Savings could have saved this boy’s life
It’s Christmas time but instead of Yuletide cheers, my childhood friend is grieving over the loss of his four-year old son. The poor child died from dengue, a potentially lethal complication transmitted by an Aedes mosquito. It’s very common in tropical countries like ours here in the Philippines.
If only the child was brought to the hospital much earlier, he could have had a better chance to survive. However, rushing to the doctor means money and if you don’t have emergency savings, chances are that hospitals will deny you of immediate medication. Sad but true. It’s appalling but it’s happening here in the country. You can’t afford to get sick here if you don’t have savings accounts or a piggy bank to break open in times of emergency. I cannot, in my wildest imagination, think of such a horrible thing to happen to my family - getting sick and having nothing to spend for proper medication.
Keeping a sound savings account for emergency expenses is sure to give a family peace of mind. In our case, I most often prefer to put money in the bank rather than spend on things that are not very necessary (in fact, would only add up to the piles of clutters) at home. I’d rather not have lots of home accessories if they’d only cost me a fortune. I’d rather not have a wide flatscreen TV as long as we have emergency savings. I don’t mind keeping my old Nokia cellphone either. I’m happy having our basic necessities provided like decent food, comfortable dwelling, clothes, education, and some recreation.
I just realized, savings can save lives. Nobody knows when you’re gonna need it.
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December 27th, 2009 5:53 am
That is awful, even worse than here in the states. At least here in the states they have to give you some treatment, if you go to the ER. The government should be ashamed to let such things happen to a poor child.
December 28th, 2009 10:22 am
very sad, but very true, Rochelle! I remember a student from way back in the Philippines before had to ask our dean for emergency help because she was denied in the hospital, and she could not reach her parents ASAP living in a more remote area, thankfully, our dean got to her on time, the doctor said if they were a few minutes late, she could have died from appendicitis, and the hospital didn’t care if she was in pain, she would not take her in for she did not have money
very sad, but very true, in our side of the world.
December 28th, 2009 3:05 pm
This is very sad but true. It is really hard to have a sick family member and there is no money to spend for the medication. This is one of my fear. I am old to start saving for the future, but I still started it. My motivation is when me and my husband get old. I don’t want to be a burden to my kids. So I need to save some of our income for our retirement.
December 28th, 2009 9:16 pm
That’s really very sad!
Well inspite of huge budget for health so many were deprived of the services that is supposed to be administered by government to its people.
Come 2010 Election… let’s vote accordingly not because of popularity but let’s look deeper to give our children a better tomorrow… TODAY!
Happy Holidays!:=)
December 31st, 2009 10:30 am
Oh, that is very sad! I agree with you, it is always better to save our money than spending them on unnecessary things.
January 1st, 2010 8:42 am
Hi Rochelle, such a sad story. My mother-in-law suffered a stroke about two weeks before my wife and I arrived in the Philippines this past July, and the hospital wanted cash, and they wanted it now. Thank God that she had a good neighbor that loaned them the money. My wife and I did not know about the money until we arrived and of course paid the neighbor back right away. (God bless her, I tried to give her an extra 500 pesos, only about $10 US, but she refused to take it.) Thankfully my mother-in-law has fully recovered, but without that money upfront, she would have probably died. Yes, you are right, savings are important.
January 5th, 2010 4:07 pm
it’s so sad to hear stories like this. i realized now that i have my own child that i have to get my finances in order. i cannot live for today like i always did. i guess it’s important to set aside some savings even while paying off debts.