Dear Carewell Family,
April was a particularly exciting and enjoyable month at Carewell. I’d like to introduce a new member of our Carewell team and highlight two wonderful events for you:
First, let’s give a warm Carewell welcome to Dra. Luz – a psychiatrist who has joined Carewell as part of our counseling staff. As you will see in the May calendar, she will have counseling hours at Carewell on Mondays, from 2-4pm, and Wednsedays, from 10am-12noon. Welcome Luz!
Ohad Performing |
Second, last April three, the internationally renowned Israeli musician, Mr. Ohad Hitman, regaled Carewell members with his singing, keyboarding, and story-telling. An enthusiastic audience jammed the Carewell center to listen to Ohad render some of his hit songs while also sharing his personal insights regarding traveling the cancer journey. Ohad is a two-time cancer survivor who, at a very young age, has had to deal with the multitude of challenges that confront persons with this disease and their loved ones, too.
 Ohad Hitman at Carewell |
Among other things, Ohad gave three suggestions to three groups of people: To the family and friends of people affected by cancer, Ohad tells them to just be themselves. “We don’t want you to be Superman or Superwoman. We want you to be human.” Similarly, Ohad advises doctors to look their patients in the eye when they are sharing medical results – good or bad. Otherwise, he says, when they are simply looking at their computer or at lab reports while speaking – and not making eye contact – there is the risk of inadvertently making patients feel “like only a number or a statistic,” rather than a person with an illness who trusts them and needs their help. Finally, to persons with cancer, Ohad offers: “go on living your life today!” He states that we should not put off all our plans and dreams until our treatment is over, until we are in remission, until we are cured, etc. Life is uncertain, Ohad says. And he emphasizes that life’s uncertainty affects everyone: doctors and patients, the ill and the healthy, those who have cancer and those who do not. In that sense, Ohad’s sage words apply to all of us.
I would like to once again thank Ohad, his manager, Guy Geva, Gladys Baniqued from the Israel Embassy in Manila, and his excellency, Yaniv Revach, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Israel. And a most special thanks to Mr. Martin Lopez of Sinag-Tala, for bringing Ohad to Carewell. We hope to see you again soon, Ohad!
Ohad’s message is one that emphasizes the celebration of life. And this theme could not have been better presented and experienced than at Marissa and Danny Nerida’s renewal of wedding vows last April 23 in Anilao, Batangas.
Busy Carebelles |
What a wedding it was! The day before, the 12 Carebelles (this is the name our lady support group members have given themselves) along with a group of us from the Carewell staff arrived in Batangas to begin preparations for the Nerida nuptials. The Carebelles were an amazing sight as they arranged flowers, prepared leis, and attended to the myriad details of this heart-warming event. The perfectly setting sun provided a most appropriate backdrop for their efforts. With warm, soft light – the rays of the sunset bathed the Carebelles in an ethereal glow and gentle embrace. And with the love and joy emanating from their happy faces, the day could not have come to a more perfect end.
Carebelles at Sunset |
Anilao Sunset |
Carebelles on the deck |
Just as the sunset marked the beginning of their preparations, the sunrise saw the Carebelles again happily hard at work decorating the wedding site itself. Never before has our Anilao home looked so absolutely beautiful! Colorful flowers and lush palm leaves were everywhere! An altar and sitting area were creatively and thoughtfully prepared for the stars of the day. Baskets of petals were readied to be showered upon the loving couple. And while the Carebelles were such a sight to behold in their bold pink and white (the Carebelle colors) dresses, Marissa was elegant and beautiful in her hand-painted wedding gown. Not to be overshadowed, Danny cut a dashing figure in his Filipino groom’s attire and Panama hat, no less!
Mr. and Mrs. Nerida with principal sponsors |
Carebelles Wading |
The wedding itself was amazing: full of love and laughter, courage and tears, and, ultimately, joy and hope. A thoughtful and often amusing homily, a serenade by the Carebelles, cake cutting, bouquet tossing, dancing, kissing, and even a dip into the warm, azure, crystal-clear waters of the sea – in full wedding regalia! – were just some of the many highlights. Would you like to see a short video of the wedding? You may view it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=387iYZnObv8
Carebelles on their way back to Manila |
And as we all recovered from the overflow of excitement, happiness, and the overwhelming sense of a community coming together to celebrate the love of its members – our hearts were full and brimming over. (Our stomachs too, I think, from all the delicious food and a massive – and massively yummy – lechon!) We then bid our guests (all 65 of them!), not goodbye, but, instead, “see you all again,” as we continue along our journeys. And we also saw off the Carebelles as they embarked on their sunset cruise prior to their return to Manila. What a fabulous, fabulous day!
So as not to be overly redundant, I will end my commentary here and, instead, refer you to the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) website where you can read the full story of the Nerida Wedding. This was a cover story on the front page of the PDI’s Sunday, April 27, 2008 issue. To read the wonderful article of Ceres Doyo, please click here Thanks, Ceres!
Well, that’s it for now. May is here, and I invite you to please checkout the latest calendar of events on this website. We hope to see you at Carewell soon. Until then, remember to Care Well…every step of the way.
Best,
Bobbit Suntay
