The Save One Life (SOL) Foundation
is an American charity program that provides financial assistance to indigent
hemophilia patients across the globe. SOL specifically caters to children or
youths with hemophilia in developing countries, where there is no government
support for hemophilia. The funding is given to qualified patients through the
coordinating hemophilia organizations; SOL has a total of 33 program partner organizations
from 11 countries, HAPI-C being one of them since 2008.
In February 2012, SOL Director
Mrs. Martha Hopewell visited the Philippines. She wanted to find out the
condition of the hemophilia community, as well as to discuss matters with SOL
partner hemophilia organizations in our country. Straight from her visit in
Manila, Mrs. Martha Hopewell was in Cebu on February 21 and 22, 2012.
SOL Director Mrs. Martha Hopewell finally meeting the HAPI-C volunteers
On February 21, HAPI-C officers had a dinner meeting with Mrs. Hopewell, Rev. Donald Kill, and a few of his student scholars. (Rev. Kill is a Columban missionary based in Ozamiz city, Philippines. He introduced HAPI-C to the SOL Foundation a few years back). During the dinner meeting we talked about the condition of the hemophilia community here in the Philippines, particularly in Cebu. Our officers also had an informal progress report on what HAPI-C has done in the past year.
During the dinner meeting with Rev. Donald Kill
The next day, Mrs. Martha
visited the HAPI-C office at the Perpetual Succour Hospital and had a meeting
with our Board Members. During the meeting Mrs. Hopewell discussed on updates
and new policies on SOL program, and also about how to work on things more
efficiently with HAPI-C. We also discussed about our beneficiaries, the
indigent hemophilia patients being sponsored through SOL.
At the HAPI-C office
Mrs. Hopewell watching part of the HAPI-C documentary on Hemophilia and Physical Therapy (2011). Kenneth Borromeo (wearing grey) was the subject patient for the case study.
Lunch meeting with Sr. Myrna Borromeo, SPC
On the way to Carcar, we made a stop-over to the roadside where Gabriel Garces (a hemophilia patient) works as a tombstone engraver outside a cemetery.
In the afternoon, HAPI-C and
Mrs. Hopewell paid a visit to the beneficiaries in the town of Lagang, Carcar,
where a clan of hemophilia-afflicted families resided. We were accompanied by
Sr. Myrna Borromeo, SPC of the Perpetual Succour Hospital. Mrs. Hopewell interviewed the beneficiaries
and their families, who are very thankful of the support given by the SOL.
At the home of HAPI-C secretary Ana Mae Villamor, where her many academic medals are displayed.
Lagang, Carcar, where a whole clan of hemophilia-afflicted families live in.
Mrs. Hopewell conversing with the beneficiaries in Carcar, one of them an amputee hemophiliac.
Visiting the homes of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Hopewell was especially fascinated by how Filipinos in their indigenous straw huts work around their household.
Later in the evening and back
in Cebu city, Mrs. Hopewell also visited the home of our HAPI-C President, Ms.
Mary Ann Navasquez. She shares her home with her two brothers and a baby nephew
with hemophilia, and the rest of her extended family.
With Roy Navasquez, Mary Ann's younger brother
Mrs. Martha Hopewell with the Navasquez family
Mrs. Hopewell then flew to
Davao the next day. HAPI-C is very thankful for the opportunity we finally got
to spend time with her. We look forward in continuing our partnership with SOL.
