Rachel Needs Your Help Urgently.

The Children saying goodbye to Rachel before going to Kinder School this morning.

 

When we returned to Talakag from the UK at the beginning of this week I received an e-mail message from Rachel Sulatan’s daughter Astrid to inform me that her mother was ill and required my assistance. Today we visited Bethany to deliver some books donated by our friends Agnes and Don Black currently living in Scotland for the children’s library so took the opportunity to visit Rachel.

I knew from the moment I saw her that something was amiss and that she was not looking well. After the customary greetings Rachel informed us that she has been diagnosed as having cancer. I was totally devastated in hearing this news as I know Rachel is a pillar of Bethany’s child care system having been a staff member for over thirty years (30) and a houseparent since 1988.

Having known Rachel or Chi Chi as she is affectionately called since I became involved at Bethany I do appreciate the tremendous work that she has done over the years caring for the numerous children that have passed through her cottage as well as those who are still there with her as of now. There are many adoptive parents all around the world who have met Rachel either when they came to Bethany to collect their new wards or have visited since with them as they grew up.

Without beating about the bush Rachel requires your financial help in order for her to receive the necessary medical care and treatment for her condition. Neither Bethany nor Rachel has the financial reserves to cover the cost of her treatment which will involve receiving radio-therapy as well as chemo-therapy and prescription medicine. Rachel’s treatment will be administered in either Davao or Cebu as Cagayan de Oro does not have the required facilities.

Since this treatment will start soon can I please appeal to all of you out there who know Rachel and are willing to donate to her care no matter how much or little you are able to give, any amount will be greatly appreciated. I promise to give regular updates on Rachel’s progress and condition.

Initially the cost of her treatment, travel and after care is estimated at $10,000.00 and all donations can be either sent through me or direct to Bethany, bank details will be given to those wishing to donate by contacting me direct at jcjimc@aol.com.

I hope and pray that this urgent appeal will reach out to as many people as possible and Rachel will receive her medical care without delay.

DONATIONS FROM SCOTLAND

Sorry for the delay in updating my blog as we are currently in the UK where we attended our son Michaels wedding. Yes they don’t remain children forever and now he and his new wife Jessica will experience what his mother and I had to endure to get him to where he is now, along with all the expense of doing so ha!ha!ha

In my last entry I mentioned our good friend Meriam who visited us in Talakag from East Kilbride in Scotland. I also wrote that she had promised to help with soliciting used football (soccer) kit from her friends in Scotland involved in running a youth Football Team. Meriam is not one for making a promise and not keeping it. When she attended our son’s wedding recently in Newcastle upon Tyne she brought with her a large quantity of football kit consisting of shirts, pants and socks as well as an assortment of used football boots. When she last organised to obtain football kit the children at Bethany as well as Talakag town all benefitted and this started an enthusiasm for the sport amongst boys and girls. In addition to the football kit Meriam also brought with her a large quantity of dental care kits for the children consisting of tooth brushes and toothpaste. A large selection of baby clothes was also included as well as a monitory donation.

Marilou hands over the dental hygene packs and baby clothes

 I always like to say a big thank you to our donors and on this occasion especially to Paul & Debbie Kinghorn for the used youth team strips, this is the second batch Paul & Debbie have donated. Also I’d like to thank Elaine McClymont for her donation of used football tops and boots. Thank you Loraine Houlden and friends for the dental care kits and baby clothes and also I’d like to mention Sheila Murdoch and the others who donated a monitory sum for Bethany.

 

                          Some members of the football team with their new stips 

The box with all the items is already on its way to Bethany and should arrive in Talakag by Mid-August all going well. When the box arrives I will be sure to include photographs of the handover of the donations to the  Bethany staff. Once again a big thank you to all of you for giving so generously to a worthy cause.