‘Brain dead’ Filipina had big dreams in Dubai

‘Brain dead’ Filipina had big dreams in Dubai: Family of Filipina who died in UAE weather problems as they await her repatriation

  DUBAI – Dubai expatriate Joymee Teodoro-Mago had big plans for herself and her family in the emirate. “She was thinking of opening a small bakery here,” her sister Mikki Teodoro-Manabat told ExpatMedia.Net, “she was very confident that she had found her calling”. But fate dealt a cruel blow to the Filipina housewife, who fell unconscious at her home following a severe headache on July 20. Mago was rushed to a hospital in Dubai where she underwent three surgeries before doctors declared her “brain dead”. “Doctors needed to operate on her to drain the blood clot and fluids and to clip a ruptured vein,” Manabat said. It didn’t improve her condition. Mago was put on life support until she died on August 16. She was 37. “The death certificate said she died a natural death. We waited for her heart to give up on its own,” Manabat said. Mago’s death came as a shock to the family. She had been suffering from hypertension in the last four years, a condition that also cost her a pregnancy at seven months, her sister said. “She had frequent bouts of headaches. We thought it was just another one of those. That day she had a headache and then she became nauseous before losing consciousness,” she said. Mago’s body is currently at the Rashid Hospital Mortuary. Her sister said they are awaiting to repatriate Mago’s body, "hopefully by the end of next week". The family is planning a three-day wake for Mago in Funeraria Samson in Molino, Bacoor Cavite. “We're all devastated, especially our parents. But we have to carry on. They want her buried in Heavenly Peace Memorial Garden in Molino, Bacoor, Cavite,” Manabat said, adding that she wants to travel to the Philippines earlier to “see the memorial park, pick a spot for her”. Mago is survived by her husband, Michael Rynnie Mago, a Dubai-based media professional, and their 11-year-old daughter, Kheyla.

Joymee Teodoro-Mago (centre) with husband Michael and daughter Kheyla.

Donations frozen When news broke last week about Mago’s condition, donations poured in for the Filipina to cover her hospital expenses. She did not have an insurance plan after she stopped working in 2014. “We had some issues with the funding page. Paypal froze our account due to the influx of funds on days one to three of the campaign,” Manabat said. They have already raised the problem with Paypal, which said it was resolving the issue. The money will go a long way to help the family with the mounting cost of expenses, and any extra amount will go straight to Kheyla's college fund, Manabat said. Those who want to reach out to the family may contact her on social media. Focusing on the good times Manabat said that the family would rather focus on the good times they shared with her sister. Manabat first arrived in Dubai nine years ago to work as a health and safety coordinator. Her sister and her family followed her six months later.

Joymee Teodoro-Mago (right) with her sisters Mikki (left) and Monette (centre)

“They saw a future here,” Manabat said, adding that her sister’s husband was doing well at work and that Mago had worked in the media industry during her first six years in Dubai before quitting two years ago. “She liked camping and outdoor activities. She loved to play bowling, she was good at it,” Manabat recalled. Mago’s big dream was to set up a small bakery in Dubai. She had just learned how to bake and “her eyes would light up when talking about baking... anything related to it”. “She always wants to be driven around International City, and Deira because there are a lot of shops there that sell baking tools and boxes for cakes and cupcakes. That’s her favourite thing to do,” Manabat said. “My last memory of her was when we had dinner at this Japanese boutique place in Al Ghurair. She had long wanted me to go there with her. Then of course we looked at their baked goodies. She was cocky at the time, saying she can do better. But it was our last meal out together as a family. We all had sushi burger,” Manabat said. Grieving process The family hasn’t had time to fully grieve. “There is a lot of paperwork. Thankfully, the staffers at the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai were very helpful in processing her death report and cancellation of passport, among others. We have to come back for more paperwork on Monday (August 21). We are hoping that the Overseas Workers Welfare Association can help us with the repatriation costs,” she said. Her sister’s husband, Michael, has been processing most of the paperwork. “He hasn’t fully grieved yet because of the tons of paperwork. He will leave early in the morning and come home late,” she said, “we try to make sure he eats at least”. How is Mago’s daughter, Kheyla, coming to terms with her mother’s death? “In fact out of all of us grieving, she is the most together. We always remind her that her mommy is not coming back, because we want to make sure she is aware… she says ‘Yes, I know, but mommy told me she is fine and that she is resting. So I’m not that sad anymore’,” Manabat said, “I think she saw her mommy in her dreams.” The family would like to remember Mago as she was: “the best. Very thoughtful. Very maternal. Strong. Patient”. “You never heard her complain no matter what life threw at her,” Manabat said, adding that even after death her sister wanted to make a difference. "When she was healthier, she had said it was her wish to donate her organs in case of death... We wanted to honour it but due to circumstances it could not be carried out."

The Teodoros during happier times.

The family will have to think about starting their lives anew without her sister. “It’s been a grueling four weeks and we want to start the healing process,” Manabat said, “I’m sure that’s what ate (older sister) would have wanted.”   Like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter for story alertsJTNDc2NyaXB0JTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyJTJGJTJGcGFnZWFkMi5nb29nbGVzeW5kaWNhdGlvbi5jb20lMkZwYWdlYWQlMkZqcyUyRmFkc2J5Z29vZ2xlLmpzJTIyJTIwYXN5bmMlM0QlMjIlMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0UlMEElMjAlM0MlMjEtLSUyMGluLWFydGljbGUlMjBhZCUyMC0tJTNFJTBBJTIwJTNDaW5zJTIwY2xhc3MlM0QlMjJhZHNieWdvb2dsZSUyMiUyMHN0eWxlJTNEJTIyZGlzcGxheSUzQSUyMGJsb2NrJTNCJTIyJTIwZGF0YS1hZC1jbGllbnQlM0QlMjJjYS1wdWItNTAwNjI0MTU4MzU4MTg0OSUyMiUyMGRhdGEtYWQtc2xvdCUzRCUyMjg1MjYwOTM2MTElMjIlMjBkYXRhLWFkLWZvcm1hdCUzRCUyMmF1dG8lMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZpbnMlM0UlMEElM0NzY3JpcHQlM0UlMkYlMkYlMjAlM0MlMjElNUJDREFUQSU1QiUwQSUyOGFkc2J5Z29vZ2xlJTIwJTNEJTIwd2luZG93LmFkc2J5Z29vZ2xlJTIwJTdDJTdDJTIwJTVCJTVEJTI5LnB1c2glMjglN0IlN0QlMjklM0IlMEElMkYlMkYlMjAlNUQlNUQlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0UlMEE=