Unemployed doctor seeks help for her child with a disability and serious health complications

Santo Domingo. – Doris Altagracia Mejía, a doctor specializing in oncology, is living a desperate situation while caring for her son Nicolás, a child with multiple health conditions that require constant attention and expensive treatments. The professional, who has been waiting for two years for her official appointment in the public health system, says she has had to clean houses to survive and cover part of her son’s high medical expenses. According to his testimony, Nicolás is a triplet and was born prematurely, weighing barely 900 grams and with an infection, which caused him severe complications from his first days of life. He currently suffers from high blood pressure, hydrocephalus secondary to cerebral hemorrhage, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, gastroesophageal reflux, recurrent pneumonia, and psychomotor delay, among other diagnoses. The youngest of the triplets has been hospitalized 13 times, 10 of them in the Intensive Care Unit, and has had to undergo five surgeries, with a sixth scheduled soon. In addition, he has a tracheostomy, a gastric button, and a shunt valve for his hydrocephalus condition.

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The child requires a series of daily medications, including Keppra, Clonagin, Atemperator, Tanacol, Nexium, Enalapril, Spironolactone, Nifedipine, and Erythromycin, in addition to nebulizations every four hours with drugs that reach prices of up to 10 thousand pesos. The family says that the weekly expense can exceed 100 thousand pesos, a figure impossible to sustain without support.

“I am a doctor. I have no one to take care of Nico, who needs permanent care, and I don’t have money to pay a nurse. I have been forced to clean houses. It is very sad to be in this situation being a health professional,” she expressed.

The mother also explained that the Senasa exhausted the medical coverage after the child’s last admissions, which totaled more than 40 days in private clinics between January and March of this year. In addition to Nicolás, the doctor has two other children: Mateo and Tayler, who also face health difficulties. Mateo receives speech therapy for a language disorder, and Tayler is treated for hypothyroidism and a possible diagnosis of autism. Each therapy session costs 3,000 pesos and is not covered by medical insurance. The children’s father, as he recounted, works three jobs (merchandiser, in hauling, and selling rice), to try to cover family expenses. Even so, the income is insufficient. The professional calls on the Dominican Government and Public Health authorities to expedite her appointment, or that some supportive hand or institution provide her with financial support.

“We have exhausted all avenues. We are only asking for a chance to work and take care of our children,” she stated.

Any help you can give this family, you can do so by contacting Doris at the phone number 849-0597. Donation Information: Savings account at Banco de Reservas 9603945771 in the name of Doris Altagracia Mejía Acosta, ID 402-2114881-6.