Yuri's Rheumatic Heart

My name is Fred Rice. I recently hired a personal care woman, here in Dumaguete, Philippines, to help me with mobility issues stemming from a Laminectomy w/ Fusions that took place in Kalamazoo, 9/29/2022. Something has gone wrong and I must return to the U.S. to investigate why 15-months later I'm unable to walk unaided. I hired a single Mother of 4. Like 99% of Filipino's she had "Care Giver" stamped on her forehead. Warm, even, kind, temperament. She had scheduling issues due to 4-children living at home in a 1-bedroom apartment. We agreed she would come twice a week. She would clean the apartment, go with me to the grocer, prepare meals in tupperware that would last between visits as I could not move about the kitchen to prepare meals. She would be paid P1,000 (about $17-U.S. Dollars) and would also cover the half hour commute on a "trike."

Her English is very good. I am a talker but like to think I'm a good listener as well. As she shared her incredibly horrific story I was too mortified to speak. In telling how she got to this point, 45 years old, single, -4-kids and living day to day, she did so accepting that tomorrow there may not be rice for dinner. She learned many hard lessons. A Mother at 18- and a husband, who never abused physically, but tried mightily thru drug addiction, crack, to crush her spirit but Juna had too much fight in her. He would leave 5-times over their years together. She tracked him down to find him with a woman with a knife one time, a gun another. On the 5th stab at stability he was good for a year. They worked and saved P50,000, $2800 in U.S. dollars. One night he disappeared. That was it. Her parents took the children and Juna went in hiding in a city far away. She would only see them on an occasional birthday or Christmas for 4-years. An Aussie couple that she worked for hooked her up with a "Brit". They started a long distance relationship. See one another twice a year for 6-years. In that time, all the while battling severe Prostate Cancer, Michael reunited her with her children in a decent house after a 4-year separation. The Cancer has made working impossible for Michael to work so his generous contributions ended. He remains in the U.K. where his medical is covered.

The good news? Juna's oldest, Nicloe is a Registered Nurse working off a "contract", an agreement that helped pay her schooling. She will be out from under in one more year. She is 25-never had a boyfriend as she worked hard for school and helps pay the rent for a 1-bedroom apartment where you can only run the water from 6-p.m. to 6-a.m. She scrambles for gas money daily.

The bad news? Son "Yuri" is 17. The baby. His is an ongoing fight filled with tests, injections, and the occasional overnight stay in the hospital. Juna fears every day that the money needed for the next shot may not be there. NO MONEY??? NO SHOT!!!

In one year Nicole will be done with her contract and take the R.N. test so she can secure work in Canada or the U.S. Upon passing the test she can write her own ticket with family in tow. This will get Yuri the care he needs and hopefully extends his life. Rheumatic Heart victims typically lead short lives but the love in this family is limitless. Maybe a miracle.

I am 76-years old. If I could make this happen maybe I get a couple of badly needed markers in the "good Karma column." Junah and her children have truly touched my heart. Thank you for any consideration.