A glimpse of my past…..a glimpse of my heart

I have just returned from a two week holiday in Australia… a home I have known for sixteen years... 

… a country and a life I loved so much that I made the heart wrenching decision to leave my family… a separation that did not ease with time… as I missed birthdays, Christmases, family gatherings… and my beautiful nieces growing into amazing young women. 

And still the divide continues… and yet my family's unfailing and unconditional love and support manages to bridge all gaps! I am forever amazed at how such distance can feel so close. 

As I prepared for my holiday in Australia I did wonder if it would unsettle or confirm my move, or do neither… just a holiday after all.

As I sat in the love and security of my beautiful friends… I contemplated my life then and my life now.

As I sat on the beach that was a 5 minute walk from my home… I contemplated my life then and my life now.

As I visited my colleagues and friends… I contemplated my life then and my life now.

As I breathed in the fresh air and re-lived the freedom that Australia offers …… I contemplated my life then and my life now.

I was nervous returning… I admit… to leave the people I love, the place I love, the life I loved… again! I wanted to stay… I admit.

And yet I could not. For all the reasons that I left in the first place. So … I left, I cried, I feared, but I returned.

And as I walked into Gentle Hands… it all made sense. My fears left. My desires are the desires of the children. My life, the life of Gentle Hands.

I'm back, and my life is both full and fulfilled … a promise I was assured… as I contemplated my life then and my life now.

Thank you to my amazing friends for making my holiday feel like I was home again… I value each and every one of you… more than you will ever know.

My anchors, my joys, my soulmates  …. Leanne
and my boys,  Caleb and Jacob

My sister, my wisdom, my angel …… Kristy

My gifts, my supports, my treasures…. Dana and Paige

My work colleagues… my incredible friends that continue to encourage and uplift …
Gail (pictured)….  Kylie, Catherine, Jane….Sarah, Mal and Lisa
(I wish I had pictures of each of you!)


My unexpected, my delights….Vicky, Shonah and Eden

And my friend, who made it all happen, who introduced me to Gentle Hands!!!
and who still remains my forever encourager …. Tracey

My life is blessed

My life as I know it …...

No day is the same… a dear friend once told me 'Some days are diamonds, some pearls'. I never grasped this concept until now… they may be different, but both are precious.

I have no job description… for the first time in my life… and, truthfully, I would not wish to be restricted by one… my life is what it needs to be, anything it needs to be. And everything it needs to be…

Malabon - our outreach….

Crafts ….

As the crowds gather…..

Recycling in Malabon….

Child's play will always be Child's play….

And toys will always be discarded…..

Light in the darkness

Too much freedom with my iPhone :) 

Too much freedom with my iPhone :)

Neighbours washing line ….. on the street

A boy I (literally) picked up on my way to work, semi-naked, and  on the street corner crying…..
mum at work and left unsupervised …. he had escaped. They were happily reunited :)

A climb to Floor 4 because the door was locked from the inside!

Daniel - a 2 yr old cerebral palsy, seizures….due to maternal TB…. 5 kgs

CXR diagnosing…. pneumonia and TB!

Chicken pox …. hit most of our children
since Varicella vaccine is not on the Government schedule

Too much freedom with my iPhone :)

Delight in reaching milestones…..my delight

Diagnostics clinic!! 

Developing x-rays

TB clinic …a home from home

And a patient of ours…. no, not patient…. a family member! 

Unknown rashes!!!

My 'Walk Club' 

De-worming of Gentle Hands! Medicine and a Mentoes

New sight for Tacloban child….. and a little carousel ride in between!

Mumps!! 

My science lesson on hearing

Joey….TB, severe oedema …. not well!

New vaccination fridge -
GH has become its very own vaccination center .
You will not believe what joy this brings me :)

My road… to home

My alley to home….

I do not know the exact reason I have been brought here… but I do live each day as if that were the reason… because you never know how large that change will become.  

Delight in Sight!

Today was a very special day…

Renato is 5 yrs old… he was born blind in one eye because his mum contracted measles during pregnancy… 

He is one of eleven children. He is in Manila because of the typhoon. His mum died protecting her one month old baby … as a tree fell on her whilst she held him.  

The dad. A farmer. Was left with 11 children and no home. He owned a carabao (domestic water buffalo) which he sold in order to buy ferry tickets to take his family to Manila … where the only option was to distribute the children out to family members. 

