The Latest from Gentle Hands
A Prayer for Mother’s Day
Her mother threw her in a garbage can of a restaurant at birth. Didn’t even cut the cord from the placenta. These little ones were sold. Or stolen. Definitely bought, though. This one watched his mother be beaten over and over by his father. She eventually ran away, leaving him to endure the beatings. Sisters. [...]
Gone Ahead
For the past week, several times during the night, a tap on my foot would wake me. “We need you.” I would run down the stairs to my dear patient. Respiratory distress, blood pressure sky rocketing, panic. I would put oxygen and rub his back so his wife, Dolly, could rest for a few minutes. [...]
A Bed for a Princess
I had been called to pick up a child from a local government facility in 2005. I remember the social worker telling me of a girl they had found on the streets that was a polio victim, retarded, deaf, maybe blind, unresponsive and he wished he had somewhere to giver her away to. I remember [...]
Ricardo
I saw him in Malabon, of course. Someone in a panic, brought him to me becauseof lump the size of a golf ball in his throat. I was surprised and so was the American surgeon who was with me. I asked where his mother was. Dead, was the answer from the gaggle of teens that [...]
Waiting for a Child
Six years ago, they applied to adopt. Forms submitted, requirements complied with. A name was even chosen… a name that would help them hold on, even though somewhat premature. Rain. That God would reign in their lives and the life of their child-to-be. As time went on, they prayed and waited. Life moved on, questions [...]
Ricki’s Kiss
Waking up early in the morning is nothing new for me. I love the early hours when the night is quiet and I can drink my coffee before the chaos and responsibility of the day begin. Today it was Ricki’s turn to be up early. Odd, it’s usually Colin. But it was Ricki. I bathed [...]
