“It’s a desire of every mother to see our children be in good health and happy and to feel accepted in the community, especially by their fellow children,” Jon Michelangelo’s mother says of her ten-year-old son. Jon lives with his family in the Philippines and was born with a congenital digestive tract malformation, which makes it difficult for him to go to the bathroom normally.
Our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM), shares, “Jon felt ashamed of his condition. In fact, right now he [has] stopped schooling because his classmates don’t want to mingle with him.” Jon should be in grade five but has missed a year of schooling because he says the anal malformation makes him feel alone.
Despite the setbacks at school, Jon comes from a loving and supportive family. He shares, “I love my family very much, especially my siblings.” ICM also points out that “his mother made an effort to pay more attention on Jon Michel to build his self esteem and confidence.”
As the sole-provider for her family, Jon’s mother cannot afford the cost of his surgery. For $965, Jon will receive an operation to repair his intestine and colon so that he can eliminate waste without needing a colostomy. This surgery will allow Jon to return to school with confidence.
Jon’s mother says, “I am very grateful to know that there are people who have the heart to help the unfortunate like us. I am hoping that my son will be given a chance to live a normal life like other children.”