The thought of joining the Carolina Medical Mission for the first time & bringing the team to my hometown brought so much excitement. It all started when I witnessed the poverty that had stricken my hometown. The desire to go back
to my roots & contribute whatever little I have to offer...to ease the suffering from staggering poverty…was so compelling.

I was in the dark as to what lies ahead, yet confident & trusting that everything will be all right. The whole experience was a faith journey & the road was neither smooth nor easy. Government restrictions, DOH expectations, distant communications and self limitations made my efforts seemingly end in vain. It was during those moments of frustrations when encouragement gently streamed through.

CMM coordinators, various North Carolina organizations, co-workers, spouses, young people, relatives, friends and fellow Imusenos rallied behind me-not just to share their treasure but to reach out and to reconnect with “the least of our brothers & sisters”, in spite of their busy lives
.
One of my major responsibilities as coordinator was fund raising. They supported my fund-raisers (Filipino food sale for Hillsborough Jazz fest; birthday gifts, bowling events, piano concert, games nights and gala event proceeds
were earmarked for CMM 2008-Cavite, to name a few) .They energized & inspired me to move on & bring this mission to fruition.

With much perseverance, I was able to overcome all the stumbling blocks since the project seemed to have taken
a life of its own. It was a humbling experience to coordinate with Sr. Marilena Narvaez, Sisters of Social Services & the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen & Professionals (BCBP) Imus Chapter, the primary contacts in Cavite.

During the Cavite Mission, the church and the local government were able to work together for the first time with great appreciation & respect for each another. Together with CMM and local volunteers’ professional skills and coordination, the mission went on smoothly and efficiently beyond expectation. The dedication of the volunteers was so inspiring. More than 3,000 patients received some form of treatment.

Most patients saw a doctor for the first time in their lives. Some, already noticeably crippled by their illnesses, were patiently waiting and hoping that our mission doctors could examine them, as they were unable to be seen in private clinics. The municipal office brought in the mobile x-rays where 38 patients (out of 97 x-rayed) were identified with tuberculosis. Those unable to get the treatment during the mission were referred for future follow up*.

Surgical Venue: Kalayaan District Hospital, (Dr. Eduardo Figueroa, Chief of Hospital). CMM brought 2 portable Anesthesia machine, 2 portable long-necked lamp (for OR tables), electro-cauthery, pulse oximeter, suction machine and all the surgical supplies and anesthesia/adjuncts. Surgery cases included hernia repair; thyroidectomy; harelip
& cleft palate repair; hysterectomy;  breast mass incision, etc. Surgeries enhanced lives especially among children with harelip & cleft palate. Some were life-saving- as in the case of a Cavite mother (having a prolonged labor, baby in distress) who had an emergency Cesarean section, saving the lives of both the mother & child. At the end of the 3rd day, the team was able to do 107 major & minor surgeries in spite of some volunteers getting ill from heat exhaustion.

CMM donated $1,000.00 c/o Sr. Marilena Narvaez, SSS for follow up treatment*. ConMed Electro-cautery set, two surplus ECG machines, Nellcor pulse oximeter, & surgical supplies were donated to Kalayaan District Hospital.
Medicines were left w/ Municipal Health office to share with other patients. Dental supplies & anesthesia were endorsed to BCBP for their next scheduled dental mission.

Dedication, perseverance & hard work paid off. From a very passionate desire to serve God & country we left a legacy of healing, hope, peace and unity. CMM provided not only health care but also hope to those who are marginalized & trapped in the cycle of poverty. We transcended time, distance, race, political & religious differences to make one body to serve.

The enthusiasm of everyone made true the words of Herman Melville that “We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.” Cavite Bishop Chito Tagle expanded this concept in his parting message to CMM team - when he said “when we are called to serve, we would never be alone”. To top it all- We left the mission with better perspectives of our own lives, a better appreciation of the bountiful blessings that we have oftentimes taken for granted. I was told that miracles happen in the mission. I believe they did.

*Merly Pascual, RN is a nurse from Hillsborough, NC. Originally from Imus,Cavite, she was the US Coordinator for CMM’s Cavite Mission.