The parents of a one-year-and-nine-month-old child battling Biliary Atresia expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Mayor Jeannie Sandoval and the residents of Malabon for their unwavering support and prayers.

The parents of a child who is battling Biliary Atresia are going to China for surgery (Photo from Malabon PIO)
The child, diagnosed with Biliary Atresia, a rare liver disease that blocks bile ducts and leads to liver damage, requires urgent surgery. Initially treated at Chinese General Hospital, the child was stabilized before being transferred to China for a liver transplant.
This will be the first liver transplant surgery for a Filipino child with this condition in China, with the child’s father, Herdie Vasquez, serving as the liver donor.
Editha Delos Santos and Herdie Vasquez, the child’s parents, visited Mayor Jeannie Sandoval on Saturday, Feb. 1, to personally thank her for the financial assistance and food packs that helped them prepare for their journey to China.
They also expressed their gratitude to the city government and other agencies for their support which made the life-saving surgery possible.
"Hindi po kami makakarating dito kung hindi po sa mga tulong po ninyo. Sana rin po ipag-pray niyo si baby para maging successful yung operation niya sa China (We wouldn’t have made it here without your help. Please also pray for the baby's operation in China to be successful),” Santos said.
Sandoval expressed her support for the parents and the child during these challenging times.
"Ramdam po namin ang hirap at pag-aalala na pinagdaanan ng isang pamilya kung mayroong mahal sa buhay na may karamdaman o sakit. Kaya naman po naririto lamang po ang pamahalaang lungsod upang tumulong, umalalay sa pamilya ni Baby Nieco sa kanyang nalalapit na operasyonsa kanyang kondisyon (We deeply understand the hardship and worry that a family goes through when a loved one is suffering from an illness. That is why the city government is here to assist and support Baby Nieco’s family as they prepare for the upcoming operation for his condition),” she said.
“Para po sa ating kapwa Malabueno, nawa ay ipagpatuloy po natin ang pagdadasal at suporta para sa kanyang tuluyang paggaling. Makakaasa po kayo na sa ating lungsod, prayoridad natin ang kalusugan at kapakanan ng bawat mamamayan (To our fellow Malabueños, may we continue to pray and support his complete recovery. Rest assured that in our city, the health and welfare of every citizen is our priority),” Sandoval added.
"Handa akong mag-sacrifice para sa anak ko. Gustong-gusto ko gumaling ang baby ko kasi mahal na mahal ko itong bata na to. Siya ang pinaka-lucky star ko sa buhay. Siya po talaga. Ang wish ko lang talaga, maging success yung magiging operation naming dalawa (I am willing to sacrifice for my child. I really want my baby to get better because I love this child so much. He is my ultimate lucky star in life. He truly is. My only wish is for our operation to be successful),” Vasquez said.