Tubong Tabang sa KKK: Typhoon Yolanda and Kids With Cancer “I cried a bucket when I lost our first kid,” Dr. Socorro Martinez told Florence Hibionada as we began our long drive to visit several children with cancer whose families lost their homes to the wrath of Typhoon Yolanda. With us in this Rapid Assessment trip were the core of Tubong Tabang: Raymund Salvilla, Jun Lojero, Vincent and Kenneth, Joy and Analy. Also on board for the first time was Chef Tibong Jardeleza. “I was really distraught,” Dr. Cora said. “What’s the point of doing all these when they’re going to die anyway?” Dr. Martinez, a radiologist, is president of the Kaibigan ng Kabataang May Kanser (KKK, Friends of Children with Cancer), a small non-stock, non-profit organization of doctors and friends dedicated to helping cancer-stricken children from poverty-stricken families – children with two strikes against them already before they could even come to bat in the game called LIFE. The kid she was referring to was not her own but a ward of the KKK. “I decided to stop. I told my friends in the KKK to spend whatever money that’s left. I was really decided to stop,” she went on saying. But a week after the funeral, she said the kid’s mother called me up to say thank you and that what we did for them was really very helpful not just to the kid but to the family. “I think that was the Lord telling me to carry on.” That was seven years and 22 kids ago. Several more kids been tagged out by the Big C, the latest about two months ago. But many have also gone the full route of chemotherapy sessions, surgery, and other medical interventions. And though their battle continues, they’re still standing in front of the pitcher waiting for the next curve ball to come along. And so does KKK which currently has 11 little leaguers in its dugout, all bright-eyed, hopeful, and thankful for every further chance at bat, for every run across the bases, for every additional inning they get in life. Operation Tubong Tabang got hooked up with KKK via Kathy Villalon, a long time friend in media who also works with KKK. Typhoon Yolanda destroyed the homes of four KKK kids. Since the assistance KKK extends usually covers only expenses related to therapy, repairing homes was definitely not in the prescription. Now, losing homes may already be a dreadful family setback as we know it. But it could be a lot worse for kids undergoing chemotherapy --their strength, their level of immunity goes down after each session. Living in an evacuation center or under a cramped, untidy makeshift hovel would be inviting tragedy to share your blanket. And these kids have regular monthly sessions. Has Yolanda delivered the curved ball and the dreaded third strike to these kids? Not if we can help it. Kathy knew, via facebook, that Tubong Tabang has leveled up from providing relief assistance into building shelters, helping Yolanda victims rebuild their homes and lives. She called Florence, we met, and we went. The first time Tubong Tabang went on the road in the immediate aftermath of Yolanda, the roads were a virtual obstacle course will fallen trees, toppled posts and power lines covering the road like some spilled spaghetti. But they have been cleared all the way and there are hardly any bumps this time. It was a long route, however, a 12 hour round about ride that covered the eastern half of Panay Island. And this was just the beginning, the Rapid Assessment part. Three of the kids – RJ, Jasper, and Ken suffer from leukemia and the other guy, Brad, has something we all could hardly spell or pronounce – let’s just call it a tumor in the spine. Brad had his first surgery when he was just 11 days old and all four have been undergoing regular chemotherapy for about a couple of years. Their prognoses are very encouraging. But Yolanda came. And that’s what we came to assess-- not their medical conditions but the damage to their homes. In Sto. Domingo, Barotac Viejo, RJ’s family lives in a two story nipa and bamboo hut. The father is an itinerant carpenter, the mother sells fish and there are eight mouths to feed including an unwanted child delivered two-week ago by RJ’s 15 year old sister. The house still stands but the walls on the ground level have been carried away and the roof, though still intact, leaks like a sieve. Upon hearing that some people would help them rebuild, Ken’s father had already started gathering fallen bamboo trees that he could use to repair his house, especially his kitchen most of which went touring with Yolanda. His house was a mess when we arrived and Ken’s father and mother hardly avoided becoming an emotional wreck, choking back tears of gratitude as we outlined what needed to be done. The cancer is also robbing Ken of his eyesight but he was a profile in courage, playing with a sumpak (a homade stick gun). Though Ken could hardly see, his aunt says the boy could still roam the nearby fields on nimble feet relying on memory and instinct. The second youngest in brood of five, he wants to shoot the bad guys someday as a soldier or cop. From San Dionisio in Northern Iloilo, we moved up and inland towards Panit-an town in Capiz where lives Jasper and his family. From what’s left of their home, it looked as if Yolanda had grown giant feet and stomped it to the ground. They were allowed to live temporary at the Barangay Multipurpose Hall which served as an evacuation center. The father drives a tricycle, the mother peddles salt, and though the neighbors and the Barangay officials can be generous, they need to rebuild a home not only for 9 year old Jasper but also for his four siblings. Our last stop was in Ivisan town, near the border with Roxas City to visit Renz Nathan “Brad” who is suffering from a rare in-born tumor called Sacrococcygeal Teratoma. Only 2 and a half years old, Brad has undergone two major surgeries, because the tumor is threatening his other organs. Yolanda hacked ‘only’ the kitchen park of their house. But the house in front, which belonged to Brad’s pregnant aunt was totaled. It has become some sort of spare parts depot for neighborhood repairs. On Tuesday (December 3, 2013) Operation Tubong Tabang will retrace its route to bring the building materials (roofing sheets, nails, bamboo poles and mats) as well as food and other things needed to rebuild these homes and lives. It will be yet another long journey but a journey well worth taking twice over. Florence Hibionada Rafael Jardeleza Mylene Sotto Celebria Charmaine Van Jason VanNimwegen Kathy Purr
Posted on: Mon, 02 Dec 2013 04:38:31 +0000