The family of Pen Medina has called on fans and followers for help as the veteran actor gets hospitalized for degenerative disc disease and is set to undergo surgical treatment.
The 71-year-old actor’s family took to Instagram on Saturday, July 16, to share details of his medical condition.
“Our dad, 71-year-old actor Pen Medina, has been in the hospital for three weeks now and currently cannot sit or stand up due to Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD),” the statement read.
“He is scheduled for a major spine surgery on Tuesday, July 19,” it added.
The same Instagram post also revealed how the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has affected Medina, leaving him with scarcely any work, which “siphoned his savings over the past two years.”
“We humbly appeal for your charitable help and prayers as our family navigates through helping him get back on his feet – literally and figuratively,” the post read, adding bank account and contact details for those who wish to help the actor.
His sons, actors Ping and Alex Medina took to their respective Instagram accounts to share the call for donations.
Likewise, colleagues in the industry, Joshua Garcia, Raymond Bagatsing, and Enzo Pineda joined in on the call, as John Arcilla also took to the comments section of the post to send his love and prayers for his fellow actor.
Medina last appeared in ABS-CBN drama series Viral Scandal in 2021, he also starred in A Soldier’s Heart and iWantTFC’s La Vida Lena two years back in 2020.
During the pandemic, the veteran actor has also been active in sharing his artworks on social media.
Degenerative disc disease is a condition that develops as a person ages and occurs when the spinal disks begin to break down and causes sharp and constant pain in the back or neck, according to healthcare website WebMD.com.
Based on the same article, the disease could also lead to numbness and tingling in the limbs and weakness in leg muscles, and is typically treated with medication, physical therapy, steroid shots, and surgery, depending on the case.
