalic kid gets help from lawmaker

MEXICO — The hydrocephalic five-year-old child from Barangay San Rafael here got timely help from third district Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., who pledged continuous medical support for him.

Gonzales came to the help of Renz Gatpolintan after the latter’s story came out in this paper last week. Irene Gatpolintan, Renz’s mother, said that her son had been born with the illness.

She earlier told Sun.Star Pampanga that her family, being poor and earning only a meager living, could not afford the needed operation. She said that they had initially had the child checked up at the Philippine General Hospital, where doctors determined that Renz had to undergo surgery.

Because of this, Gonzales instructed his team yesterday to locate the Gatpolintan family and offer them the needed medical help. Gonzales told Sun.Star Pampanga that the family was also given financial support.

“The family is within my district. I believe that it is our responsibility to help the child. I also urge other officials in the grassroots level to come to the aid of people who need medical help,” Gonzales said, adding that he is always ready to help.

Gonzales said that the family was given an opportunity to have Renz’s condition checked up again for further advice from experts.

Hydrocephalus is an abnormal expansion of cavities (ventricles) within the brain that is caused by the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid. This results in the enlargement of the head.

Gonzales said that he is optimistic that the child would be given the needed medical attention soon. (Ian Ocampo Flora)