doctoro...

I spoke on the phone the other day with close friend of mine from manila. I knew she had not been well for weeks but s ever was too proud to say or go into more money. I told her to go to the doctors not thinking, she replied that she couldn't she did not have the money; it was the equivalent of 10pounds for a check up and most of the medicine she needed. She said she would just leave it and let it down to prayer, this worried me more than anything. Although i respected her faith and knew a lot of the time faith was all she had and the only thing to keep her positive. I knew that faith wouldn't be enough and she was getting seriously ill. So i sent the 1000 pesos and told her to go to the courier and pick it up, i wouldn't take no for an answer. Although sheepish she did and went for her check up. it was later in the evening that i had a phone call full of thankyou's and an explanation it was quite a nasty stomach ulcer. Which i knew would only of got worse if she left it. We spoke abut how it was probably from stress. She has a big heart and takes every opportunity to support her family as well as the whole community with little money but an amazing spirit. It was as we were nearing the end of our conversation i heard shouting in the background and her responding. She explained it was her parents asking her for money, she said she had none they responded "yes you do but you just wasted it at the doctors". I felt my stomach sink her parents were thinking bout the money over there daughters health and although i could understand the needs of poverty, this was truly heart wrenching. She burst into tears and continuesly apologized for crying i told her that "i would be worried if you weren't crying your only human the smile has to fade sometimes." I felt completely in over my head but at the same time completely in control. As i spoke her through how she gives so much back but sometimes needs to think of herself. I reminded her of all the peoples lives she had touched and enriched.
The thank you i had in a reply was the most honest thank you i have ever heard to this day.