Unusually overweight woman with Cushing's Syndrome to get treatment

With the help of the GMA Kapuso Foundation, unusually overweight Evelyn Sambrano who is suffering from Cushing's Syndrome, has been brought from Bataan to Manila to receive hospital treatment.

GMA's Cesar Apolinario reported that Sambrano, who was too large for a stretcher, had to be carried by her neighbors using a thick blanket.

Cuhsing's Syndrome is caused by exposure to high levels of cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal gland.

Cortisol is known as the "stress hormone" because it is released in response to stress. One of its primary functions is to aid in fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism.

In Sambrano's case, a tumor in her pituitary gland causes an imbalance in her hormone levels, which results in her continuous growth even though she does not overeat.

"Nagpapasalamat po ako nang marami at sa lahat ng taong tumutulong po sa akin, at sa mga tutulong po sa akin nagpapasalamat na rin po ako sa inyong lahat," she said through tears.

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Multi-step treatment

Kapuso Foundation executive vice president Mel Tiangco told Sambrano that the treatment would involve various steps.

"Kasi kahit pumayat ka, halimbawa na gamot na yung ano mo, syempre yung skin mo babagsak. Excess skin lahat yan pag natanggal yan. Cosmetic surgeon naman ang susunod diyan," said Tiangco.

"Kailangan matuon natin yung cost, so if she needs an MRI, at siguro mga blood tests natin for cortisol levels para ma-adress natin yung pagiging overweight. We need to do that step by step," said Manila Doctors Hospital Endocrinoligist Dr. Roberto Mirasol.

Grateful

Sambrano's mother Iluminada also expressed her gratitude, saying they could not afford the treatment on their own.

"Ako ay talagang awang awa po diyan...maraming maraming salamat naman sa tulong sa aking anak. Talagang wala ho kaming pera," she said.

Hermosa Vice-Mayor Cris Vitug said,"Natutuwa din ako sa GMA Foundation...sa pamamagitan ninyo yung problema ni Belen (Evelyn's nickname) masosolusyonan na kahit papano."— VVP, GMA News

From http://www.gmanews.tv/story/225686/nation/unusually-overweight-woman-with-cushings-syndrome-to-get-treatment