The plight of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) is no joke. While many get to enjoy a good life, with high salaries and great work environments, others experience troubles with their employers or simply get unlucky in their work in another country.
There were those who got involved in an accident or get sick while working abroad. Some get help from their employers but when it comes to huge medical fees, many employers balk and refuse to pay. Without medical insurance, many of these OFWs end up deep in debt; some even die because they could not afford to pay for their health care.
For this reason, a Singaporean family has earned much praise on social media after going beyond their duty to help their Pinay domestic helper who suffered from brain aneurysm.
Photo credit: GMA News
According to a report on GMA News, the OFW named Riza Anne Bernabisa was discovered unconscious by her fellow helper, Jasmin. At the time, Jasmin was preparing the school things of their ward when she found Riza unconscious.
It was quite lucky that their employer, Celine Lacouture, had just arrived home that time and immediately called an ambulance to take Riza to the hospital.
“I thought she was dying in my arms, right in front of me. And my children [were] just next to me. As a mother, I wanted to protect my kids but I have to save her life,” Celine recalled.
At the hospital, they received bad news that Riza’s condition was critical. She was placed in ICU and could die if she doesn’t undergo life-saving surgery worth S$100,000 (nearly Php4 million).
They could have abandoned her at this point but Celine and her husband decided to do everything they could to save Riza’s life.
“My husband and I decided, we’re still young, we can still make money. But we have to save her life. That is the most important thing,” the kindhearted employer revealed.
Riza would undergo two more costly operations but her employers never left her side. They did everything they could to save her life. To date, Riza is out of danger and her employers had paid for most of her medical bills but they still need S$77,000 (Php3 million) so they are asking for help from the public.
But everyone lauded the couple for helping save their domestic helper’s life.