PROJECT WALK DIARY

The 2 -American Legs of Arnel

July 12

Arnel and I flew to Manila at 1:05 PM departure Kalibo.

Thanks God for the smooth flight. I have to complement the flight captain for it and he was surprised and very thankful. I guess it’s seldom that he gets a face to face complements from his passengers. We landed 5mins ahead the scheduled arrival time in Manila.

There was Elmer who happily greeted us at the welcome reception of the arrival area of NAIA 3. Before we could get in the car, he ushered Arnel and I to take some photo ops in front of the arrival area.

Then, there was Kuya Manny, our ever reliable pilot (driver) who took us straight to the PGH of which we heard Dr. Penny Bondoc and her team is expecting us at 3:00 PM.

Traffic was not so bad. Perhaps, it did matter to me since we were busy talking with Elmer catching up with times and exchange of news with Arnel and the Rotary.

PGH

We came to Manila for check up and repair only of the right prosthesis leg of Arnel. It was a big surprised when as soon we sat down inside the Brace and Prosthesis Lab room, Dave Kelly, a Certified Prosthetics from Seattle, Washington, USA came to see Arnel in the corner and immediately bend down on his knees and checked on Arnel’s two prosthesis legs. I told him that we came for check up and repair. Dave said that they can replace the two prosthesis legs to a new pair if possible. I thought, why not? It was a blessing coming to Manila thru the generosity of PP Ed Escano (RC Forbes), and I thought, it is a grace to get more than check up and repair, so I told Dave, “by all means, you know what’s best for Arnel.” Off he went to right away get a cast of plaster of paris and went to work for the two new legs of Arnel. One leg is an indoskeletal type of prosthesis.

While Dave is getting the cast, I was busy asking questions and curious of what he does back home. In the US, one basic prosthesis leg would cost from $3000 to $5000 each. Dave and Mike are both members of PHYSICIANS FOR PEACE who happens to be in the city for a medical mission on giving free services thru prosthesis legs. They have been coming back for 6 years now and they work as partners with PGH Prosthesis Department and some Rotary clubs in the city. They are both married to a Filipino who is sisters and so, they are brothers by default. Mike is a Jamaican and lives in Virginia, while Dave is an American from Seattle, Washington, USA.

Arnel was interviewed after by Jun and his group of Mix Photography hired by Physicians for Peace to get footages for the mission. I can’t help to mention Jun and his team her. Like many others in the room, I also asked questions of what they do. I admired the group for being members of advocates for responsible smoking in their own town in Taytay, Rizal.

Arnel is so blessed while I am overwhelmed by kindness of this group, to kids and adult alike in the Philippines.

After the casting and some exchange of informations/details, we headed to go home to our temporary residence (Paloverde Condo home units) for three days, courtesy of PP Ed Escano (Founder/Chair – Project WALK – RC Forbes Park, Makati City).

July 13

Kuya Manny fetch us at 8:00 AM to go back to PGH.

At Ward 5, before we could reach the Prosthesis Lab, we were already greeted by a team of Therapists who took good care of Arnel almost two years ago. Mike is the first one who recognized Arnel. Mike was Arnel’s therapist then. It was a happy reunion, indeed. There were all glad to see Arnel and vice versa.

At the lab, we were advised to just wait while they continue working on the new legs of Arnel.
Rtn. Roberto Lao of our new matched club member – RC Liwasang Bonifacio came to visit us at the lab. He was trying to learn about what we do as he is a neophyte Rotarian, according to him. So, I gave him a birds-eye view of Project W.A.L.K. We talked many things about Rotary, learning from each club’s experiences and planning future projects for RC Roxas and RC Liwasang Bonifacio.

After lunch, Dave started to fit the right indoskeletal leg of Arnel. Arnel started walking. It took many try-outs before Arnel can finally get used to the new leg, although, he was a bit hesitant as he was used to using the old (Mahaveer Foundation) leg.

Dave was persistent to make both legs finished at the same time. However, because of time constraints of their schedule, we decided to go back the next day to get the two new legs instead.

After we got appointment to go back the next day, we were invited to go to PP Ed’s office at Taipan Place, Ortigas City. There we had time to relax more.

