An abundance of Good Samaritans

It does not surprise me anymore to learn of Good Samaritans. There are many! In our public service segment Lingkod Kapamilya on TV Patrol, I’ve seen enormous generosity.

It only takes people to hear about a sick patient, and without reluctance they give us a call or make a deposit for the medical needs of patients, especially if the patient is a child. We feel for children because in their innocence, they should not be suffering. Nevertheless, people have shown so much compassion towards the patients, whether child or adult, that we serve. 

I share with you some good news about our patient Feliciana, a mother of five from Sorsogon. When I met Nanay Feliciana a few months ago, she was desperate to have the tumor — the size of a basketball — in her right arm removed. She and her husband Noel, a farmer, left their children in Sorsogon to seek treatment in Metro Manila.  

Our Lingkod Kapamilya team brought her to the Philippine Orthopedic Center to be checked by doctors. The prognosis was not good. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Rotor informed us that the whole right arm may have to go. It was a still a good arm, as far as Nanay Feliciana was concerned because she could move her right hand, which she uses in washing laundry. But it was better to prevent hemorrhage, among other possible complications. 

A few months after, Nanay Feliciana was without an arm, but was feeling much better and appeared 10 years younger. She admitted that the arm was a burden, and quietly, she would worry about her children who she needs to take care of in Sorsogon. But she’s better now and can’t wait to get back home — thanks to our donors.

One of our patients Lanie Bayaga with melanoblastoma is also better now. Sixteen years ago, she developed a tumor-like mass on the right side of her face, but it was only recently that she was operated on, thanks to Manuel Monterola. 

Manuel wrote to us through Facebook about Lanie. Manuel made a trip to Masbate almost a decade ago where he first saw Lanie who then already had a mass in her face. In his recent trip to Masbate, he saw her again, but the mass had deformed Lanie’s right side.

Manuel has his own problems, too, but he felt that he had to do something about Lanie’s condition. She was a stranger to him, and yet he brought Lanie to Manila, let her stay at his place in Laguna and went to hospitals to seek help for her. Currently, Lanie is staying with Manuel as she continues to go to her doctors for her post-operation procedures and consultations. 

Manuel is just one of the many Good Samaritans willing to go out of their way to help. Recently, in TV Patrol, there was a story about a call center agent who posted on Facebook a photograph of an MMDA worker who he saw sitting in a footbridge, resting his swollen feet. Because of that photograph, authorities from the MMDA decided to bring the old man to the hospital to seek medical treatment. 

And remember our two-year-old patient Joshua Bandao from Ifugao with retinoblastoma?  His case was brought to our attention through Twitter and Facebook. Our special thanks to individuals who brought his case to the PCSO. The good news is Joshua is responding well to his chemotherapy treatment at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center. Our little patient is a fighter! Please keep on praying for him and all those who are suffering. 

Let’s continue to help. For donations, you may deposit to the Banco De Oro, ABS-CBN Branch with account name AFI-Gabay Kapamilya and account number 005630050932. 

“Do not think that love in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies,” Mother Theresa said.

(To my dear Papa Nick, happy birthday. Thank you for your love. We love you.)