Update # 1

Dear Fellow Scholasticans,

Greetings from SSAFI!

The generous response of offering help to Ms. Medy Salazar, our former   high school teacher/mentor/administrative officer, is truly overwhelming and touching!

We are overjoyed to see the outpouring of love and concern from her former students.  This reflects the Christian values that we still carry with us - a legacy of our Scholastican upbringing.

First of all, we would like to thank the classes of Emma Yuhico, Marimi de la Fuente,  and Mignon Wycoco-Ramos who sent the initial emails about the condition of Ms. Medy which moved her former students into action.

Some SSAFI Board members and other former students have gotten in touch with Ms. Medy’s niece, Teresa Salazar, who has been teaching in the Grade School Department for 16 years. We found out from Teresa, through Neni Sta. Ronana-Cruz, that Ms. Medy is the only surviving sibling of Teresa’s father. Ms. Medy’s other sister, Ms. Cora Salazar, who was also our teacher in high school, passed away in the US at the age of 60 because of a kidney complication. Teresa thinks that this may have been the beginning of Ms. Medy’s deteriorating health because these 2 unmarried siblings planned to grow old together. Teresa has 9 other cousins, 5 of whom live abroad. One of the cousins owns the house where Ms. Medy lives and she also sends money monthly for Ms. Medy’s needs.

It was only in February 2008 when Ms. Medy’s arthritis immobilized her. In March 2008, Teresa got her an “egg mattress” which can help prevent bedsores. It was in July that she became bedridden. Teresa recounted the story of the “bites”. It happened in the afternoon. Ms. Medy was awake and she said that she didn’t even feel it when it happened. It was only later that she felt the effects of the bite and had to be hospitalized. Ms. Medy stayed in the hospital for 15 days. Her stay in the hospital was prolonged because it was discovered that she would choke on her food. They had to place a peg in her stomach through which she is fed 4 times a day. Her tests also showed that she had a low hemoglobin count.

Teresa says Ms. Medy is on her 3rd week at home, and is recovering well. She still has difficulty in speaking, though. According to students who visited her, she recognized some of them and that she likes receiving visitors. She experiences pain when transferring from her bed to the wheelchair.  She is awake in the morning, sleeps in the afternoon and is awake again at night. Teresa is the only one among her cousins who lives nearby. Because of her job, she is able to visit her only at night from 6 to 10pm. But now that they are on semestral break, she is able to visit her also in the daytime.

Her visitors consist mostly of former students who come in by Batch and bring her immediate needs—disposable diapers, bedding pads, some fruits, vegetables and food that can be osterized. Our SSAFI office secretary, Noemi Laca has gone to visit her and some SSAFI board members will be visiting her today.

We received a request from US-based alumnae for SSAFI to coordinate the receipt of donations for Ms. Medy. Out SSAFI President Ma. Lourdes “Melo” Castro-Roa and  Amparo Lim, Chairperson of the Ways and Means Committee, are the point persons for this.  Ms Roa is currently in the US to be with her daughter who gave birth a few weeks ago, but will be back in Manila by next week. We got the clearance from her to give an initial update and to respond to this request. We suggest that you send your future emails to  SSAFI email address:  [email protected]  ATTN Ms. Ma. Lourdes Castro-Roa and Ms. Amparo Lim  and cc [email protected].

We are coordinating with Teresa about Ms. Medy’s other needs--- costs of the salary of the caregivers, other supplies needed for her care, etc.  According to Neni, at first she was a little reluctant about discussing costs, but she told her that these information is necessary as SSAFI will be receiving the donations and disbursing them.  It will be easier to get it from SSAFI office as she works in St. Scholastica. Teresa mentioned that initially, she had a problem with the fast turnover of caregivers. Neni expressed to her that the burden of care for Ms. Medy does not need to fall just on her, as her former students are eager to offer monetary, moral and spiritual support.

Thanks for all the suggestions you sent through email. We have mentioned to Teresa, some of the suggestions/alternatives regarding the care that can be given to Ms. Medy. She and her family are appreciative of the concern shown by her former students and  SSAFI.

We will be meeting with other SSAFI board members and get the inputs of other batches. Daisy Barawidan, who is active in the US Eastcoast alumnae group has forwarded some of the emails to our Benedictine sisters to inform them of Ms. Medy’s situation. Ms. Roa will be also be talking to the sisters so that our efforts to help Ms. Medy can be coordinated with theirs.

SSAFI is looking into ways that collections can be remitted efficiently and economically. We will keep you posted regarding the account numbers that can be used.  Although the funds are targeted to help Ms. Medy, it was suggested that this can also be the start of a fund for other teachers who may need our help in the future. Give us your thoughts on the possible name we can give the fund for our teachers who unselfishly gave of themselves and who helped make us “the true and finished women of character”.

And, most important of all, we ask for your prayers for the speedy recovery of Ms. Medy and for guidance from above as to how best we can help her. That in all things, God may be glorified!

 
Proud to be  Scholasticans,

Ma. Lourdes Simon-Lim  -- PRO

Maria Elsa Lava-Mapua   -- Secretary