When Words Fail, Music Speaks

written by: Mikee Pasaporte

Music is known as the universal language. We had the opportunity to witness how music literally breaks boundaries and can even be used to share the Foundation’s advocacy.

From L-R: Allan Lagat (Uppercase), Zai Ramos (Bayang Magiliw Productions), Mark De Leon (Uppercase), Lira and Mikee(The Ruth Foundation), Grace, Joey Giagonia (Uppercase), Jason Alba (Uppercase), and Kyle Andre Saliva (Uppercase).

Benefit Tour

The Ruth Foundation for Palliative and Hospice Care was chosen to be the primary beneficiary of Uppercase Band’s 2015 album launch last April 29 through May 3, 2015, in various bars in Parañaque, Makati, Taguig and a mall show in Cavite. For every Php 200 donation to the Foundation, an Uppercase CD was given. These donations were for purchase of pain medication and other basic needs of the Foundation’s patients.

At Checkpoint Rockbar in Paranque

At V-Central Mall Molino

A Cause Close to the Heart

Mark De Leon of the band Uppercase came back to Manila last January 2015 from Toronto, Canada to look for a foundation that could benefit from their band’s Manila album tour. He was the primary caregiver for his mom, who had pancreatic cancer and who enjoyed listening to their music. He believes that she would have wanted them to give back to the cause of caring for those patients going through the end stage of the cancer journey. Different indie bands shared their music during each event and were also given the opportunity to learn about hospice care—with the idea of having care being top priority, when cure isn’t achievable.

TRF visits Saguijo

At Saguijo

An Experience to be Grateful for

From experiencing the Philippine’s hot weather, traffic and crowded areas, this trip has been memorable for the band, since this is the first time that they were given the opportunity to come to the Philippines as a complete 5-piece band.

The Ruth Foundation would like to thank the members of Uppercase Band, Bayang Magiliw Productions, Sharkboy Productions, Ensaymada Man Productions and MudHoney Productions, and all those who were behind the scenes in support. Thanks again to all those who made this possible.

Sharing TRF’s advocavy at 278 Apache

Performing at Checkpoint Rockbar

For more information about the band and their events, check their website uppercaseband.com

Peddling for Dignity

Written By: Mikee Pasaporte

I believe everybody has experienced getting sick once or twice in their lifetime. The common cold accompanied by the feeling of being feverish or perhaps getting the stomach flu after eating your favorite meal.  You tend to have people do everything for you. From preparing your “sick-person” meal (the repeated rice gruel-crackers-and-carbonated soda combo which was usually the reason why you didn’t like eating in the first place) to making you feel comfortable by allowing you to sleep the entire day and have the license to skip chores. That cup of water just a hand length away, is placed in your hands because those taking care of you think that you should conserve as much energy as possible. For the first few days, you’d feel pampered, but after a week, the feeling of worthlessness kicks in. What more when a person gets diagnosed with a life-limiting illness; dignity then is somehow lost.

Repacked peanut butter and new ready-to-wear clothes are placed in a big plastic bag, which is carried along the roads of Muntinlupa by a strong-willed and still strong-bodied 62-year old patient of ours who is diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer which has spread to her lungs. She is assisted by her live-in partner, who doesn’t only help her with selling, but also helps her with caring for her chest wounds. The weight on her shoulders is the same weight that provides for her daily wound cleaning.

She used to have a business which eventually went bankrupt when she got sick. Still searching for hope, she uses herbal alternative medications. Her pain, though present, is controlled by pain medications we provide for her.

In spite of her current condition, she still makes an effort to provide for her ever-growing needs.

We, at The Ruth Foundation, have assisted her in pain management and continually render medical consultation and nursing care.

She shares with us, “Hindi naman ito kagustuhan ng Dios ang nangyari sa akin kaya tanggap ko… Sabi nga nila, nasa Dios ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa.”

Golden Hours

Written By: Mikee Pasaporte

A young, vibrant girl full of dreams at the age of thirteen, our patient was enrolled in The Ruth Foundation program on March 3 as referred by one of our past OJTs. Her condition started with her complaints of being dizzy and having unbearable headaches, which caused her to skip school, which wasn’t normal for her, since she was a consistent honor student.

In December 2014, she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and was given 3 months to live. This was her third month and she was currently confined at The Philippine General Hospital. We have offered her and her family counseling and financial assistance.

After acquiring pneumonia recently, it made it worse by having her cough, which caused enough pressure to push the tumor to a part of her brain which controls her eyesight and movement.

Weak, unresponsive, blind and paralyzed, but still loved.

Her parents recall that she never complained loudly. She just verbalized it in muffled sentences. Still her parent’s pride, I may say.

As verbalized by her mother,

“Ang mga anak hindi natin pag-aari . Galing lang sila sa katawan natin at pahiram lang sa atin ng Dios.”

These are her golden hours and we have encouraged them to make the most out of it.

—

She passed away before 8 am today, March 18, 2015.

Soft- Launch: Leadership For HOPE Certificate Program

written by: Mikee Pasaporte

Last Friday, March 13, 2015, The Ruth Foundation in partnership with the Philippine Society of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the Philippine Cancer Society, soft-launched the Leadership For HOPE Certificate Program. Among the fusion of attendees from different fields that evening were professionals from the medical field, pharmaceutical field, the academe and frontrunners of various foundations here in the Philippines.

This certificate course program serves to strengthen core competencies among primary and secondary health care providers by equipping them with knowledge and skill to extend care within and beyond the hospital setting.

Dr. James “Jim” Cleary, a palliative care physician at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and the Director of Pain and Policy Studies Group at the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Center for Pain Policy and Palliative Care, shared his thoughts on the Gaps in End-of-Life Care with the group.

A challenge was posed by Dr. Mae Corvera to the group to cap it off: a challenge to join efforts through partnerships, participation and sponsorship, towards a greater good — a greater goal of making hospice care education and training available to more potential hospice care providers.

The HAPPY ROOM Project

In 2013, The Ruth Foundation’s Happy Room Project benefited some sixteen indigent patients from Cavite and Muntinlupa. TRF staff, nurses and volunteers worked together to transform the patients’ bedrooms or personal living spaces which were often dark, decrepit, and unsanitary. The work involved thorough cleaning, minor repairs, the installation of new and cheerful curtains and often times even bathing and grooming of the patients. The project embodies the truth that even in these small ways, a patient’s quality of life can be improved, and their dignity can be restored. Follow-up visits have been scheduled and a new batch of beneficiaries of the Happy Room Project are being identified for 2015.