Cost of Angioplasty

Knowing how much angioplasty costs is enough to give you a heart attack. I've been searching the Internet for the cost of angioplasty in the Philippines, in the hopes of finding a cheaper alternative, perhaps a charitable institution that does it for free. Nothing. I decided to do my own research and called The Medical City and The Philippine Heart Center to inquire. Here are the rates:

The Medical City

Angiogram costs P50,000 (procedure alone)
Angioplasty costs P300,000 (procedure alone) - a bare stent costs P80,000; a drug-eluding stent costs P120,000
PF for cardiologist costs P150,000 and up - usually they are two (so rate times two).
Bypass surgery costs P1 Million and up (all in all)

The Philippine Heart Center offers the ff packages:

For Angiogram (3-day stay):
Private Room = P60,200 (inclusive of doctor's PF)
Semi-Private Room = P52,000 (inclusive of doctor's PF)
Ward = P42,000 (inclusive of doctor's PF)

For Bypass Surgery (8-day stay):
Private Room = P617,480 (inclusive of doctor's PF)
Semi-Private Room = P494,322 (inclusive of doctor's PF)
Ward = P402,600 (inclusive of doctor's PF)

If you avail of the package, you need to pay the full amount upon admission. There will also be no discount from Philhealth and for senior citizens.

If you do not avail of the package, you need to pay P120K deposit for bypass surgery, and P150K deposit for Angioplasty upon admission to The Philippine Heart Center.

*Rates as of March 28, 2008

Papa Dong ~ doing Well and Good :)

Today, the twins visited my dad who was confined in the hospital. He is now in a regular private room after being released from the ICU last Friday, and from the Telemetry yesterday. He was very happy to see them. He couldnt carry them though, they just played on the bed. He would tickle their tummies, and they would laugh and shriek hehehe.

We thank the Lord for giving him a second life. :) We also thank Him for providing us the funds for the very costly procedure. God is good and He loves His children. Nothing is impossible with Him.

Smoking kills

If you have loved ones who smoke, tell them to stop. It's one of the main reasons why my dad have blocked arteries. Smoking is hard on the heart, and the toxins in cigarette smoke cause plaques to form in the arteries. I'm not here to scare you. The procedures are not cheap. They are very expensive. For his hospitalization, we were asked to prepare P1M. So tell them to stop smoking while it's still early. Take care everyone, God bless!

Vito and Carlos at 9 months

Carlos has four teeth (two up, two down). He is now 9.8 kilos. He has grown thick hair and we comb it on one side and he looks like our National Hero, Gat Jose Rizal hehehe :P He is still very behaved, with simple wants in life. He loves crumpling paper or plastic candy wrappers. He enjoys eating sweet mango and papaya. He still gets choked drinking water. He sleeps well in an airconditioned room; still hates the blanket; still cries the loudest when his milk is bitin.


















Vito has no tooth, but munches bread and oranges as if he has a complete set of teeth. He weighs in at 8.5 kilos. He is very very energetic, very bungisngis at times, and shrieks when tickled in the armpits. He puts everything in his mouth and so his yaya watches him closely. He is still very attached to his pacifier. He enjoys watching the cartoons in Playhouse Disney Channel especially Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins and Higgly Town Heroes. (Carlos is a convert and now watches these shows too hehe)

What is Angioplasty?

My 64-year old dad was rushed to the hospital this morning due to a heart attack. He had low BP (70/50) and heartrate of 38 (the normal is 60 at rest). He underwent an Angioplasty procedure wherein the cardiologist inserted a stent (metal cage used to keep the artery open) because he had a collapsed artery. After two hours, the procedure was over. Praise God it was successful!

We need your continued prayers for him to have a quick and full recovery. He is still in the ICU. Thank you very much and may God bless you!

Awesome twosome

The boys are growing up so fast. Carlos is very serious pa rin (kunot nuo); Vito is still very active (makulit with a capital M). :P

Carlos enjoys crumpling pieces of colorful paper and candy wrappers. He loves to play with the remote and our cellphones. He has three teeth now - 1 in the upper gums, 2 in the lower. He sucks-in his cheeks, like a fish. He loves to eat chilled fruits.. kahit antok na, ngumu-nguya pa rin Haha! He has a big voice and when he cries akala mo aping-api.. nkka-panic tuloy. Hehehe. He loves looking at the mirror, sino kaya tong pogi na eto? Ahaha!

Vito is super hyper now. He will not stay in one corner. He loves to flap his arms - watch out, mabigat ang kamay nyan. He eats anything, as in! Akala mo may ngipin, pero wala hehe When you give him a toy, he will observe it for a few seconds, and slowly put it inside his mouth. If you take it away and put it on the floor, he will reach it using his foot, matalinong bata hahaha! He loves cartoons.. kahit antok na antok na, pipilitin nyang buksan ang mata just to see mickey mouse.

When they are asleep and one wakes up, he will crawl to the other one and wake him up.. When Carlos wakes up, he will crawl to his Kuya and snatch his pacifier. When Vito naman wakes up, he will turn to Carlos and land a heavy hand on his tummy. Riot.

We are trying to introduce more solid food to them everyday. Their meals now include lugaw and kamote. Aside from the usual veggies, carrots and potatoes, they have mango, papaya and banana. Feeding time is a whole different story. Riot din yun, ahaha!

Papayaaa

Vito loves to rub his outstretched hands together, as if dancing Edu Manzano's Papaya song.. He loves to eat papaya, too! :)

Hello Summer!

Carlos and Vito chillin' in their pool ;)