MANILA, Philippines — Whenever someone tells me that he or she admires my skills in raising funds to sustain my medical needs, and asks me how I do it, I answer with these simple words: "If you are willing to be helped, you will receive help; and for as long as you sincerely ask, you will be helped."

Help does not only come through financial assistance. There are a lot of ways with which one person can help another person. Besides, people need people. Man can live for himself, but never by himself.

I have met people who needed funds to sustain their medical needs. Some of them would say, “Buti ka pa ang daming tumutulong sa iyo." Blessings come from the Heavens. They are each and every good thing that comes from God, a part of His grace to mankind. God sends down His angels to aid and rescue mortals caught in dire circumstances.

Some may come as spiritual messengers in human disguises. Moreover, God also uses mortals as instruments to bring down His graces so as to prove to men that He is alive and that He listens to and answers our prayers. God's special provisions never run out. He is ever willing to give generously, more and beyond what an earthly father would give to his own children.

I have received an abundance of blessings, not necessarily in monetary or material forms. People are blessings. You are a blessing, just as I am a blessing. The “spices of life” called problems may be deemed as blessings in disguise, depending on how one looks at them. It is through the difficult circumstances and the sufferings that we had faced and overcome that we are made stronger at heart and wiser in mind. We are able to share in their pains, and offer our help without hesitations because we were once in the same painful and difficult predicaments.

Paying it forward
Blessings are meant to be shared. Just as I am blessed, I must pay it forward. I may not be capable of sharing by financial means; nevertheless, I use my abilities to extend help where help is needed, and encourage others to do the same. I recently met someone who needs help. Her name is Karen.

Karen Ann Bernal or Kaye is 28 years old and was diagnosed in February 2006 with end stage renal disease or known as chronic kidney disease. She has been undergoing hemodialysis for almost four years now. She was advised by her doctor to have her dialysis thrice in a week, but due to lack of funds, it is done twice a week instead. She graduated at PSBA with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She was not able to find employment after graduation because her disease weakened her. Due to her condition, she needed to stay in Quezon City, distant from her family, for it is where she goes for her treatments. Her husband Leo and her six-year old son Karl stay in their hometown at San Miguel, Catanduanes. Leo is a minumum wage earner in their municipality and regularly sends Karen money for her medical treatments. The money has not been enough despite living on a tightened budget.

In one of our conversations, Karen shares: “Nahihirapan na rin katawan ko sa dialysis. Gusto ko na mapalitan ang kidneys ko para mahinto na ang dialysis. Kung magpapatransplant ako, hindi talaga kakayanin ang gastos. Umaasa pa rin ako na mabigyan ng pagkakataon madagdagan ang buhay ko. Gusto kong makita ang paglaki ng anak ko para maenjoy ko pa ang maging isang ina sa anak ko. Miss na miss ko na ang anak ko.”

Karen admits to having fears and worries each time her schedule for dialysis nears; but she does not give up because she believes in the hands of God that will provide.

If you want to extend any form of assistance to Karen, you may send her an email at yubernkaye@gmail.com. You may also send in your donations to her savings account at the Bank of the Philippine Islands, Account Name: Karen Ann Bernal; Account Number: 4439093825 - SM North Edsa, Quezon City Branch.

God has graciously given us talents and blessings. How and what we do with these talents and blessings define our spiritual character and our right relations with God and with our fellowmen. In Matthew 7: 7, Jesus said: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." How well and how patiently we ask, seek and knock at Heaven's door when we are in need. How well then are we in giving of ourselves and in opening our doors for those who come in need?

(The author is suffering from a rare genetic disorder called Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2). She maintains an online store (www.kcatyarza.com) that sells products she personally designed to benefit her hEAR Fund Raising Project. She was also a finalist in Cebuana Lhuiller's Happiest Pinoy. If you have any questions, you can reach the author through kcatyarza@yahoo.com)