Sand Tables

I am a total sucker for anything that allows me to play. I have been wanting a sand table for the kids at Tebow Cure Hospital  ever since we opened. Maybe it is due to the fact that CURE Niger was in the Sahel and there was sand EVERYWHERE?  Maybe it is because I find it incredibly relaxing to sift and dig in the sand?  Maybe I have seen t he benefits of sand play and want our patients to have this special treat? Whatever the reason, we had been given a very generous gift from a stateside VBS. Of course I had a bit of a wish list as did others that work with our kids. This was at the TOP! I started asking questions where one might purchase a sand table her in the PIs. I started looking online and just brainstorming. L had the brilliant idea of having one made! Brilliant to me, but some what obvious, I guess. So, I went into dream mode......needed to be wheel chair accessible, just the right size for little arms to reach in, deep enough, mobile, colorful and inviting.

C, our Facilities Manager, listened to my list and by the next morning he had drawn up an amazing plan. He hired a carpenter to bring the plan to reality. Unfortunately the project was put on hold when  the carpenter went missing (please pray that he would return to his family). Hmmmm, so what to do now?  C recruited our awesome  maintenance man, A, to finish the project and that he did! Look at this amazing paint job ta boot! I am thrilled. They exceeded my expectations!

It took more effort than your would think to find sand. C was diligent and finally found some at a local pet store. Funny when you live on a island and the kind of sand you want is not allowed to be taken from the beach!  Today, C greeted me with a huge smile and the news  that the sand was IN the table. Off to the store I went to find a few sand toys. I found exactly what I wanted.

My little buddy, J and I broke it in today!      

 This is going to be such a treat at TCH! I love our one of a kind sand table. What a fun distraction....playing with sand inside, while healing up from surgery or while doing physical therapy. Most wonderful of all? The many smiles and joy that I am anticipating. 

Balimbing

Oh, the fruit! I just love the fruit and what I love even more is the surprise of finding a new fruit. The Philippines is full of them. Check some of them out here. This past year was full of fruit gifts. I guess friends are starting to catch on, it must be my love language? They may be my favorite kind of gift. Mangosteen, pomelo, lanzones and the latest.....balimbing. 

  

 This is not the first time I have tasted this (It is also known as star fruit) BUT this is  the first time I have been given such pretty, yellow/orange ones.  The giver suggested sprinkling them with salt as he said it would bring out the flavor. I decided just to try them as they were......they had a very subtle taste, sort of pear like? L says it is not like anything he has tasted before. I guess they just taste like star fruit! They were very juicy and just oh so pretty. SO wonderful getting little surprises and trying new things.

Our Lady of Victory

Last evening, we had a sweet treat. Our friends from Our Lady of Victory Training Center for the Handicapped paid us a visit and brought some Christmas Cheer. OLV has been an awesome partner here in Davao. They actually have their training center on the Island Garden City of Samal (a quick ferry ride away).  They are "differently-abled".  For example, I remember meeting Ernie a legless swimmer. He went to the para Olympic games! Amazing this little orphaned boy had such vision and drive! I am inspired by the tenacity and joy. I just love to visit there, what a wonderful place and wonderful people. OLV has helped house many of our patients that could not afford to make the many trips home and back to the hospital. They provided them a place to stay and regular trips for PT and follow ups.I wish that I had a video because pictures just do not do their visit justice.

 

 It was fun to watch Princess sing and stand so straight and proud. She started to wiggle a bit and will be dancing soon, I am sure. 

To top the evening off, everyone sand to Dr Reyes. It was his birthday! 

Gifts were exchanged between Tebow CURE and OLV. I am sure that the partnership will only grow as the years go by. So thankful for them and how they love people. They are great to work with and something wonderful to be around.

Thursdays

It may seem odd, but my favorite day of the week is Thursday! I woke up early today and just knew it was going to be a fantastically full fun day and I was not disappointed! Since opening the hospital, Thursday has been my favorite day. I just love our charity clinics....tons of kids to meet and play with. I lavish the guests with plenty of bubbles and spend so much of the day smiling. 

Seems like every Thursday there is some sort of surprise. Today there were several! I wish I had pictures of EVERYTHING! 

My day started with a amazing time of worship, scripture and prayer. Our friends from Life Church led us in such a sweet time with Jesus. Immediately following our chapel time, I met the 5th grade class from Faith International Academy in the lobby. They came prepared to encourage and bless our patients.  They did an amazing job as they incorporated singing, guitar, violin, scripture, a story, homemade cards and gifts into their visit. We visited all of the kids who had procedures  this week.

After leaving the wards, we headed upstairs to the charity clinic.  The kids seemed to enjoy the hustle and bustle of a busy clinic. They were also excited to be invited to the Christmas Party being thrown 

by our own Doc Jun and his sweet wife, Pam. 

The party started with hand dipped Filipino ice cream......durian, ube and chocolate and cotton candy. It was a thrill to have the street vendors bring their bikes upstairs, Hee hee!

There were so many surprises for everyone. We have had a Jollibee party before but this one was even better......Twirly came along with Jollibee. You have to understand, these characters are pretty big. It is sorta like meeting Mickey Mouse.....so much better than Ronald McDonald! There was lots of singing and dancing. Oh the joy!

After Jollibee and Twirly were finished with their greetings, Clown Bern took over. He played lots of games and tied balloons for everyone. The kids were so cute and it was so high energy, loud and fun!

In the lobby, I saw the ice cream man getting off  the elevator with his "cart".  I asked him if I could take a spin and that is what I did! 

I always enjoy seeing our staff have such a wonderful time too. everyone enjoys a good Jollibee party and ice cream is the perfect mid day snack.

