March 21, 2009
Dear Fellow Scholasticans,
PAX!
Rejoice! Now, Ms. Medy responds and utters a few words and phrases! Though not as audible, she can communicate and express what she needs. I had to ask her caregiver to explain what she meant to tell me. According to her new caregivers, she would now ask them to explain the procedures done to her and she would utter a cry when she feels pain during the therapy.
Ms. Medy's caregiver has left for abroad and the house help has gone, too. Tett has hired two caregivers (a trained caregiver for the evening shift and a midwife for the morning.) The former helper who used to be the night watch is still around. The new caregivers communicate with Ms. Medy and maybe this is one of the reasons why she can now utter words and phrases.
Physical therapy sessions are done on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. She can now be moved and can sit in her wheelchair.
In the last week of January, Ms. Medy had to be brought to Makati Medical Hospital by ambulance so that the doctor could perform a procedure for the removal of dead tissues from bedsores on both hips and lower back. One of the sores is completely dry and the other two are now healing.
With regard to her spiritual healing the Eucharistic lay minister (nephew-in-law) gives Ms. Medy Holy Communion every week. She listens to reflective, inspirational tapes daily. Scholasticans who visit her pray with her, too. She also watches television (TV news when I visited her one evening.)
The SSAFI Committee, in consultation with her niece, Tett Salazar, has decided to give Ms. Medy a regular monthly allowance for the salaries of the two caregivers and the house help and the fees for the physical therapy sessions. This began in January, 2009. We have also reimbursed her niece for the medical bills for the recent hospitalization.
We assured Tett that there is money for the needs of Ms. Medy. If she foresees a major expense, she will inform me ahead of time. We also decided that other medical expenses incurred for the month shall be reimbursed as needed. We have arrived on this decision since these expenses vary according to the doctors' prescriptions and the donations in kind.
We have received again a dollar donation (980) this March according to our SSAFI Secretary. Thank you for the generosity of our Scholastican benefactors.
The visits of friends and Scholasticans and support from all of you have given Ms. Medy the reason to live. She knows and feels that she is loved and cared for by her Scholastican family. Tett has expressed her sincere gratitude for all the help we have extended to them.
As we celebrate the Lenten Season, may we all be one in Ms. Medy's suffering and journey. We experience the great LOVE of the Father through His Son as we witness in our loving care and concern for her. Let us rejoice in this Great Love!
That in all things God may be glorified!
Didi Villegas for the SSAFI Committee
HS '65 and Coll. '69
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