In a small town in Sorsogon, a young girl named “Jenny” (a pseudonym) suffered a traumatic experience in 2019 when she accidentally drank lye water, mistaking it for regular water. This incident, which severely burned her esophagus, has led to a prolonged and challenging recovery process.
Jenny’s aunt, who was making kutsinta (a local delicacy), had inadvertently placed the lye water in a bottle, which Jenny then consumed. Lye water, commonly used in cooking certain Filipino desserts, is safe in controlled quantities but can be extremely harmful if consumed in excess. This incident required Jenny to undergo a major operation involving cutting the esophagus and pulling the stomach up to reattach it to the intestine, as explained by Dr. Mario Eric Alerta, a surgeon at Sorsogon Provincial Hospital.
For four years following the accident, Jenny’s diet was restricted to milk and rice porridge, as her injured esophagus could not handle solid foods. This situation was particularly difficult for Jenny, who expressed sadness at seeing her classmates eat while she could not.
The complexity of Jenny’s case led Dr. Alerta to seek assistance from the GMA Kapuso Foundation, as the local hospital facilities were inadequate for her treatment needs. The Foundation is now accepting donations to help Jenny, offering various channels for financial support.
Jenny’s story is a stark reminder of the importance of proper storage and labeling of household chemicals and substances, especially in homes with children. Her resilience and the community’s support exemplify the collective effort in facing such life-altering challenges.