A promise made, a promise kept. ----  Medical Mission #17. ************************** In January 2009 some brave folks made a visit to a hospital in the Philippine province, Bulacan. Following this visit, a year of preparation soon passed, before we were back at the Hospital for our Medical Mission #17.  Rotarians made the midnight trip to Manila to greet us, and so started the determination of all, to be sure this Medical Mission would be the greatest.  Yes it was.Sunday 31 Jan, 2010. We left Manila for the 2 hour bus ride to San Jose Del Monte not really knowing what had transpired to the hospital since our 2009 visit.  They had already stacked the 420 boxes into the store room, and after some quick re-arranging, some boxes were delivered to the areas first day requirement needs. Monday, our 7 teams started the first hectic day looking for supplies, and getting set up, while also checking patient’s needs. OPD known as Open Clinic, Plastic Surgery, General Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pharmacy, Small Surgery Dept. and the Supplies and Equipment folks all found the Boxes, Wheel chairs, Walkers and Crutches. All started doing what they do so well.  They worked their butts off.  Starting early, as did every day for the rest of the week, but getting acclimatized to the heat would be very difficult for most of us.  Out Patient check in, started on the enormous task of getting patients directed to the correct areas were soon moved inside out of the direct sun, thus enabling our “Winterized” volunteers to be able to breathe,  thanks to the local Nurses, students and aides they started the days for all our departments. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday continued in the same vein.  Crutches supported those that could walk, wheel chairs – those that could not. Perspiration fell from every brow, while numbers started piling up.  Lives were being changed forever, pain removed, fears calmed, and the face of a person that was now able to recognize what they were reading, cannot be put into words.  All of us truly felt the thank you’s that we all received, not just the words, but a real feeling. Now here are some of the documented numbers achieved. Outpatient Clinic: 2,281      Obstetric Clinic:  45,     Gynecological Surgeries: 11      Dental Extractions: 250,     Small Surgery Department: 245,    General Surgery: 27,   Plastic Surgery, 29,     Pharmacy Prescriptions: 825.     Reading Glasses Dept: 222 Yes over 2,500 patients were directly touched by our 5 long days, but the continuation of our mission being supported by the Rotary clubs of: San Jose del Monte Central, and their mother club, San Jose Del Monte will continue to extend the value of our work. The Promise I made?  -- To give Rhea Ann a furry toy after her face surgery.  Even though I was a little under the weather, this was a promise that gave me much pleasure to be able to keep. God bless all the Rhea Ann’s we helped.                     Denys.