Madapdap Update: April 14, 2006

Hello Batchmates!

I hope you all are doing well and are ready for what I know will be a great retreat. As for me, I’ve been a bit busier for the past couple of weeks because I just started a basic photography workshop at UP. I’ve been wanting to take a photo class for a long time now, so I couldn’t skip out on this opportunity (it’s waaaay cheaper to take photography here ) Hopefully, I can use my new skills to take some awesome pictures of our kids in Madapdap! Also, it’s holy week here in the Philippines and it’s NUTS. Yesterday, I watched some good ‘ole self-flagellation and a couple crucifixions in Pampanga. Yeah….nuts. Anyway, here is my latest update:

  1. Annvil Rose Rabelas – Dr. Visit
  2. Dental Education Session
  3. Strategy Planning Meeting
  4. Baseline Data Collection
  5. Financial Needs

VI. Greeting Card Project

I. Annvil Rose Rabelas – Dr. Visit

On March 27, Mario, Nerissa, and I brought Annvil Rose to see Dr. Lopez, the orthopedic surgeon at Angeles University Foundation Medical Center (AUFMC), in response to complaints about extreme pain in her left hamstring. After taking an x-ray, Dr. Lopez discovered that Annvil Rose has a dislocated left hip – a pretty big problem. In terms of treatment, Dr. Lopez gave us two options: 1) Annvil Rose undergoes “traction,” a process in which Annvil Rose’s left hip will be pulled back into place with the use of weights attached to her ankles. Subsequently, she will have to remain in a cement cast for a few weeks in order to assure her hip stays in place. 2) Annvil undergoes an operation to relocate her hip. Dr. Lopez recommends that we go with option 1 first. It’s a cheaper procedure and “less” painful. But since Annvil’s muscles are very weak, Dr. Lopez is not quite sure if she can handle traction. We will only know after further tests. Since AUFMC is a private institution, we probably won’t be able to afford having the procedure done there (We only go to this hospital because this is where Nerissa works and she is able to waive professional fees, but procedures done here are expensive). So, Dr. Lopez referred us to Dr. Tranquilino, the ortho at Ospital ng Angeles, or “ONA,” the public hospital in Angeles. We’ve tried to get a hold of him, but he has been out of the country and will return next week. Once we are able to set an appointment with him, we will discuss the details, costs, etc of the procedure. Again, funds for Annvil’s treatment will be coming from Zach’s fund. (Thanks, Zach!)

II. Dental Education Session

On March 28, dentists Malou Medrano and Ria Tan provided a dental education workshop on proper dental care for children, particularly cerebral palsy patients. They gave a high-tech lecture with power point presentations on two laptop computers! They discussed causes of various dental problems, preventative measures, nutrition, toothbrushing techniques, etc. While they gave an excellent presentation, it became apparent that it will take much more than just one or two educational sessions to transform the mothers’ dental practices. For instance, almost immediately after the dentists discussed why breastfeeding on demand is not recommended, a mother left the room to nurse her crying baby (one of our patients’ siblings). After the session, some moms fed their children chocolate cupcakes. Though this may seem discouraging, we are hoping to figure out ways to increase the mothers’ investment in their children’s dental health. We are playing with the idea of having the mothers pay a minimal fee for dental clinics – perhaps having a small monetary investment in dental health will strengthen their resolve to keep their children’s teeth healthy.

III. Strategy Planning Meeting

Also on March 28, Mario, Nerissa, Susan, and I had a meeting to discuss the future of the therapy center, particularly after June. While we did not get to discuss the operation of the center in as much detail as I would have liked, we were able to start a dialogue on how to divide the responsibilities of the center, particularly if no one from KAP or elsewhere is able to replace me immediately. So far, what we’ve decided is that Nerissa will take on the financial record-keeping when I leave. She has also agreed to provide KAP with email updates twice a month, similar to what I have been doing. Susan said she may also be able to provide phone call updates upon our request. We also discussed ways to increase the number of patients to the center’s capacity (10-12 children, according to therapists). Nerissa offered to help us make rounds in the community in order to find more cerebral palsy patients that may be needing therapy. Because our time was fairly limited for this meeting, we agreed to meet again during the first week of May for a more in-depth strategy planning session on how to proceed with the center’s development.

IV. Baseline Data Collection

At the March 28 meeting, we also discussed how to use some of the extraneous donations that the center has received. We decided to use a P10,000 donation received from one of Ate Susan’s friends in order to take all of our patients to AUFMC for baseline data collection. So, on April 4, Mario, Nerissa, and I packed all of our patients and their mothers into a jeep and brought them over to AUFMC for blood tests and x-rays. This information will be very useful in terms of compiling medical files for each of the children. Nerissa agreed to compile and interpret the test results for us. 9 children were included in the visit to AUFMC: 1) Rica Mae Sampang, 2) Dianne Liwanag, 3) Annvil Rose Rabelas, 4) Kevin Piring, 5) Melvin Maniago, 6) Jelina Rose Soriano, 7) Roseann Calma, 8) Leilani Fangon, 9) Abe Taruc. The last three children, Roseann, Leilani, and Abe do not regularly attend therapy sessions currently (for reasons such as malnutrition, etc), but we felt it would be important to collect their baseline data also. I will let you all know what the results look like once Nerissa gets back to me.

V. Financial Update/Needs

You’ll be happy to know that financially, we are doing just fine. As of my latest visit to Madapdap on April 4 (the center has been closed for Holy Week), we still have P55,000 remaining in our budget for the first 6 months. By the end of May, there should be at least P30,000 remaining. Most of the reason for our under-budgetness is that whereas we budgeted P1000 a month for utilities, we really only spend about P200. Also, our ultrasound machine only cost P19000 instead of the P35000 we had budgeted. Also, we have salaries budgeted for therapy sessions 3 times a week, but the center is only open twice a week. In terms of overspending, there are things like photo development, replacement supplies, printing, xeroxing, and “office materials” (I bought a binder, dividers, and hole puncher so that I could better compile our documents) that weren’t accounted for in our budget. (Sorry I didn’t attach an excel file to this update – I’m currently visiting family in olongapo and I’m at an internet cafethat doesn’t have a USB drive so that I can attach it). So, technically we should be fine until I leave in June. I deposited our current funds into a BPI savings account that Gayia is letting us use. I’m not sure if we can use it after June, but that’s where all our funds are for now. Afterward, Ate Susan wanted to know if we can transfer the money into one of her accounts so that she could directly disperse the money to Nerissa as needed…because Nerissa does not want to handle a large sum of money at one time. So, when its time for salary distribution, etc, Susan will be responsible for getting the proper amounts to Nerissa. This is still a little bit hazy, but I should have a better idea of how this will all work in early May

VI. Greeting Card Project

I am currently seeking out local artists to provide artwork for our greeting card project. So far, I’ve found one artist (who is in my photography workshop) who is willing to contribute his art to our cause. His name is James Zabala. I’m hoping to have a few card designs ready by the end of this month so that I can run them by you all and hopefully send them to the printer with enough time so that I can bring them back with me. I’m not sure what this will cost, but once I canvass different printers, I’ll let you all know. Would it be okay to take the capital for this project from KAP funds? Or should we try to solicit funds elsewhere?

Okay, well, I think that’s about all for now. I hope you all have a wonderful retreat this weekend and have a happy happy easter!

Beso beso,

Dianne