SYNERGY DECEMBER 2021

A Quarterly Publication of St. Luke’s Medical Center - Resource Development Group SY N E R GY VOLUME 10 ISSUE No.04 RISE UP This year, we have truly shown a duty of care to the community and to the nation

EDITORIAL BOARD Arturo S. De La Peña, MD, FPCS, FACS Benjamin S.A. Campomanes, Jr., MD Joyce Laramina K. Nazario EDITORIAL TEAM EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kara Ortiga CREATIVE DIRECTOR Edric dela Rosa ASSOCIATE EDITOR Niña Bautista EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Jude Trinidad Lalyn Vitalez THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY YOU MAY CONTACT US FOR YOUR DONATIONS: ST. LUKE’S MEDICAL CENTER - RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT GROUP 5/F, St. Luke’s Medical Center Global City 32nd Street and 5th Avenue (+632) 8789-7700 extension 5076 and 5077 8/F St Luke’s College of Medicine - William H. Quasha Memorial 279 E. Rodriguez Ave., Quezon City Website: www.stlukesfoundation.org.ph E-mail: [email protected] For comments and suggestions, please call Niña Mirrela C. Bautista ReD – Fund Development Officer Tel. No.: (632) 8789-7576

SY N E R GY FINISHING all of the hardships we have overcome. We will also draw strength from the fact that STRONG we adapted and moved forward despite it all. Moreover, we will feel a sense of As you read this, I hope you have found camaraderie with each other here at St. safe ways to celebrate the holidays with Luke’s Medical Center and with our entire family and friends. It has indeed been a nation. trying year, but here we are today, still a part of this community that has shown The Foundation has proved that it is resilience, flexibility and commitment to dutiful to our community and the greater our calling as a healthcare institution with nationwide good. They have shown no the Filipino people at heart. In the future, signs of slowing down with their charitable we will look back to this time and ponder programs this last quarter. The St. Luke’s Medical Center conducted our anniversary surgical missions and numerous outreach programs. We also witnessed how the Foundation can change lives through the story of Me-Ann Bulos, the beneficiary of a kidney transplant. And lastly, we also took part in the vaccination program for herd immunity against Covid-19. Together, we have found the strength, resilience and resources to face these challenges and move forward. I commend our community and I look forward to finishing the year strong so that we can all wake up to a better tomorrow. I wish you all the best for the new year. Here’s to the hope within us all that glimmers and should never be extinguished. Arturo S. De La Peña, MD, FPCS, FACS 01 President & CEO St. Luke’s Medical Center President, St. Luke’s Medical Center Foundation, Inc. December 2021

SY N E R GY OPERATION: LIFE FOUNDATION CELEBRATES ITS 118TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A SURGICAL MISSION Every year, the St. Luke’s Medical Center celebrates its anniversary by organizing a medical and surgical mission to benefit indigent patients. This year, to kick of St. Luke’s 118th year in service, a mission was conducted in both the Quezon City and Global City locations on October 24, 2021. The Foundation covered the expenses of these operations, and the mission saw doctors treating a total of 20 patients. The range of medical services provided include Thyroidectomy, Mastectomy, TAHBSO, D&C, AVF creation, release of Carpal Tunnel, Cholecystectomy and Herniorrhaphy. 02 December 2021

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SY N E R GY A CENTURY with a back-to-back outreach event organized by OF CARE the St. Luke’s Foundation. These programs were entitled the “We Help As One” and “Cheering Up the THE FOUNDATION CELEBRATES Children” programs. As part of the program, the kids 118 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH TWO at Gentle Hands and Kaisahang Buhay Foundations CHARITY PROGRAMS received Christmas presents early this year. More than 100 years ago, the St. Luke’s Meanwhile, the Foundation provided more Medical Center was founded with a clear medical resources to the Quirino Memorial Medical mission: to serve the medical needs Center and the Philippine Orthopedic Center in of the underprivileged. This year, the hospital beds, N95 masks and other medicines. The Foundation celebrates the hospital’s 118 Foundation also gave second-hand hospital beds, years of service and care that has been cardiac monitors and defibrillators to the Rizal the cornerstone of this institution. The Medical Center, Philippine General Hospital and long tradition of charity was honored Taguig Pateros District Hospital. Rooted in charity, the heart of the work of St. Luke’s Medical Center is always open to giving.  04 December 2021

