Our patient Dennis Huseña was given the matrimony of marriage on June 01, 2010 @ their residence by Rev. Fr. Rey Hayag of the San Antonio Parish Church Los Baños Laguna. Aside from marriage he was given the following: Confession, Communion and Anointing of the Holy Oil.

          Death is defined as the end of life of an organism or cell. It happens in an instance and no machine could actually predict the exact time a person or an organism would die. To people who have learned that they have limited time to spare here on earth and to those who have lost valuable parts of their body, living hurts, but dying is more unacceptable. These thoughts often lead to emotional problems such as depression and may eventually aggravate their physical illnesses, too. Such individuals need care and attention to ease their pain.

          It was March 8, 2010 when the class of English 2, section Y4, visited a very caring and important foundation, the Madre de Amour Hospice Foundation, located at 9957 Amethyst Street, Los Banos Subdivision, College, Laguna. The term "hospice" was derived from the latin word hospitium, which means hospitality. It is likewise defined as a program that provides palliative care and focuses on the emotional and spiritual needs of terminally ill patients at a facility or at the patient's home, services the Madre de Amour Hospice offer.

          Ms Gina G. Cabrera, the current administrative assistant and volunteer coordinator of the Foundation, welcomed us at the facility with a big smile. She told us that currently there are 27 hospices in the Philippines, the Madre de Amor Hospice, being the longest running. She said the Foundation was founded in memory of Sarah Katrina Adriano, who died of cancer at a very young age of 14. She showed us some very informative slides about the Madre de Amor Hospice.

         We learned that the Madre de Amour Hospice Foundation started in 1994. At first, it offered physical, emotional, psychosocial and spiritual healing to cancer victims only. But after two to three years, they started accepting patients with renal disease, cardiovascular diseases, and other deadly diseases.

          The institution's favorite quotation from the Bible, according to Ms. Gina is "Unless a grain of wheat falls on the earth and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit (John 12:24)." Inspired by this passage, the hospice volunteers and staff served and continue to serve the terminally ill for almost 15 years to date. At present, they are helping patients, mostly indigents, from 23 out of the 30 municipalities and cities in Laguna.

          Ms. Gina made it clear that they do not give false hope to those who are about to die; instead they help them accept the inevitable and journey with them to their end. More importantly, the organization's aim is to spread hospices all over the country. At the moment, there are hospices in Batangas, Baguio City, Makati, Alabang,Laguna, Quezon and 21 more.

          The foundation offers 3 categorized assistance, all for free: homecare, daycare and supportive care. The first category is home care. Once a week, the nurses visit and provide medical care and medication (when available) to the patients' in their own home. Sometimes the nurses may visit accompanied by a doctor, a physical and/or occupational therapist. The second category, day care, is a program for those who are still able to move and walk. Day care allowed the patients to learn things they can use as source of added income on top of being able to enjoy the company of their peers. The patients meet once a month, usually on the third Friday. Spiritual care, the third category, focuses on the patients' spiritual needs. When available, the Foundation also lends hospital and medical equipments, like beds, wheel chairs, commodes, oxygen tanks, etc. On occasions, patients may also be given groceries, like milk, bread, rice, etc. which are made available by various donors.

          Patients are usually referred to the Hospice by the municipal offices, barangays officials, hospitals and social workers. Physical pain, depression and unresolved family issues, are generally the reasons a patient is admitted to the program.

          Currently the foundation faces two major problems. Ms. Gina pointed out that their primary concern at the moment is the sourcing of funds/ donations and sponsorships, which is becoming difficult lately. Another is the lack of new, dedicated volunteers, the oldest of their current volunteer being 89 and obviously, the hospice must find younger, more energetic ones.

          In the context of the quotation "Do not fear death so much, but rather the inadequate life," by Bertolt Brecht, we learned that true enough, with the right preparation, the end of life may not be as fearful, but serene and painless, thanks to the services offered by institutions like Madre de Hospice Foundation.

          "Pahimakas at Panimula" is a very timely presentation, especially for "lost" young adults. It is a true story about a teenager and her family coping with loss and pain, about the "beginning and the end of life."

          In life, we rejoice at our births, but mourn our death. On our journey between life and death, we often lose our focus on the purpose of our lives. We get angry, hopeless, depressed, etc…

          The presentation showed how a family can cope with loss/pain and have a new beginning, new love, and new faith in their hearts. Likewise, it showed a truth that the life we have does not belong to us. When our lives come to an end, we must remember that a New Beginning unfolds. There can be no joy without loss/pain. We need to accept this truth with open hearts and minds.

          For Sarah (the heroine), her cancer/pain showed her new insights to the meaning of death/loss. She shared this with her parents and friends.

          Like Sarah, we should not be afraid of new beginnings. The purpose of this new life would still be the same, only in another dimension. The purpose would still be to share love and respect for one another.

          Today, love and respect maybe sleeping in our hearts and minds. If so, it is time to wake them up. For no matter how short life is, it is well-lived if you LOVE.