One family's story of Yolanda's devastation … 

… and today I had the incredible privilege of meeting them, and being a part of changing this little boys' world …

I am not aware of how they came to know Gentle Hands but Charity had organised an appointment at the American Eye Centre … and, as Gentle Hands nurse, I was tasked to accompany them. Dad, Auntie and Renato … Dad and Renato spoke only Leyte dialect (not Tagalog), Auntie spoke Tagalog, Leyte dialect and minimal English. I spoke … well … Taglish (and badly) … yet it somehow worked … it always somehow does :) 

Although nothing can be done with his blind eye, his other eye was diagnosed as 'near sighted' and he was given a prescription. 

So … following a brief pit stop at Gentle Hands, we took a trip to the local shopping mall to buy him glasses … an ice cream and a little bit more!

Sarah Joy…. suggested a ride on the carousel …. and I am so thankful she did.
His smile lit up my world 

In just one day, the view of his world changed!! I have no words to express the joy that brings. 

Gentle Hands good works continues to astound me. 

Medical Marvels, Misadventures and much much more ….

I continue to be challenged in my medical realm … no doctors to advise; no team to consult; no blood results to guide; no tests to confirm … no definitive diagnosis … merely the presentation!! I sometimes feel a little lost, a little helpless, and more than a little inadequate. And yet, the outcomes seem to be ok, dare I say, even good … despite me :) 
Phew.

MEDICAL MARVELS…

Mario…

has been living at GH for a year or so … he arrived with TB, so thin; dying, after several failed treatments … Charity did what she does so well … took him in without question; fed him, loved him and treated him; and he is still with us. 

His wish was to make his 50th birthday. 

A couple of weeks before, however, he became unwell again; coughing blood, breathless. Was the TB back … if so, it was a very poor prognosis. We had to know, he had to know … so we took him to a private pulmonologist who never seems to charge …
in gratitude for the work we do :) Several appointments, tests and days later we find out he doesn't have TB. He is free!! He still has breathing issues… he always will, but he doesn't have TB!!

We found out this news on the day of his 50th birthday! Precious timing!! Charity and I went to tell him … a moment in life that shall remain imprinted on the heart … as he kept hugging us and thanking us … over and over … our laughter echoed, and our eyes shone with tears.

Syra…

Syra is a one year old from Malabon. She was so so tiny, with wide eyes looking out from a pale, thin face. She had a congenital heart condition … and the mum had no idea who to turn to. With Gentle Hands help, her heart condition was diagnosed and operated on. She is alive and she is thriving. It is a life saved …

In hospital - awaiting for her operation

Several months later - getting fat :)

These moments are exactly why I would never wish to give this life up!

MEDICAL MISADVENTURES……

Melanie…

As we did our fortnightly outreach to Malabon we were faced by a woman who, painfully underweight with late stage TB, was severely dehydrated and losing consciousness. She needed fluid resuscitation and quickly. As I rushed her in a taxi to the closest hospital (potentially an hour away in Manila traffic!) we broke every road rule in the book … with hazard lights flashing and a hand on the horn, it was a true Manila-style ambulance. Hahaha. Just don't look up :)

We arrived (alive!!)and got fluid resuscitation before then having to sign a waiver to allow her discharge. Sigh; on our heads be it. Sadly, decisions have to be calculated when money is always an issue. However, in this case, we knew we could do the rest. Treat her for pneumonia, TB, and feed her up (from 26 kgs!!!) whilst providing what Gentle Hands is so good at - love and ministry. The 'kit and kaboodle' of Medical GH - we can offer nothing less :)

Not sure we want to be number 836!

Comforting!

A litre of fluid goes a long, long way :) 

Jaiden…

I had finished 'work' for the day … until I got a call from Charity … 'Come now!!' … beep, beep, beep. I jumped on my moped and raced over to GH … not knowing what I would be faced with. Six month old Jaiden was in the medical wing; blue and in oxygen. Fever of 40C, shutdown, cyanosed, and looking decidedly unwell.

Another emergency trip to the hospital! In the second form of ambulance transport … the local trike! He may not have hazard lights or a blaring horn but he had his own version of emergency travel… the pavement! 

Tests and examinations led to a likely diagnosis of a UTI. Babies are such attention seekers :) She improved during our few hours there (as they often do) and we brought her home. We started antibiotics and she is better :)

These moments are exactly why I could never give this life up! 

MUCH MUCH MORE ……

The outside of Gentle Hands is becoming a 'walk-in' clinic … how incredible! How wonderful that they know they will never be turned away …

A family of six, homeless, and living under the bridge near us … all four children in need of medical attention. 

An elderly man, blind, and with severe cellulitis, in need of medical attention. 

Gentle Hands Outpatients Clinic :)

And in between the medical … is relationships; love, faith, hope, tears, laughter, cuddles, kisses, trust, friendships …

I believe I have become a part of the Gentle Hands family …

… and this is the real reason why I would never give this life up!