Monday was my last day in Cebu. Since my flight was later in the day, I was able to visit the hospital one last time in the morning. It turned out to be one of the busiest days yet, with six energetic kids coming in. I hadn’t met any of them before, as they were all in the maintenance phase of their treatment. Initially, they were a bit shy, but they soon started to open up. With kids cycling around the unit and playing with all the toys, the atmosphere became a bit hectic, but it was wonderful to see them enjoying themselves and being able to play in the hospital.
One of the children who came in on Monday was autistic, which sometimes made it more challenging to engage with him. However, he had recently become verbal, which was a huge help as he was learning new words and naming everything he saw. This allowed us to interact in a way that felt comfortable for him, helping him to connect with me. It was especially helpful because he started to listen more to what I was saying, making it easier to ensure he stayed out of the nurses' way.
It was great to spend one last morning at the hospital and meet these new kids. Every day, they show such immense bravery and strength—not only them but their parents as well. Watching your child battle a disease as harsh as cancer must put an incredible strain on your life. Over these past two weeks, I’ve seen firsthand the difference that the Kythe Foundation makes in the lives of both the children and their parents.
We’ve set up a GoFundMe page to collect donations that will be given to the Kythe Foundation to support the children's medical care. We’ve seen how the money they receive helps families as they navigate this difficult journey. With your help, we can make a difference in the lives of even more children.
Here’s the link to the GoFundMe page: https://gofund.me/de05b80f
We also want to give a special thank you to the Rao Family. Thanks to the James Rao Foundation and their support, we were able to have this unforgettable experience where we learned and witnessed so much. A huge thank you to everyone who made it possible for us to volunteer at the Kythe Foundation and for following our journey.
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