Filipina burn patient, 2, gets big help from Lions in Sacramento

Two-year-old burn patient Cloe Alvarez with her mom, Marites, (center) with members of the Lions Club at the residence of Caroline Kang in Sacramento. CONTRIBUTED

SAN FRANCISCO – A two-year-old burn patient from the Philippines is being treated at the Shriners Hospital of Sacramento Burn Unit in California as the first beneficiary of the Golden State Lions Club’s Filipino Burn Patient Support Signature Project.

Cloe Samantha Dumapi Alvarez’s sustained injuries as a result of an overturned candle that ignited her bedding when she was just two months old.

She has significant burns on the left side of her body, which left her foot fused to her shin, her calf fused to her thigh, her forearm fused to her upper arm and the left side of her face badly scarred, according to a report by the Elk Grove Citizen. Cloe at 20 months old had never taken a step.

Cloe is being helped by the Golden State Lions Club (GSLC) Project, which is shared with AAHMES Shriners Islander Club of Livermore, California and Ben Ali Shriners Islander Club of Sacramento.

The Mabuhay Shriners in Manila had been looking for children in need of burn treatment care.  They saw a picture of Cloe on Facebook, and worked on bringing her from the Philippines to the Shriners Hospital in Sacramento.

Several initial burn surgeries and treatments were projected to last up to a year, and the cost of housing young Cloe and her mother, Marites, needed support. The Golden State Lions Club stepped forward withthe Signature Project.

The project co-chaired by Caroline Kang and Eddie Aducayen.  GSLC formed a relationship with Ben Ali Shriners Islander Club headed by Club President Alex Llanera with Treasurer Donie Navarro, and AAHMES Shriners Islander Club, led by Nel Pacis and Jeff Hansen.

The three organizations have divided up the responsibilities to raise funds on their own and contribute together as needed.

The GSLC found the perfect sponsor family that would look after Cloe and her mother, Marites. Greg and Lynne Mitchell of Elk Grove agreed to provide a home for Cloe and Marites. Lynne also acts as social worker, translator, tour guide, mentor and much more.

While Cloe is getting treatment here, her father and three siblings are in the Philippines. Her supporters here are also addressing the needs of her family back home.

GSLC and the Ben Ali Shriners of Sacramento have joined forces to ship a box of provisions to the family and arranged with Gawad Kalinga (a Filipino organization similar to Habitat for Humanity) to provide a home for Cloe and family when she returns to the Philippines.

Since arriving from the Philippines on June 26, Cloe has gone through four successful surgeries and spent almost two months as an in-patient.  She has had reconstructive surgeries to release her foot, lower leg, forearm (sadly, she lost all fingers on her left hand in the fire) and has had multiple skin grafts and facial surgeries, requiring her to wear a mask.

Cloe’s treatment will continue throughout her childhood until she turns 18. She is expected to return to Sacramento frequently to receive care, and the Shriners Hospital has a long-term treatment plan, with several surgeries planned over the next three years.

To contribute to Cloe’s support, go to a fundraising page at https://www.crowdrise.com/cloe-samantha-dumapi-alvarez-toddler-burn-vicitim/fundraiser/georgeaducayen.