          When treatment is no longer possible, hospice care takes over or when cure ends, the healing begins.

          Students of English 2-Y4, accompanied by their professor Ms. Emie Cervantes, learned this valuable lesson after attending the hospice orientation given them by Ms. Virginia "Gina" Cabrera, administrative Assistant of Madre de Amor Hospice Foundation, last March 8,2010. Ms. Gina gave the students a brief history of the foundation and its mission.

          An organization that offers hospice care to terminally ill patients, the Madre de Amor Hospice Foundation began in Los Banos in 1994. Today, it covers 23 out of 30 towns in Laguna. The Foundation celebrated its 15th year last august 19.

          The students learned that the Hospice Foundation was started by the parents of a young girl named Sarah who had nasopharyngeal cancer. It was really hard for Sarah's parents to accept the fact that sooner or later, they would lose their daughter. They did not give up easily and searched for the cure for Sarah's illness. As they searched, what they discovered was beyond cure for any illness. They discovered the concept of hospice care. And that was how the foundation was born.

          Last month, February, the Com Arts Society held a stage play entitled "Pahimakas at Panimula", the story of Sarah and the Madre de Amor Hospice Foundation. Those who watched the play were one in saying that it was a touching story. Ms. Gina agreed and said that the play was based on a real life story. That it was a tribute to Sarah.

          Ms. Gina spoke of the various activities of the Foundation, such as homecare and daycare. She said homecare is the organization's main service. They provide hospice care in the homes of their patients. The nurses, together with the volunteers, visit their assigned patients every week. They give the patients pain and symptom control, emotional support, psychosocial assistance and above all, spiritual nourishment. When needed, they give practical advise to the patients and their families as well. To patients who are still strong and mobile, the Foundation offer daycare service, a once a month activity where they learn various arts and crafts, and some exercise techniques to help them stay fit. Because the Hospice takes care of the patients for at least half a day, Daycare also serves as the much-needed respite for the patients' regular caregivers. Sensing the students' need for a short, practical definition of hospice, Ms. Gina concluded the orientation with the information that hospice is a comprehensive program of care designed to address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the terminally ill and their families. While care may be and can be provided in other settings like hospitals, to most of the dying, especially the indigents, care is provided in the home, where an organization like Madre de Amor hospice provide them comfort and fellowship. Aside from volunteers who dedicate their time and talent to care for patients and their families, the Foundation has medical equipments, like hospital beds, oxygen tanks, wheelchairs and nebulizers which are available to patients to make home care more comfortable. Finally Ms. Gina informed the students that the Foundation regularly conduct a Volunteers Training Program for interested would-be volunteers.

          The lecture ended as Ms. Gina, Ms Cervantes and the English 2-Y4 students took their pictures as remembrance. Ms Gina was an animated lecturer who inspired lively participation from us, students. It was overall, an experience to remember.

          She was only three years old. She was chubby and very beautiful, even if she had acute myelocytic leukemia. Her prognosis was bad.

          August 3, 2006 was her third birthday. Aware that it could be her last, my partner volunteer and I wanted to make it truly memorable for her. Though it was raining heavily then and we had to cross a slippery creek to reach her house, we brought her festive balloons, a chocolate cake and a stuffed toy that we were sure she would enjoy.

          Mica and her family were really surprised by our arrival. She dressed up for us and had a real birthday party. Oh, how she had fun blowing out the three candles on her cake. And how she enjoyed playing with the balloons.

          My partner and I went home soaking wet but with hearts bursting with happiness. We knew we gave the little girl enough cheer for her to cherish through her short lifetime.

          Mica and her family were really surprised by our arrival. She dressed up for us and had a real birthday party. Oh, how she had fun blowing out the three candles on her cake. And how she enjoyed playing with the balloons.

          Indeed, that was her last birthday. She joined her Creator on October 30, 2006.

          Kaisa-isang anak namin si Mica na nasuri na may Acute Myeloctic Leukemia (AML) noong May 22, 2006. Bilang isang ina, kagustuhan kong gumaling ang aking anak at lahat ng paraan ay aking ginawa sa kadahilanang kapos kami sa buhay. Nanghingi ako ng tulong kung kani-kanino at kung saan-saan hanggang sa matagpuan ko si Tita Tess Gonzales. Itinuro niya sa akin ang Madre de Amor Hospice Foundation. Hindi na ako nag aksaya ng panahon, lumapit ako sa kanila at pina-enroll ko ang aking anak.

          Regular na dinadalaw ng hospice volunteers, nurse at staff si Mica. Naging maayos nung una subalit pagdating ng July napansin ko na malimit na siyang lagnatin at kailangan na siyang salinan ng dugo. Pabalik-balik kami sa PGH, tinapat na din kami ng doctor na pwedeng may mangyari kay Mica na hindi kaaya-aya. Sa kabila ng malungkot na balita, sinikap pa din naming mag-asawa na tugunan ang pangangailangang medical ng aming anak, at sa panahong iyon ay nakaalalay ang hospice sa amin.

