Tima Volunteer Remy Magan, Md

How unlucky can you get? How can such misfortune befall anyone many times in a row? How can such things happen to a good caring doctor who devoted his almost entire professional life in helping others? Why to a very active Tzu Chi Medical Volunteer, why and more whys?

These were the questions that came my way when it was made known that Dr. Remegio Magan was confined at the ICU of the government hospital he is connected with. He had bloated stomach that was growing in size and he cannot pass out his stool! It has been a week since he was confined, weeks before that he was jaundiced and had to be treated for hepatitis. Left under the care of medical residents of the hospital; the hospital where he spent his entire professional career with, his condition was not getting any better. In fact, his condition was fast deteriorating and yet, the senior consultants for whatever reasons where not giving him the attention he deserved. His co-ophthalmologists and also Tzu Chi Medical Volunteers Dra. Ann Cases and Dr. Rey Christopher Usman took pity on him and informed the Tzu Chi volunteers of Zamboanga City of his predicament. Immediately we visited him to get more info and found out that he was not getting the best possible care and his condition actually getting critical. His doctors were ready to throw in the towel since they were facing a blank wall!

With Dr. Magan consent, we immediately started arranging for his airlift to Manila. Calls were made to Dr, Joe Qua and Dr. Earl Go to ask their professional opinion. Both were in agreement that an immediate airlift is needed as soon as possible. Problem was it was already 8:00 PM. Tzu Chi volunteers found ways to get a medical certificate to allow his airlift and secure their plane tickets. An ambulance was arranged to take him to the airport at 6AM. While checking in, the PAL Check in clerk found out that the PAL doctor mistakenly ticked off the wrong box and the entry needed to be corrected if he wants to board the flight. How do you contact the doctor at this early time? We don’t even know his number! Luckily, someone at the airport knows where to contact and the correction was immediately made. We immediately arranged for someone to pick them up at the airport and brought him to the Chinese General Hospital. Up to that point, we still didn’t know how to pay for expected medical bills in Manila. Dr. Joe Qua, told us not to worry. He said: “Tzu Chi help people who we do not even know, what more someone who have served Tzu Chi and is in need of our help!” He promised to find help. Drs Joe Qua and Willy Dy assembled a team of doctors to help him upon his arrival.

Who is Dr. Remegio “Remy” Magan? Why does Tzu Chi Zamboanga love him so much? Dr. Remy is just 34 years old, married with a 5 year old child. Since he was a resident in training at the Zamboanga City Medical Center, he was always happy to help Tzu Chi. One month before the two big Tzu Chi Medical Missions in Zamboanga last 1998 and 1999; Remy together with local volunteers (since there was no Tzu Chi Zamboanga office yet) labored every Sunday for one month to help screened probable recipients for the Surgical component of the Tzu Chi mission. During the mission, he assisted Dr. Antonio Say and Co. in operating Cataract and Pterygium cases. When Tzu Chi Zamboanga Office was established; he immediately volunteered to join the Tzu Chi Zamboanga Corps of Medical Volunteers. In fact, he was one of the five pioneering members. He joined Cataract Missions all over Western Mindanao like in Sibuco, Basilan, Pagadian, Dipolog, Siocon and many other far-flung areas bringing with them the microscope Tzu Chi Manila donated to Zamboanga and the supplies provided by Tzu Chi Zamboanga. He also joined the once a month Sunday medical outreach missions of Tzu Chi Zamboanga. He never fails to join and would refuse special treatment. He goes to the site even in far-flung barangay in his trusty old motorcycle. He is always the last to leave in the eye check up department. He schedules those in need of Cataract surgeries or eyeglasses for appointment in the government hospital where he works in. He was the most patient one among the ophthalmologist. He never loses his patience and smile even with the most difficult patient!! For that reason all “difficult” patients are sent to him! One call on his cell phone is all that is needed for him to accommodate Tzu Chi’s many requests. He and his department restored over 300 eyesights. They provide the free professional help while Tzu Chi Zamboanga pays and takes care of all the rest.

Remy is born to a family of five, 2 boys and 3 girls in Surala, Cotabato City. His younger brother died at a very young age two years ago because of Myocardial Infarct. This year, while on surgical rotation in Manila, his father died of a lingering illness in Cotabato. While staying in a boarding house in Manila, his belongings including everything in his wallet was stolen. Being the only professional in the family, he regularly sends financial help to his mother plus he has to support his own family. The successive chain of events left him in dire financial straits. On top of that, he was on expensive medication for jaundice when he was hospitalized. In spite of all these, he never took advantaged of his closeness with Tzu Chi Zamboanga. He never asked and did not expect any assistance from Tzu Chi. It was his co-doctors who informed Tzu Chi and he was very embarrassed when they did.

When he was already on his second day of confinement at Chinese General Hospital, he woke up feeling numb on both legs and on his neck. Being a medical doctor, he knew the gravity of his condition. At 630AM he called Tzu Chi Zamboanga coordinator Anton Lim and said: “I just called to say thank you for the medical help Tzu Chi have provided me which I never expected but very grateful” and further thanked Tzu Chi for the opportunity given to him in serving the less fortunate. “Kahit papaano dahil sa inyo nakatulong din ako!” he said all these because he felt the at the rate his paralysis is progressing “baka bukas I won’t have the chance to thank you!” he sobbed. He cannot understand why tragedies always seemed to trail him…. I myself wonder why such thing happens to a very nice and accommodating doctor.

He have experienced tragedies and accumulated all the bumps very early in his life. Tzu Chi is blessed to have been given this opportunity to save his young life and give him more time to restore the eyesight of hundreds more indigents.

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