A Story of Love Coming Full Circle

Three years ago, then 8 year old Ailyn Awing from Sinubong, Zamboanga City noticed something growing on the left side of her neck. She informed her mother Angela who brushed it aside until it started to grow. Together with her husband Rolando, they decided to seek the help of a quack doctor living near their residence. They did this because of financial difficulties. Being coconut farmer, their income is seasonal and very unstable. With three other children ages 13, 12 and 10 in the family, putting food in the table is already a hard thing to do. After 3 years, they noticed that the mass was not getting smaller but was in fact already growing faster. Very worried, they borrowed money to come to the Zamboanga City Medical Center for consultation. Upon examination, the attending Physician requesting several test done and was prescribed initial medications which dried up their borrowed funds immediately. The ultrasound test on the lateral side of her neck revealed growth consistent with Cystic Hygroma and recommended immediate surgery. With all funds dried up and having no recourse, they told the attending doctor that they will just go home and come back when they have enough money. Taking pity on the family, the doctor referred them to Tzu Chi for assistance. Luckily, Tzu Chi will be having its 21 st Medical Mission then at the hospital and have ready medicines.

During the mission day, doctors from Tzu Chi International Medical association (TIMA) Manila examined Ailyn and suspected that the mass was more than just a cystic Hygroma but also a Hemangioma. Since they will be staying only overnight, the TIMA surgeons cannot operate on her since should any complications arise, they will not be in Zamboanga to take care of Ailyn. Hearing that and taking pity on the child and family, ZCMC Chief of Surgery Dr. Paterno Cabrera III rose to the occasion and volunteered to do the surgery. But requested that a bag of blood be on standby just in case it will be needed during the course of the complicated surgery. This condition posed another problem; it was learned that Ailyn has a type AB blood and the local blood bank don’t have that on stock since type AB donors are very hard to find. Tzu Chi Zamboanga volunteers checked on different volunteers and learned that a teenage son of one of the volunteer have a type AB blood but have never donated blood before. The Tzu Chi volunteer made a phone call and convince their son to donate which he agreed readily. He excused himself from school and proceeded to the ZCMC blood bank for physical exam. Having passed the exam, several lab test were done. Have passed all, blood was finally extracted for donation to Ailyn.

Tzu Chi volunteers called Dr. Cabrera to share with him the good news. He was very happy about the turn of events and proceeded to go back to the hospital. Tzu Chi volunteers were very happy and invited the blood donor to meet the family of Ailyn. It was during that time that the circle of love came full circle. Upon seeing the proud Tzu Chi volunteer parents of the donor, mother Angela immediate recognized them. Her husband family sells their copra harvest to the family of the donor. That touched her very much and coupled with the news that with the ready blood the surgery can now proceed. That proved too much as tears of joy flowed out of the eyes of the mother Angela. Seeing her mother crying, Ailyn started sobbing also. She was so touched that someone would care enough to donate blood to their daughter. She was thanking Tzu Chi for answering her prayers.

Having surpassed the “easy” obstacles, the doctors concentrated on the surgical procedure. TIMA Anesthesiologists volunteered to assist in the surgery with ZCMC Dr. Nonie Cabrera doing the actual cutting and Dra. Girlie Lo assisting. As the surgery progressed, it turned out that the worst fear was true, there was also hemangioma. They surgery proceeded very slowly with small but précised cuts. Both teams were on their toes as they collaborated on this very tricky procedure. You could literary hear a pin drop at the operating room. It was only after several hours when the final feeding vessel was ligated did the funny banters returned between the doctors. Everyone heaved a big sigh of relief and the Tzu Chi volunteers waiting and praying outside rejoiced on the successful procedure.

Looking back, it was a dream sequence that could have turned the other way. But with prayers, persistence and great love, every approaching obstacle was hurdled time after time. Success was sweeter that way. With the ZCMC and TIMA doctors working towards a common goal, it gave meaning to what the founder of Tzu Chi Master Cheng Yen have time and again asked her members to live her teaching that with UNITY, MUTUAL LOVE, HARMONY and COOPERATION no obstacle is too great to surmount.

Master Cheng Yen preaches that we should create good affinity to everyone we come in contact with. Rich or poor, known or unknown to us! For in this world we live in, our lives are all connected and would never know that the unknown and nobody we helped will save our lives someday. That is the circle of love and life. As Tzu Chi volunteers we received more than we give, these life changing stories we witnessed before us would have stayed as plain words and not have created a big impact in our lives….It really pays to help.

Tzu Chi Zamboanga is very grateful to the community for the support it has received these short four years it has exist in Zamboanga City. Without which funds would have dried up long long ago…

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