COMMUNITY JOURNAL Success story: A life was saved on Citizen Pinoy, this Sunday

FILIPINA frontliner from Florida, Janice, was diagnosed with myelofibrosis – bone marrow cancer. She had already been receiving several treatments including blood transfusions and medications, but none of these had worked.

She was in urgent need of a bone marrow transplant.

Her sister, Jerrimee, who lives in the Philippines, is a perfect match. Being a blood relative donor also meant that the chances for success would be greater.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Embassy denied Jerrimee’s application for a medical visa. Time was of the essence, and desperate to find help, Janice’s family posted their appeal on social media.

Their story was brought to the attention of Citizen Pinoy head writer Mouse Munoz, who in turn referred the situation to leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel.

Atty. Gurfinkel filed for Humanitarian Parole and requested for expedited processing since the situation is a matter of life and death. After persistent and numerous follow-ups, Jerrimee’s humanitarian parole visa was approved and she was able to enter the U.S., underwent tests, and donated her bone marrow to her sister.

Janice’s cancer is now in remission and her

SEE HOW A LIFE WAS SAVED ON AN ENCORE SUCCESS STORY OF CITIZEN PINOY THIS SUNDAY! Janice (bottom photo) was diagnosed with myelofibrosis and was in desperate need of a critically urgent stem cell transplant. Her sister, Jerrimee (top photo, center), who is in Cavite in the Philippines, is the perfect match. However, the U.S. Embassy refused her application for a medical visa. Desperate, Janice’s husband, Jeff, took to Facebook and was posting and pleading in hopes that the U.S. Embassy would see the urgency and grant Jerrimee her visa. The pleas on social media reached leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (top photo, right), who was able to file for Humanitarian Parole and had the process expedited. Watch this life-saving success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, July 2 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/ Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

DO cellphone radiation shields work?

No, the so-called “radiation shields” for cell phones do not work, and therefore are not effective in protecting the user from radiation, reports the FTC in the United States. If anything at all, this shield “lulls” the user to complacency and thus the user is subjected to a more prolonged radiation exposure because of the false sense of security the unsuspecting consumers will have. While the association between cell phone use and some type of brain tumors is still unclear, it is best to avoid and minimize any type of radiation exposure from whatsoever source. To reduce radiation exposure from cell phones, we recommend the use one of the hands-free devices now commercially available. Can skin ointment be used for the eyes?

No, most definitely, no. Skin lotions, creams, gel, ointments, and solutions, are for topical (external or skin) application only and are not safe for the eyes. There are specific drops and ointments for the eyes. Never use any other preparation, except those prescribed by healthcare professionals specifically for the eyes, which are always labeled “Ophthalmic” or “For ophthalmic use.”

How does tobacco hurt the smoker?

Besides the tissue irritation on the breathing pipes and lungs caused by the fumes and the various toxic chemicals in the cigarette, tobacco also thickens the blood, which makes the smoker (active or passive) more prone to thrombosis (blood clot formation) in the arteries and veins, and aggravates arteriosclerosis (hardening of the artery). On top of this, smoking also speeds up the process of arteriosclerosis (especially the arteries of the heart and brain, abdomen and legs). Smoking can also cause cancer of the breathing pipes and/or the lungs and cancers in other organs in the body in either gender. Stained teeth and fingers, smoker’s bad breath and a household that smells like tobacco fumes are