Son needs P1 million for ailing Tia Pusit

Unknown to many, veteran comedienne Tia Pusit has been battling kidney failure and aortic aneurysm for almost a month now.  But she’s still in fighting form as she awaits help from her sickbed at the charity ward of Philippine Heart Center (PHC) in Quezon City.

On the frontline of saving his 66-year-old mom is Christian Uybengkee, eldest of Tia Pusit’s four children, whose task is to raise P1 million for the woman who singlehandedly raised him and his siblings after their father died 20 years ago.

Time is of the essence

As every minute counts, the family faces the challenge of prolonging their mother’s life amid debts and maxed out credit cards. That’s why Christian and his siblings have been calling on the politicians their mother campaigned for in the past elections.

Out of the many public servants they approached, only two (Sen. Nancy Binay and detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s wife Precy, who gave P50,000 each) have responded so far.

“We’re seeking for strength and we’re seeking also for (help)… kasi maraming natulungan ang nanay ko pagdating sa politics dahil siya ‘yung nag-eendorse sa politicians dati. So sila ‘yung binabalikan namin,” he told Yahoo Philippines on Tuesday (August 26) over the phone.

Tia Pusit remains conscious, but interaction with visitors is limited.

“Conscious naman siya pero we prevent visitors. Kasi ayaw namin siya ma-stress. Hindi siya pwede ma-stress at patawanin dahil lalong bubuka yung aorta niya.”

Over 1 million needed

Tia Pusit’s children are trying to raise money to finance two operations that are immediately needed: the placement of stent draft worth P450,000 and double bypass that would cost up to P400,000.

“Hindi masimulan ‘yung operation because we need to purchase the stent graft.”

They have yet to purchase the stent, which is only available in Singapore and Hong Kong. Open heart surgery is no longer an option because of Tia Pusit’s advanced age.

He added, “Punit punit na ‘yung aorta niya e. From 4cm naging 7cm na and lumalaki pa. It will cost us almost half a million pesos.”

P200,000 hospital bills

The double bypass procedure is needed to create a “route” that will help the air and blood circulate properly.

The P200,000 hospital bills (as of August 26) is still not counted.

The veteran comedienne has been undergoing dialysis since early this month—another costly procedure she must go through two to three times per week.

“Nag-fail na rin ang kidney niya. Dinadialysis pa siya. Kinokondisyon muna ‘yung kidney bago operahan ang kidney. As of now we’re still raising funds para mag-start na ‘yung operasyon.”

In and out of hospital

This is not the first time Tia Pusit has been admitted to the hospital.

Her children learned about the veteran comedienne’s enlarged heart in April 2014. They rushed her to the National Kidney Institute early this month due to kidney failure. She was then transferred to the PHC when doctors learned about her heart condition.

Despite her deteriorating condition, Christian said his mother remains optimistic  she’ll recover soon.

“Hopeful siya, positive ang attitude niya towards operation. Ine-explain naman namin at ng doctors kung para saan ang operasyon.”

Tia Pusit, Myrna Villanueva in real life, has been in a controversial May-December affair last year.

The veteran TV star broke up with her 27-year-old boyfriend last December, a few months before their supposed marriage.

You can help Tia Pusit by coursing your donation through her son,  Christian Uybengkee, whose account number at Bank of Philippine Islands (Trinoma, Quezon City Branch) is 4239-0591-26.