By Analou De Vera Five-year-old Ayalisse Cahira Cuales or “Aya”, of Tagum City, Davao del Norte was born with a rare condition that may well be only the second such case in the Philippines. She was born with a parasitic twin – a poorly-developed twin that makes her appear to have four arms and four legs. She also has an extra brain. SMILING AYA — Five-year-old Ayalisse Cahira Cuales or ‘Aya,’ of Tagum City, Davao del Norte smiles as she awaits further medical tests at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila on Thursday. (Courtesy of Felson Cuales) Her 36-year-old father, Felson, said that Aya’s case is only the 97th in the world; and as for first reported case in the country – that child died several years ago. Aya’s fate may sound too unlucky, especially since her parents hardly earn enough to make ends meet back in Tagum City where Felson sells durian. But one would be surprised with the beautiful smile on Aya’s face, seemingly proud of what her parents had accomplished for her to look forward to normal and promising life. “Aya has undergone three operations already, but she needs four more,” Felson said in Filipino. He said that doctors needed to perform operations on Aya’s tethered spinal cord, scoliosis, and for the reconstruction of her anus as soon as possible. “If she is not operated on, ma’am, Aya would be paralyzed,” Felson told the Manila Bulletin last Thursday at the Philippine General Hospital (PHG) in Manila, where the Cuales family is awaiting help and a miracle. “Hindi na sya makakagalaw as in gulay na. Wala nang chance (She won’t be able to move; she’s be a vegetable. We’d lose the chance),” Felson added, as he tried to avoid imagining how that smile of Aya’s face would permanently vanish. Aya is born Before Aya was born on Dec. 12, 2012 in Tagum City in Davao, her mother Jonavi, said that she knew the condition of her daughter during her six-month pregnancy. Five or six months on the way, I knew of her condition in my womb. The doctor said it would take a miracle for me to deliver Aya because she hardly moved. One-sided lang siya… nakapulupot yung cord (She could only stay on one side… the umbilical cord wrapped around her),” Jonavi recalled. Still, Jonavi reached the full-term of her pregnancy and delivered Aya. “Pero nag 50/50 din sya noon. Buti na revive din (But Aya had a 50/50 chance of living. Good thing, she came around),” Jonavi said. Coming home for Aya Felson, who was then working as a butcher in Australia, did not have an idea about the real condition of her daughter. “When I first saw her through Skype, I was shocked,” Felson said, prompting him to research on Aya’s condition and go the rounds of hospitals in Australia to seek help. MORE THAN USUAL — Aya, who has a parasitic twin, was born with two brains, four arms and four legs. (Courtesy of Felson Cuales) “Umiiyak ako nun. Nag-iikot ako sa Australia, pumunta ako sa malalaking siyudad... Walang tumanggap doon sa kaso. Sabihin nila 'you're not a resident / citizen, so, you're not entitled for medical benefits.' May tinanong ako na doktor. Estimated daw is $4 million. Umiyak ako. Iniisip ko saan ako kukuha nun,” narrated Felson. Felson then decided to return to the Philippines to be with his wife and Aya. Due to Aya’s medical needs, the couple’s savings were quickly depleted. From being an overseas Filipino worker (OFW), Felson became a fruit vendor; also a “habal-habal” driver; even an office janitor. “Kahit anong mapasukan ko. Hindi ako makahanap ng permanenteng trabaho kasi pabalik-balik kami sa PGH (Philippine General Hospital). Lahat ng naipundar po namin matagal ng naubos. Sasakyan, cellphone, ultimong hikaw at relo,” said Felson. 3 surgeries done Despite the weight of this trial in their lives, they remain positive. Felson said Aya has, so far, undergone three operations: the first one, was on Dec. 11, 2012, four days after her birth, where a shunt was installed at the back of her spinal cord to drain the fluid produced by her brain. In 2015, two operations were performed on Aya to remove her extra rudimentary cord followed by the removal of her extra arms and legs. It has been more than two years, since her third operation, that the PGH doctor, concerned with Aya’s conditions, recently, coordinated with specialists from a hospital abroad. The doctors there are willing to perform the fourth operation for free, raising Felson’s and Jonavi’s hopes it would give Aya a brighter future. But now, as Aya undergoes preparatory tests at PGH in Manila, the family is still in dire need of financial assistance for the trip and other medical needs. Staying positive “I was thinking to myself: ‘Lord, you gave us this trial. I thank you and remain positive, because you’ll see us through this,” Felson said in Filipino. Jonavi, too, is keeping her hopes up. She said that Aya is their source of strength as she often tells them that “everything’s gonna be alright.” She is thankful there are donors who pledge help and deliver. During the interview, Aya who was then smiling while in her wheelchair, said that she wants to become a teacher, doctor, and wishes to visit an aquarium. She was molding tissue papers in round shapes, imagining that these are sea creatures. “Sabi ng mga doktor, kailangan maoperahan si Aya kasi sayang yung potensyal nya, talino at makapag-aral pagdating ng panahon,” said Felson. Any amount of help to assist the couple for Aya’s medical operations may be deposited in this account Ayalisse Cahira D. Cuales: Banco De Oro (BDO) account number 007990059093 or contact Mr. Felson Cuales through his mobile number 09451454960.