          Binigyan ng munting birthday party ng hospice si Mica noong August 3, 2006. sobrang kasiyahan ang nadama ng bata at damang dama ko bilang ina niya. Pinaramdam na rin ng hospice ang maagang Pasko sa kanya, dinalhan siya ng munting Christmas tree, mga regalo at Santa Claus. Subalit patuloy ang panghihina ng bata at saksi ang Christmas tree sa paghihirap ng aking anak. Dumaan ang mga araw at patuloy ang paglala ng kanyang karamdaman at wala akong magawa kundi sundin ang payo ng hospice na ibigay ko ang nararapat na pagaalaga at pagmamahal sa bata. Hindi ko kayang tanggapin subalit nang makita ko ang labis na paghihirap niya at sa tulong ng volunteers natutunan kong ipaubaya ang aking anak sa Poong Maykapal.

          Hinding-hindi ko malilimutan ang mga huling araw ng aking anak na tumanggi ng magpunta sa doctor. At malaking pasasalamat ko sa Madre de Amor Hospice Foundation na hanggang sa huling sandali ay nakagabay sila.

(Maricris Cabatuan letter to hospice translated into English by Teresita C. Gonzales)

          Mica, our only child, was diagnosed of Myelocytic Leukemia (AML) on May 23, 2006. The maternal instinct filled me with the urgency to exhaust all possible doors left open for a possible cure.

          I approached many people and government agencies until I was lead to the Madre de Amor hospice through the efforts of Tita Tess Gonzales. From then on, the hospice volunteers regularly visited. Mica started to recover slowly too. But in July she started to deteriorate. I accompanied her to the Philippine General Hospital several times for blood transfusions.

          Mica was treated to a birthday party on August 3 by hospice. It was a day of rejoicing. Christmas came early in October. Two weeks before her demise, the hospice volunteers set up a Christmas tree near her bed, complete with lights and presents.

         When she continued to slip downhill, I finally offered her to God. I will always remember hospice.

          It all started when my wife, Lily a hospice volunteer, requested me to drive her to the hospice center for a meeting. Since then, accompanying her regularly to patient visits as well as to other important hospice events, eventually led me to join this special apostolate.

          The fears and anxieties I felt at the outset were replaced with self confidence as I experienced the positive vibes of the other hospice volunteers. The joy of seeing the grateful faces of patients and their families finally convinced me that I could balance my time between them and my grandson whom I consider the most important part of my life. After several years of hospice work, now I understand the value of giving comfort and peace, as well as attending to the genuine needs of the terminally ill patients. May God continue to sustain my wife and I in this special calling.

May God reward you for your dedication in raising a good family

          Helen and Leo are one of the very few families that we have served that seemed to have no problems. They come from well-bred families that are well educated and well trained. Helen was sales director of a multi-level company dealing with beauty products. Leo was an overseas worker for many years. Thus Helen attended to the care of the family while Leo was abroad. They had established a substantial nest-egg from the good jobs they held.

          But, in a snap, everything got dissipated. It started when Helen was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. She was at the peak of her career. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation and the cancer seemed to be in remission. She resumed her career and continued to be engrossed with her job.

          Then after lengthy travels both domestic and foreign in connection with her job, she began to encounter unusual signs that brought fatigue and weakness. The family sought the help of hospice and we became her volunteer.

         The love and dedication to each other nurtured in her family had to converge on her. Leo gave up a good paying job in the Middle East to be at his wife's side. Her youngest daughter who was budding employee at Samsung followed suit and provided care at bedside. Even her septuagenarian mother from Quezon relocated to give additional support.

          No medical procedures were spared. They went to a better-equipped hospital in Manila and a doctor provided regular home care service to treat her ever growing bedsores.

          Her cancer that metastasized into the bones notably the spinal column which was hit in three different locations. This left Helen devastated and bed-ridden and developed bedsores.

          However, she had the will to live longer and thus her family did everything to provide every possible remedy. She was in and out of the hospital during the last month of her life.

          A week before the inevitable came, she was seeing images. Upon her request the couple volunteer brought a priest. She made her confession and was anointed with holy oil. She also requested that every room in their house and the surroundings be blessed.

          She was in the active dying stage. But Helen having a strong personality developed over the years as a dominant member of the family, held on.

          Three events happened however, that made her finally give up. One daughter went through a long-delayed wedding. Another daughter who just got a job in the Middle East came home in spite of being on the job for only a few months to be at her mother's bedside. Lastly, a son who was hesitant to visit his mother in her condition finally went to see her at her dying bed in the hospital. At last, they were all finally reunited.

          We admire the dedication and the care that the whole family gave Helen while she was sick. The involvement of each member of the family in Helen's care was truly a demonstration of family unity in times of adversity as in many Filipino homes.

          To most patients of Madre de Amor Foundation, hope and faith find way in their lives. It was resiliency at its best. Now we know what hospice is all about.

           We are now on our 77th year and our 11th as hospice volunteers. With God's blessings we shall continue to serve.