An Endless Waterfall

Oscar Wilde tells us that the smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.

I always thought having my mom, the perfect mom despite all her imperfections and shortcomings, was the greatest gift I’ve received ever. To Charles, it’s YOU.

Just July of this year, Charles Ansibey, 19 years old, a resident of Ambasing, Sagada and last-born child to Carmen Peng-as and Odasco Ansibey underwent his chemotherapy sessions for treatment of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). Charles or ‘Ambot’ as he is so fondly called by his family and close friends has been initially diagnosed at Baguio General Hospital to have High Grade Myelodysplastic Syndrome, which is a blood-related medical condition that involves the ineffective production of blood cells from the bone marrow. His condition started three weeks prior to being admitted at Baguio General Hospital last May 2012 when he experienced low back pain, nape pain and fatigue. A week after that, he had a tooth extraction and was noted to had difficulty of controlling the bleeding and was given medications by the same dentist who had his tooth extracted. Since then, Charles was easily exhausted. Persistence of his condition prompted him therefore to seek consult at the school clinic where CBC was done and which revealed a diagnosis of anemia, thus the referral to BGH. A month after his admission to the hospital, Charles’ condition has escalated to a diagnosis of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, which is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Charles is therefore advised to have 6 cycles of chemotherapy monthly (amounting to around Php 17000 or around US $400 per cycle, excluding other medical and therapeutic regimen and other hospital bills) but with the meager income his parents gain from farming, it is undeniably a mystery where the family could come up with that amount.

Due to the much-anticipated efforts of his townmates, most especially his batchmates in Sagada National High School, frenzied pleas for help splayed all over the internet and mobile phones. This in a way served as a spark that spurred text brigades, social networking sites, personal blogging sites, e-mail messaging, word of mouth, pens and papers -- all these have come in handy for helping Charles and his family. This brigade to help Charles has gone on for more than six months and up to now, good Samaritans from all over the country and the world are extending their help and concern for Charles.

This just goes to prove that when life gets difficult or even when it seems good, it is often hard to reflect on what a great God we do have and to give thanks to Him. And God is so very good to Charles. The family is grateful for all the blessings pouring in. That’s an immense gratitude, a big ‘thank you’, to all those who prayed and extended their hands to help a brother, a friend, a nephew, a child – a stranger to most but still they did their duty as loving, caring, thoughtful souls. The assistance granted to Charles and his family has tried to offset the expense of his hospital bills, medication expenses and chemotherapy sessions. It has given him hope and thus had been one of the many reasons he has gone back to school and live life more comfortably, thanks to the support of every Tom, Dick and Harry nationwide and from all over the world. Up until his passing, Charles’ angels were at work. The P21,332.00 Christian Aligo collected from the locality, friends and good Samaritans nationwide and from all over the world has paid for Charles’ first chemotherapy session. Hospital fees, succeeding chemotherapy sessions and other medications had also been taken care of by an amount of P2611.50 from Sagada National High School (Charles’ high school alma mater) faculty and students sent thru Hanee Kimmot, Charles’ classmate; P4825.00 from Sagada Central School faculty thru Hanee Kimmot; P20,500.00 from Mary Ann Dalde, Paul Tiongan and Silvestre Meand (Sir Joseph Caligtan’s classmates, who then was Teacher in-charge of SagadaNHS) -- members of  Mountain State Agricultural College (MSAC, now Benguet State University) Batch 1981 sent to Charles thru Esther Cosme and Precy Julian (Vice President of MSAC ‘81) for his (Charles) medical assistance;  P1000.00 from MSAC Batch ’81 officers; P1000.00 from Treasure Link Cooperative Society; US$250 amounting to P10,400 from Sir Daniel Thalkar, Peace Corps volunteer assigned to Sagada National High School (He’s now back in the States at his hometown in Pleasantville, Pennsylvania.); US$635 from BIBAK Association Northeast USA (BIBAK-NE); P5000.00 from Monica Ghanna Binayong from Malaysia; P2000.00 from Kikay Rapadas of Qatar; and P10,020.00 from someone who wished his name withheld. The family is also grateful to the 41 blood donors (from Nov. 16 to Dec. 4) and the previous batch of blood donors last July who each have gladly provided 500ml of their blood.

