Keilah Joanna Angelene, the youngest of the two Tesico sisters who were victims of the devastating fire in Brgy. San Miguel has died.
The nine-year-old girl who fought for her life for around 50 days succumbed to her injuries and died at 5:25 a.m. on Saturday at the Palawan Adventist Hospital (PAH).
Older sibling Kate Tesico told Palawan News in an interview that despite the medications she was given, Keilah died due to complications, infections, and organ failure associated with her burn injury.
“‘Yong sugat niya sa katawan gumagaling, nagkakaroon lang siya ng komplikasyon kagaya ng pag-liit nga raw ng brain niya. Dumating sa point na nagkakaroon na siya ng fungal [infection due] sa UTI niya at ang intestines niya nag-stop gumalaw, pero lahat ‘yon naagapan. ‘Yong sa brain lang ‘yong hindi maagapan dahil pinapalampas namin na gumaling [muna] ‘yong [mga] sugat [niya] para ma-process ‘yong sa brain. Hindi naman daw siya emergency para i-ano (i-address) agad. Overall nagkakaroon ng improvement naman, pero ‘yong sa katawan niya talagang hindi na rin niya kaya,” said Kate.
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Kate said Keilah’s doctors did everything to save her but to no avail because of the seriousness of her burn injury.
Despite her sister’s strength to fight and her condition getting better at first, Kate said her body gave way.
“Lahat ginawa ng doktor, nakita ko ang effort nila. Nakita ko ‘yong determinasyon nilang tulungan iyong kapatid ko dahil napamahal na rin sa kanila ‘yong kapatid ko kaya talagang gusto nilang gumaling ito. Ginawa nila lahat ng makakaya nila, lahat na ng gamot na puwedeng makagaling sa kapatid ko ginamit na nila, pero talagang hindi na rin kaya ng bata. Sa edad niya hirap na rin talaga,” Kate added.
Kate said the doctors already had informed her of Keilah’s delicate condition.
She said the doctors and nurses were always updating her of the condition of her sisters, especially with Keilah’s.
Kate noted Keilah fought for her life since she was confined with her 12-year-old sister Kirzteen Joan Angeli and mother Myrna.
Myrna died a few hours after she was brought to the PAH on April 19, 2019.
In an interview with Kate in April, she said 75 percent of Keilah’s body got burned.
On the other hand, Kate said Kirzteen is now in good condition and is only waiting to be released after the process of billing has been accomplished and her wounds have healed.
“Hinihintay lang na may mag-hilom dito sa legs niya pero okay na. ‘Yon lang ‘yong may malalim na part. Nakakatayo siya mga five seconds lang pero di pa siya makalakad,” said Kate.
Kate said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is already processing the bills before they can be released.
DSWD promised to cover all their hospital expenses, she said.
Kate said the public may offer whatever goods and snacks for the wake of her sister by reaching her through 0917-520-8818.
Kate also expressed her gratitude to the people who extended their help and prayers and those who have been part of their journey.
“Sa totoo lang hindi naman din ako malakas kung hindi ko naman nakikita na malakas ang mga kapatid ko… kailangan nila ng isang matatag at malakas na ate. Maraming salamat sa lahat kasi hindi po sila nagsasawang suportahan ang mga kapatid ko, nalulungkot din sila sa nangyari sa kapatid ko. Sana bigyan din sila ni Lord ng marami pang blessing kasi hindi rin sila humihingi ng kapalit. Tumutulong sila ng buong puso, thank you po,” said Kate.