At 4:00 PM, we were invited to be guests to a Cocktail of Physicians for Peace thru Dr. Penny Bondoc. We need to be at the venue (Silahis Heritage Gallery, Intramuros) by 6:00 PM. By this time, the storm Basyang started to pour. But since we committed to be there and the rain or shine, the show must go on, we braved the traffic from Ortigas to Intramuros. We were just in time to arrive when I heard a familiar voice while climbing up the stairs to the 3rd floor of the gallery.

There it was, PDG Lynne Abanilla hosting the program fundraising for Physicians for Peace. We were also reunited after three (3) years the last time we saw each other. What a grace again. Everybody in the audience was happy to see us, the whole team of the Physicians for Peace, some Rotarians and the PGH people.

We were recognized coming all the way from Aklan to grace the occasion. Arnel was given a token of Noy doll (made by SJB of Sampaguita Gardens, Aklan) from their special guest – Ms. Pinky, the sister of Pres. Noynoy Aquino. There was a joke where she mentioned that Arnel came to Manila to be given a token made from Aklan of where we came from ( he he he ). It was a fun and memorable night for everyone. There were at least 15 (kids/adults) recipients who were present also. The paintings for sale by a renowned artist – Acuna are all displayed on the wall of which a percentage of the sale goes to the Physicians for Peace Foundation – of which most of their recipients are the Filipino people.

July 14

The storm has almost left. Though worried about the flight during the day, I am excited to see Arnel’s two new legs. Arnel is the same, he was up and ready for another great day. We left the condo at 9 AM.

While on the road, I was praying hard that God will grant us fair weather and that we can leave that afternoon without any flight cancellation. We can’t afford anymore to stay another day. But whatever HIS WILL that day, it was all worth the waiting for Arnel.

Finally, at 2:25 PM, Arnel got two new legs and he was practicing walking inside the lab. (Because of the storm the night before, there was a brownout that slowed down the making of the two legs) He was advised to keep walking with the new legs and as I also encouraged him to do the same; I was again worried about the flight. Anyhow, we are continually blessed and finally, at 3:00 PM, taking pictures and thanking everyone around, we left PGH.

Traffic was not so bad. Kuya Manny knows his way around and so we arrived at the airport after an hour. We bid goodbye to Kuya Manny. He was a very good navigator and patiently waiting for us all the time to get our things done. He is always ever smiling at the same time. Enough to relax us while in the car – courtesy again of PP Ed.

At the airport? With what happened the night before (storm Basyang), it was chaotic. It was like a refugee camp. Flights cancelled if not delayed here and there. With a positive mindset and trusted God that HE will grant our prayers to go home, we went in line. For many times we were ushered to change line, for whatever reason, it was for the good of all.
Finally, we got our boarding pass. Our flight is safe, but was advised to still stand by for further announcements….still, I thank God for it. I keep telling Arnel to pray harder that we can go home.
At the departure area when we checked in, people are lying on the floor, there were arguments in the corner for the cancelled and delayed flights, children screaming, and people busy eating, but most of them are impatiently looking at the flight TV monitor screen.

While Arnel, there was already three people who keep changing looking after him in a wheelchair as he was in pain walking with his new legs. For three times, we were also ushered to different gates, until after two hours delayed time, we finally boarded. Thanks God. We were lucky since day one to end… I thought I don’t want this to end, I mean – being lucky (wink).
Finally, home sweet home at Kalibo International Airport after 8:00 PM. It was raining in Manila before we left; it was raining in Kalibo when we arrived. We could not afford to complain. We all have the luck in the world for three days and the rain just came on time when our rice field needed it most, too.

There is no way I can thank the people of PGH Prosthetics Department, Physicians for Peace, RC Forbes Park, RC Roxas, Fr. Novel Inguillo for fetching us at KIA and sending Arnel back home to the Parish of New Washington, and the rest of the people behind all the possibilities for Arnel.

To Arnel, thank you for the privileged to serve.

As the saying goes, GRATITUDE IS IN THE HEART and will forever linger there.

PP MEGS LUNN
Project W.A.L.K.