This blog is written by Nikki Tamayo. She worked with us everyday for two weeks without fail. Since our departure, she has been busy following up on two children on our behalf. This means getting the children to cities 2-4 hours away, making sure they have the medication that is presecribed and that the children are taking the medicine. This job of a case manager had become far more complicated than what was anticipated. I asked her to write for us and below is her story, in her words, unedited.

"while watching the typhoon Yolanda destroying my barrio and my house the feeling of hopeless thinking that was the end of everything...
but suddenly what come in my mind that my family is safe my 2daughter is safe..
after a week uncle MATT RILEY told me about the plan of the holy rosary medical mission international that they are going to have a medical mission in my town that was terribly affected of Yolanda...I volunteer to do anything that can help the group even in a simpliest way..First day I was a translator w/ the pharmacist KAY YAMAGATA counting those medicine forwarded by the doctor for their patient is really a tough job wheew!!!!but it gives me knowledge on how every medicine works. Then the next few days I was promoted as a dentist assistant of DR. GERALD JEFFREY..
hey dr..what do you need?? everytime theres a patient sitting in his rocking chair (that was converted as a "dental chair")complaining about what was wrong with their teeth..
_dr.jeff; ok nikki the light..mirror,(if need extraction) lets give him/her a shots ( reffering to injection w/ anesthesia) 2x2,cups,water,meds,ice packs,toothbrush,floss,..
that was an amazing experience to a ordinary woman like me...thingking I was suddenly become like dentist even in a couple of days..and dr. jeff even let me pullout a tooth using a hand only...just imagine how lucky I am!!!and im enjoying every minuite of it...thank you doc Jeffrey for the opportunity and trust...
I have seen all the effort and all the hard work that the mission give to my people..they don't work for their job but they work their job w/ the heart. the best thing they bring with them..my heart melt seeing how CRIS give the guy with the club foot a very big help for him to stand comfortably...a thumbs up on how AILEEN lead the group..and ther's LYNN a hardworking nurse even shes tired she even smile all the time sometimes I can heard her laughing and always love to eat.dr. jeff silent but a good teacher.kay with her age she's so cool and amazing she always make sure every moment has a souvenir using her camera..dr. ADUCAYEN a lovely Filipina dr. at first I thought she was s strict one but noooo she was so lovely and soooo sweet, KUYA ED' I know him as a VERY rich man..hahaha because hes the treasurer/banker of the group..a super funny lolo ED ,,,'always wear a stethoscope and raom around while checking all the team on how they are doing if they need anything,,,as in anything just name it..right kuya ed?and gorgeous ANNE shes a teen ager but woundeful friendly,w/ a sense of responsibility and I also know her as adventure lover..UNCLE MATTt..oh yes uncle matt hes the one who suggest that during typhoon he will take care of the kidz because our house was made of light materials and i trust him my children's safety without any doubt and did not regret my decision..JUN from up hes so flexible like he can do anything,,(its obvious hes a adventurer from UP where uncle matt teach) kuya JOMAR..the driver despite of the busy schedule he always wear his smile.and ERIC the peace corp volunteer a salute to you peace corp..a good friend and a peoples servant whose in need..
as what i have said the group doesn't just do their work they work w/ a heart before they leave they leave me the un finish patient that they have,the patient that really need their help like EMILYN ERAGA the 3 yr old girl that lives in mountainous area of culasi both parent are jobless and had a 4 more siblings and cant even afford to buy food because of poverty,she has a patent uracus it has a same feature of umbilical cord hernia..she was taken to Iloilo city many times for her checkup and now i am scheduling the surgery for her..prayers will help her survive everything and whatever trials that comes in her life..

Genliza with her Grandmother and a portion of her medication regimen.

and GENLIZA MAE DARADAR 14 years old stop schooling because of her health condition.. after having all the test in Iloilo and see a pediatric heart cardiologist she was diagnose w/ a rheumatic heart diseass..and now shes taking lots of medicine for her medication including her maintenance..she was raised by her grand parents and both parents die has 2 more siblings that live w/ her aunt miles away from her..and even her grand parents cant afford medication and the grandfather do some knives that we called a "bolo" to earn a living. giving these kidz a hope is a lifetime UTANG N LOOB from the medical mission team..and even ME was included w/ these kidz...thanking all the team that was given me all the opportunity that you guys have"