Adonai's Mercy House provides emotional, financial, and educational support to children with cancer, their families, and survivors.
Childhood cancer can only be diagnosed accurately and treated effectively in three major cities where specialists and facilities are available. Two-thirds of patients come at the late stages of their disease when a cure is no longer possible or can be done only with aggressive and costly treatment. For the remaining one-third who present at the early stages, many will forego treatment or be treated but with high treatment abandonment rates due to economic reasons. Thus, survival rates are abysmal.
The odds of surviving childhood cancer in developing countries like the Philippines are significantly lower than in developed countries. In developed countries, a child diagnosed with cancer has an 80% chance of surviving. However, survival rates in developing countries can be as low as 10% or less. This is because the families of these children make, on average less than 100 dollars a month, and the children have a terminal diseases such as cancer.
Over 3,500 new childhood cancer cases in children under 15 are reported in the Philippines annually. However, it is estimated that only 30% of these children are properly diagnosed. Moreover, less than 20 percent will attain long-term survival because two-thirds of the cases are diagnosed in advanced stages when a cure is no longer possible. For many, only very aggressive and costly treatments can help, but they are only available in large medical centers that patients cannot afford.
Thus, for most pediatric patients with cancer in the Philippines, no treatment is given, or if patients are treated, they end up abandoning the therapy due to the costly procedures. There is a considerable gap between the rich and the more impoverished patients. The cost of chemotherapy and other supportive medicines remains the primary barrier for the more disadvantaged service patients.
Most of the children we support at Adonai’s Mercy House are afflicted with cancer. The vast majority of them suffer from retinoblastoma (cancer of the eyes), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (cancer of the white blood cells), and lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes). However, we see many other forms of cancer and terminal illnesses.
We currently focus on children terminally ill and special needs children; most of our children range from 1 to 14 years old.
As with most other intellectual and developmental disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) occur in every nation of the world, with families often providing lifelong care to their affected relative. Unfortunately, in poorer countries like the Philippines, there is a lack of knowledge and support services offered to families.
As suggested by the World Health Organization, three fundamental questions need to be addressed. First, what is the likely prevalence of the condition within the country? Second, what impact does a child with ASD have on the family, given that they will be most affected? Third, what training and support are beneficial to families to promote the child's development and well-being?
Currently, there is no National Center for diagnostic or treatment procedures, and no formal educational program addresses the plight of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the educational system. A few teachers without formal training in children's disorders can "spot" possible conditions. These suspected cases are referred to private practitioners, namely, Developmental Pediatricians, Psychologists, and Psychiatrists. However, because of the lack of awareness and the cost associated with diagnosis and medical support, the average Filipino family never initiates care for those with ASD.
There is a desperate need to reach these families, schools, non-government organizations, and local medical facilities with educational material for diagnosing and treating autism and other Special needs. With autism and different special needs, you encounter anger, anxiety, meltdowns, lack of sleep, poor focus, problems concentrating...the list goes on. Adonai's Mercy House also supports children with Autism and Special needs by trying other sensory therapy strategies besides Pharmaceutical medications. We help families with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) represents a popular therapeutic option for patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including holistic and dietary education and training.
We provide practical information about childhood cancer, treatment, coping, and more for parents and family members.
We also provide Education & Training Programs through various classes to provide parents, children, and caregivers with education and training about functioning with a child on the autism spectrum.
OUR KIDS
CHILDHOOD CANCER
SPECIAL NEEDS
EDUCATION