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SY N E R GY ME-ANN’S DREAMS COME TRUE THE FOUNDATION BREATHES NEW LIFE TO AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT PATIENT Mary Ann Bulos or Me-Ann,  “I was only 22 then and the doctors. She was put 35, dons a T-shirt with an looking forward to building under different medications inscription in big, bold letters: a life with Patrick. I was and underwent treatment “Keep Fighting the Fight.” devastated, but my will to modalities. It became live got the better of me to increasingly problematic She resonates with this stand my ground and face my when her condition persisted saying, as Me-Ann herself has lifelong battle. In hindsight, I and became worse. Her overcome her battles. Her also thought that my disease creatinine level shot up story starts in 2008, when one had become a blessing in disproportionately and she day she scheduled a visit with disguise since I was certain was prescribed to undergo her doctor. Me-Ann’s ankles to have found my true love in a thrice-weekly trip to the and feet were swollen. She felt him, who, despite knowing my dialysis machine treatment. tired, unwell and had a loss of condition, did not leave me appetite. She recalled feeling to look for a more convenient For 13 long years, Me-Ann her world crumble under her partner in life,” shares Me-Ann. and her partner Patrick went feet when the doctor revealed through the difficult dialysis that she was suffering from After her diagnosis, Me- process. They describe Chronic Kidney Disease Ann’s journey fighting feeling a lot of grief and caused by her autoimmune the disease began. She pain. Then one day, they disorder. endured many visits to learned of the St. Luke’s 06 December 2021

SY N E R GY Medical Center Foundation, After a series of pre- - Ocampo (anesthesiologist). whose programs included operative screening and tests, In no time that the doctors’ organ transplantations. This a team of top-notch doctors deft hands worked their usual opportunity would be life- from SLMC - Global City’s wonder, Me-Ann’s new kidney changing, as it would free her Eduardo M. Cojuangco, Jr. was transplanted successfully. from the dialysis treatment and Ramon S. Ang Center that has now taken control of for Organ Transplantation “Ito na ang araw na matagal her life.  performed the operation. For ko nang pinagdarasal. Ang the operation of Me-Ann, araw na makakamit kong muli Armed with their her doctors were Dr. Caesar ang normal kong buhay. Araw unwavering faith to solve their Cassanova, Jr. (surgeon), Dr. ng panibagong simula. Araw na lingering problem, Me-Ann Ronald Anthony Faller and makakalaya na ako sa dialysis applied as a beneficiary for Dr. James Illescas (surgeon machine at karayom na naging the program. Initially, she had assists), Dr. Jose Protacio sandalan sa nakalipas ng mga difficulties finding a willing Marcia (nephrologist), Dr. taon para lang mabuhay,” organ donor from among Jose Maria Anson (internist) exclaimed a tearful Me-Ann after her relatives to help with her and Dr. Sheila Ranin the procedure. condition, to the point that (anesthesiologist). For the she felt there was no one in operation of Patrick, her Today, Me-Ann is up and the world willing to make husband and kidney donor, about, helping her husband sacrifices for her benefit. Then the doctors were Dr. Dennis tend to his modest online her husband Patrick stepped Serrano (surgeon), Dr. Marvin business in their home in up to the position, offering Castillo (surgeon assist) Valenzuela City. The couple has one of his kidneys to put her and Dr. Irminia Montecillo been engaged in this activity at ease.   after Patrick gave up plying his tricycle a few years back. December 2021 07

SY N E R GY VAX TO THE MAX  THE RACE TO INOCULATE THE PHILIPPINES IS ON, AND WE’RE A PART OF IT In the last quarter of the year, St. Luke’s Medical Center and St. Luke’s Foundation joined forces to organize a vaccination mission to increase the vaccinated Filipino population and reach herd immunity against Covid-19 in the Philippines. In November, St. Luke’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Benjo Campomanes headed the vaccination drive with the help of the volunteer doctors and staff from both Quezon City and Global City hospitals. The mission was held at the Rural Health Unit in coordination with the local government unit (LGU) of Lucban, Quezon. Around 100 people received Pfizer vaccines during the mission. While in December, the President and CEO Dr. Arturo De La Peña and Dr. Benjo Campomanes spearheaded another vaccination drive held in Talisay, Batangas. Two vaccination sites were set up and a total of 953 Pfizer doses were administered. 08 December 2021

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