TV director Nick Olanka is in need of financial support for his open brain surgery.
He is best known for his films, including Ronda (2014), which starred Ai-Ai delas Alas, and Cinco (2010). He also directed some episodes of Kapamilya shows Maalaala Mo Kaya and Ipaglaban Mo.
Last Sunday, June 26, Nick suffered from hemorrhagic stroke that could have paralyzed him or might have even ended his life.
He has since been at the Acute Stroke Intensive Care Unit of Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City
Hemorrhagic stroke, according to strokeassociation.org, results from a weakened vessel that ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain, thus causing the blood to accumulate and compress the surrounding brain tissue.
According to a Facebook post by Nick’s fiance, Karla Lizardo, it was by some miracle that he was spared from severe bleeding, and remains cheerful and in good spirits.
However, the director is due for two surgical procedures—clipping and coiling—with the first phase scheduled tomorrow, July 4.
Clipping is a procedure utilized to treat an artery's balloon-like bulge. After this, endovascular coiling is performed, making an incision with a catheter to reach the aneurysm in the brain, with the hope of blocking blood flow into the aneurysm.
The estimated cost of all his medical procedures ranges from 800,000 to a million pesos.
His family also decided to transfer him to the Philippine General Hospital to better manage all the finances.
Director Nick Olanka is best known for his films, including Ronda (2014), which starred Ai-Ai delas Alas, and Cinco (2010). He also directed some episodes of Kapamilya shows Maalaala Mo Kaya and Ipaglaban Mo.
FUND-RAISING EVENTS. On Friday, July 1, a Facebook page was launched to raise funds for his immediate interventions.
Funding Nicky: A Fundraiser for Director Nick Olanka carries all the updates of Nick’s medical situation.
His friends have also organized a fund-raising concert titled Funding Nicky scheduled on July 8 and 9, featuring Aiza Seguerra, Juan Miguel Severo, Baron Geisler and the Boys, and many other artists.
Two days after their campaign launch, Karla said that they have already reached 16% of their goal through the kindness and compassion of friends and strangers.
Voluntary contributions may be sent to the director's family through this account:
BANCO DE ORO UNIBANK INC.
Account: Savings
Account Name: Nick Joseph Olanka
Account Number: 0056-3031-2481