                                      

Those are some of my Thursday highlights(that I have photos of). The day still included seeing my buddy Ky, shopping with Cyra, Mars and Madel for some very special upgrades for the playroom and finally some wonderful flaming Baked Alaska with my sweetheart. Thursdays are truly something wonderful!

Ruby Anne

Yesterday, we had a very special visitor to Tebow CURE Hospital. Ruby Anne and her mother came by just to visit.

 

 Madel took some time to read the Bible and pray with Ruby Anne and Anne. It was so great to see them. We get quite attached to our patients, as you can imagine.

 It has been an entire year since she had her surgery.

 The hospital is FULL of remembrances of the people we have the privilege to meet and serve. Every time I get off the elevator on the 4th floor of the hospital I am greeted by the large painting of Ruby Anne.  She was a bit shy the first time she saw it.  Ruby Anne does not smile all the time, but she is so peaceful and gracious. I love watching she and her mother together.

You see, Ruby Anne was our very FIRST patient.  Something wonderful indeed.

Giving Thanks

Well, today started with an early morning walk and about like every other day. The kids went to school and Leron went to work. I was lamenting the fact that Thanksgiving morning should fill my nostrils with yummy turkey smells and the expectations of lots of family time. But alas, I am in a quiet house alone (well,  my lil red dachshund, Freckles, is here) and it just smells like every other day. The weather is a little strange as we have had lots of rain the past 24 hours. Not sure why I am surprised? I have gone through these feelings ever since we moved out of our home in Mechanicsburg 5 years ago. Thanksgiving has always and will probably always be my favorite holiday. Perfect combination; lots of yummy food, great company and focusing on thankfulness.  Well, even though I miss my family and the food is a little different; I have the makings of a perfect Thanksgiving Day right here in hot steamy Davao City.  Miss my stateside family, but God is providing great  “family” here.

 

So like I said, life goes on per usual. It is Thursday and that means it is a free clinic day. This is the 4th one! We have a long waiting list for surgery already AND we are licensed to start operations soon. So thankful. I headed to the hospital in the rain. Lots of rain here can mean travel woes. When I arrived shortly after 9AM (the time we open) there were no patients. I was greeted by a host of cheery nurses. I am thankful for them. I love Tebow CURE Hospital, it is my “happy place”. Too many things to mention, but it is an awesome place and I am thankful to be a part of what goes on there. I love the staff, meeting new people from all over Mindanao and most of all blowing bubbles for kids. So, in weeks past we have had a nice turn out for clinics. Today, there was a group that was supposed to come in from Bukidnon. I mentioned the rain, right? Well, they were all no shows. At about 10:30, our first and only patient arrived. Sweet Rinard had traveled approximately 3 hours to see the doctor. His mother said that he had woken up at 3AM because he was so excited. The Jeepney driver did not know where our hospital was so he dropped them off at the gas station and they had to walk. This may not be too bad, but you see 10 year old, Rinard, can not walk. They had to carry him quite a distance.

  

After talking to Rinard’s Mom, Fiona, we got the story. He had a normal early childhood. Until about the age of 5 or 6, he attended preschool and was developing normally. Nothing out of the ordinary happened, but his body just started to deteriorate. Losing muscle control and strength. By age 7, he was no longer going to school. He is 10 now and stays home all day. How painful! I watched as Alex, our PT, did some simple exercises with him. He needs help sitting up and getting into that position from laying down is hard work even with help! Doing the simplest tasks really made  it hard for him to breathe. What a struggle, but through it all he would flash a smile. He put in the hard work and kept trying. What a gracious little boy. 

The longer I spent with Rinard, Fiona  and Pablito (Dad), the more my heart swelled with love for them. I started just praying for this sweet boy’s complete healing! I just wanted him to jump up and start running around the room. I will continue to pray for him! I  really had a sense of how Jesus must have felt when “He was moved with compassion” throughout the Gospels. I could not love them enough….cups of porridge, showers of prayers, a race car, love, and attention. How much more does God love and care for them?

Our newest mural is now finished and it really brings it all into focus for me…….

 

So, what can we do?  Not sure there is anything a doctor can do?  Some we can help with surgery and some we can’t. But we do know the ONE who is the Great Physician!!  I just lifted Rinard up to Jesus. There are some practical ways we can love with the resources we have been given. Alex, our Physical Therapist is amazing. I am thankful for him. He just makes me feel happy, always smiling and ever ready to help. He showed Pablito and Fiona some exercises that they could do with Rinard.  Madel and I prayed for him to be healed and prayed that they would know Jesus. We gave them a wheelchair, so now Rinard can be mobile. Like I said, there was not anything else I could do. Just blow some bubbles and enjoy the sweet smile of this amazing 10 year old boy.  Jesus loves him more than I could ever love him. Rinard’s life  is in His hands. I am just thankful that I had the privilege of meeting this precious family.

 

I am also so thankful for our amazing staff. Here they are just hanging out with the family. 2 Rad techs, IT guy, PT all just playing. Yes, it was a slow day, but this really warmed my heart. Did I mention how thankful I am for our staff at Tebow CURE? ;) gush gush gush

A little before 1PM, Madel and I dropped Pablito, Fiona and Rinard by the bus stop. I kissed Rinard’s head and said  goodbye. I got ONE more big smile. I think we are friends for life! He shares my joy for bubbles.

Driving away I looked over my shoulder to see them waiting for their bus. What a perfect way to celebrate Thanksgiving. I am reminded of the account in Acts 3:6 where Peter says   “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” I will continue to pray that way ! I feel so blessed to be in a place to love and be loved. My heart is full!