Last December 30, 2012, a variety show (created by SagadaNHS Batch 2011) to benefit Charles was launched at the Sagada Community Court at 6PM; no entrance fee since it was an open venue. After passing the hat, this show for a cause reaped P14,505 from the hard-earned money of all the local and foreign people who cared enough to watch and be a part of the cause. Entertainers volunteered for the cause and some talented and skillful people from the audience came down from the bleachers to showcase their talents and donate as well. Staying true to the shows aim to share the “spirit of Christmas by giving hope and love to people around us”, the event was more than a success.

Last December 23, Charles was discharged. I’ve heard that he has been confined last November 16 and was brought to the Intensive Care Unit last November 29, for almost a week. He just got transferred out of the ICU last December 5. And thanks to every prayer, every peso, every dollar, every helping hand Charles is spending Christmas with his family and relatives out of the hospital and everyone is hoping that the worst is over. Excel Botigan, one of Charles’ closest friends has told me that his (Charles) sister informed her of his state the night before his discharge. Accordingly, their whopping bill was something they hadn’t ever held in their own hands and couldn’t even fathom. Charles needed our help more than ever. Everyone had been rejoicing that Charles had become stronger but they (the family) still needed to pay the hospital bills. It was just two days after Christmas Day and Charles went back to the hospital. He stayed there doing his best to get better but the Lord had decided to lift all the pain and suffering Charles had been experiencing. Charles joined the Lord our God in heaven at about 11PM last January 24 and was interred last January 28 in his hometown, Sagada.

Help from all around the country and even the world are still flowing in. Charles is in God’s hands and is one of those many angels watching us from above and guiding us in whatever we do. Thank you to everyone who prayed, provided for and lent a hand to Charles. There were those from Malaysia, Hongkong, Qatar, and USA who willingly shared prayers and some of their hard-earned money. Also, good Samaritans from the country (Philippines), Austria, the UK and California have promised to contribute to compensate any medical expenses; as with the teachers and students of Sagada National High School and Sagada Central School, Sagada populace, and to each and every soul who in every way are still helping. May God bless you all a thousand fold!

These small compassionate deeds (though in a way are great) people do for Charles is just proof that the world is not at its end – that there are still ‘people’ out there in this inhumane and unjust world. They are truly, heaven-sent. YOU are one of them – Charles’ angels. To quote Charles, attitudes like yours made him realize that God is always at good to show that “I’m not alone facing this kind of struggle in life. During those times that I'm down, I'm really glad that I have around these good people (you) trying to ease the pain and [this] gives me hope.”

I took the liberty to lift this last e-mail message (from Charles to Christian) from Christian Aligo’s blog: “Through this letter, I would like to emphasize my deepest gratitude for all of you who have shown their generous support in so many ways which had allowed me to recover from pain and be healthy again. Attitudes like yours MADE me realize that God is always at good to show that I'm not alone facing this kind of struggle in life. During those times that I'm down, I'm really glad that I have around these good people (you) trying to ease the pain and gives me hope. Those days that I'm in the hospital is definitely the worst days in my life and I managed to gain strength to overcome it because of your aid.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you very much for your great help and support that you had given me. I'm happy to say that I’m doing well already to keep moving forward in attaining our goals and wishes in life and that would not have been possible without you guys!

I only pray that in all of these things that you've done, God will always be there to support and guide us.

Again, thank you and God Bless!!! --Charles”

Here’s a little something I, myself, yearn to do for everyone. To do things. To be kind. To give thanks. Give hope. Lend a hand. Share thoughts. Give love. This is my gift to you all -- creating a cycle of giving and receiving and thanking… just like an endless waterfall… I yearn to pass it on. 

LEXA ELAINE D. CAPUYAN