We started speech screenings on Sunday AFTER driving to the mountains to pick up Pinky! Those of you who have followed previous blogs from Dipolog have met Pinky through the blog. In the ICSF NEWSLETTER (ICSFoundation.org) archives you can read about Pinky's arrival to the surgical team! She was recently on the cover of the boise paper highlighting the work of Dr. Geoff Williams and his team. Pinky was 10 years old when she had her palate repaired, so being older, speech progress has been slower. We also suspect Pinky had hearing loss which makes it a little tougher for her too!! She is a trooper and this being her 3rd speech mission-she is making some nice progress! These pictures are from Sunday when our host Flor Moya drove us up to her home to see why she hadn't arrived for speech therapy. It's was an 1 1/2 hour drive up to the rolling mountains and field upon field of sugar cane! Her family has no cell phone so going up there was our best chance of getting Pinky to therapy. This picture was taken after Pinky spotted me and ran (fast)"!) up to hug me as I got out of the car! Pinky is usually more reserved and to be hugged with such a grin warmed my heart!! It has only been 4 months since I saw her in Dipolog for speech therapy!!
Pinky's home for Pinky, her father, 2 sisters and one younger brother (her older sister and 2 brothers live closer to cities in Kabankalan and Bacolod) is a small 2 room hut. Her father graciously invited us in to their sparse, clean little home. Toys are not visible (although Pinky's previous collections from missions were in her suitcase:-) and there is no running water or bathroom. Under the hut are many variety and sizes of chickens. The hut had a metal roof; the wood walls have a window each and stepping up inside was noticeably cooler than outdoors! Thank goodness for that because I expected our rise in elevation to be cooler (its not like mountains in Colorado!) There is a table with a variety of mismatched plates and a pot-cooking is done outside-but plans are being made to extend the little home for a kitchen. It was hard to take Pinky for the week and leave her younger brother and sister behind... knowing Pinky would be "working" hard on her speech but also get a fun 10 days with the children, toys, books and treats...
2 of Pinky's brothers and sisters...
Sugar cane fields in drive up...
In usual Filipino style we have been thanked repeatedly for helping the children. It's humbling because the rewards for us are overwhelming! Seeing Pinky's home and living conditions is a problem of poverty we cannot solve. But helping her with more options in life through education and going to school, being understood with her speech to apply for jobs, and letting her know she is important to many- makes the unimaginable part more tolerable.
Chickens under Pinky's home...
We'll keep you updated on Pinky-more stories to come!
Theresa
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