McKyle Victoria 鈥擟ontributed photo
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� In just a few weeks, 13-year-old McKyle Victoria will undergo open heart surgery to repair a defective valve. While understandably scared, he is determined to push through with the operation because he wants to live normally like any other teenager.
鈥淚 told the doctor that my son was nervous. The doctor told us, 鈥楾hat鈥檚 normal, if he wasn鈥檛 scared, I would have him checked by a psychiatrist,鈥欌�� McKyle鈥檚 mother, Leonora, told the Inquirer with a laugh. 鈥淏ut he says he鈥檚 ready to get better. I also want him to get better so he can go back to being a normal boy,鈥� she said.
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No physical activity
McKyle was only 6 years old in 2017 when he was diagnosed with severe mitral regurgitation, the most common type of heart valve disease. This means the valve between his left heart chambers does not close completely, resulting in inadequate blood flow throughout the body.
As a result, he can鈥檛 stand up for long periods and has to sit down after a few minutes. In February, the doctor also prohibited him from doing any type of physical activity, including basketball, his favorite sport, after a 2D-echo test showed his heart was enlarged.
鈥淗e was shocked when the doctor told him he [couldn鈥檛] play basketball anymore. He had to ask the doctor twice. And the doctor, because he wanted to show McKyle how serious the situation was, told him, 鈥楴ot unless you want to go to heaven prematurely,鈥欌�� Leonora said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very important that he doesn鈥檛 overexert himself because he could have a heart attack.鈥�
Despite his condition, McKyle looks every bit like a normal teenager who is also a Grade 8 student in Baliuag, Bulacan. He excels in math, loves playing chess, and dreams of becoming an architect someday.
His doctor at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City has scheduled his surgery for Nov. 13. It won鈥檛 be known until they open him up whether the malfunctioning heart valve is due to an infection or a congenital defect. If it turns out to be an infection, the operation will cost around P600,000. On the other hand, a defective valve will need to be replaced, which will drive the cost up to P700,000.
Those who want to help McKyle can deposit their donations in his mother鈥檚 BPI bank account (account name Leonora C Victoria with account No. 0606344998). She can be reached at 0928-8113436. 鈥擲tephanie R. Asuncion