Among the stories of shocking abuse, measly wages and tiny living spaces, it’s easy to forget that some foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong are lucky enough to find a true family away from home.
As Norma Wenceslao, 31, awaits a kidney transplant in Manila – which has been arranged and expensed by the Hong Kong-based family she worked with for only a few months before falling ill – she knows their bond is deeper than that of employer and employee.
Norma’s illness first became apparent in March of this year when she complained to her “ma’am”, (Miss Universe 2007 semi-finalist) Myla Bikmullina, about having swollen feet.
After seeing a doctor who told her the shocking news that her kidneys were functioning at 5-10 percent capacity, Norma was admitted to hospital for two weeks before being put on dialysis.
With very few potentially matching Filipinos on Hong Kong’s donor register, huge waiting lists and ever-increasing costs, Ukrainian Myla, 29, her American ex-husband Bill Kaye, 62, and Hong Kong family friend Mike Davies, 44, knew they had to devise a plan to get Norma treated in her home nation.
“The doctor in Hong Kong kept insisting I write her a cheque and send her back to the Philippines,” the former beauty queen told Coconuts HK. “They basically said to send her home to die”.
Clearly not up for that great plan, the big-hearted band of three put their heads together.
“After some brief discussions with the doctors we found their was no future for her here. If she went on the donor [recipient] list, there’s already 2,000 people waiting and there’s simply not enough supply,” Mike, who’s wife is also from the Philippines, said.
In July therefore, Mike flew with mother-of-one Norma to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Manila, where they underwent gruelling tests with five members of the family before finally finding a donor match with Norma’s 22-year-old nephew Jhun.
“We went through a stage of worrying about the donor because he’s so young and we didn’t want him to have no life to save another,” said Mike. “But actually we were told it won’t affect his life at all. And he’s very committed to helping his aunt. They say you only need one kidney, but when they fail, they fail in a pair.”
Norma is now with her family in Laguna, where she awaits the transplant which is scheduled for Sept. 22 at NKTI.
Myla, Bill and their son Adrian
“I feel very, very blessed and lucky to have them [Myla and Bill] as my employers and friends,” Norma told us. “I’m very, very thankful to them and to God for giving me the chance to live, because without them I cannot imagine what would happen to me next.”
And what Norma hopes will happen next is that she can return to Hong Kong and continue to work at Myla’s home in Shouson Hill after her recovery.
By that time, Bill, the owner of financial services giant Pacific Group, will have shelled out more than half a million Hong Kong dollars for all the travel and medical expenses relating to Norma’s care.
Two years ago, he also paid for the treatment of the family driver – as well as the cost of educating the man’s children in the Philippines – who almost died after being hit with a sudden brain aneurism.
Good job Bill’s not short of a bob or two, we suppose.
“Sometimes in life you’re confronted with choices that are actually very easy. If I didn’t have any money it would be a difficult situation, but thankfully I could afford it [Norma’s care]. It just wasn’t an option not to,” said Bill.
Get well soon, Norma. Your extended Hong Kong family (and Hong Kong) is rooting for you!
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