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In Focus:
Jerome Pacua
We first met Jerome, a 14 year old boy,
at his home in Ligao City last March. It was a poor and
humble abode made of rough cinderblock and native materials � bamboo with a
thatched roof. Jerome, then completely paralyzed, was lying on a mat (banig)
placed over a wooden palette. The room was dark and damp with only rays of light
piercing the darkness.
The ventilation was poor with the
odor of burning firewood in the air. To me the atmosphere was depressing and
suffocating. Enigmatically, Jerome, a healthy lad only last December had, over a
period of three months, rapidly deteriorated in health to the point of becoming
completely paralyzed. His family, poor and not knowing how to care for him, did
the best they could to assist him. Little by little, people had led us to Jerome
� like the physical therapist Alfred and Jemson, a former resident of Harong kan
Sagrada Familia living in Ligao. Upon seeing Jerome�s condition, we decided to
take him in immediately.
Initially the road was not easy: Jerome suffered from chronic low grade fevers
and the cause of his paralysis baffled doctors. He might have damage his spinal
cord through carrying bundles of wood or, perhaps, a cyst or tumor discovered
around his around spinal cord had weakened him. It was hard to say.
Since Jerome had come to Harong kan Sagrada Familia last March, he has made
remarkable progress � surprising everybody, even the doctors. We now believe
that his condition was caused by tuberculosis invading the nerve endings of the
spinal cord (�Potts�s disease�). Jerome is now able to stand for a half minute
with the aid of the physical therapists. He is regaining his strength and
ability to move his limbs even pushing himself easily in the wheelchair. Slowly
he is moving from a wheelchair to a walker. Everyday he is being intensely
treated for TB and is receiving physical therapy. He is now a very happy,
smiling boy growing stronger each day in mind, heart, and body.
It is plausible to say that Jerome might not have survived if people had not had
eyes and hearts open to him. Like the streaks of light piercing his dark, damp
room in March, hope pierced through the darkness of his life. This hope began
with two people seeing him and speaking up on his behalf. This hope continued
with a group of people collaborating for his benefit. This hope continues with
the love and friendship of family and new friends. Jerome still has a long road
to go with much work ahead of him. Yet hope continues for him through the
Guanellian mission of compassion and respect for the human person. Thank you,
dear readers, for being a part of this mission and a part of Jerome�s continuous
hope.
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