CHANGE OF PLANS

Last week I (Russell) mentioned that our daughter Jessica had been diagnosed with a serious and fairly rare kind of tumor in her back.  Eileen and I have been concerned about how Jessica and her husband Steve would be able to do all the things necessary to deal with this ailment and also care for their three small children, especially since they are now living in Oregon away from other family members.  We have felt torn between serving as missionaries and wanting to help our suffering child.  I in particular have had a hard time knowing what I should be doing.  During a discussion with President Alder and again during a blessing he gave me, President Alder mentioned things that made clear to me that if needed we should take care of Jessica.  I also felt that we would not be released early from our mission because of it.

On Tuesday afternoon we had a mission-wide conference in Antipolo with Elder L. Whitney Clayton (President of the Seventy) and Elder Steven R. Bangerter (Seventy and second counselor in the Philippines Area Presidency).  Rarely do they let all the missionaries in a mission assemble together, but for a visit from an apostle or president of the Seventy they make an exception.  Prior to starting the meeting they stood in a line and shook hands with each missionary.  As we went through the line, Elder Bangerter said to Eileen that they had been praying for our daughter.  We were both touched that they knew of our plight and were concerned and praying for our specific need. 

On Monday our daughter Jessica had a third MRI of her back in preparation for her visit to see a neurosurgeon on Tuesday.  During the visit on Tuesday, Jessica and Steve learned that Jessica had a large tumor on her spine which would need to be removed as soon as possible.  Fortunately, Steve’s mother was visiting and able to take care of their children during this difficult period.  When Jessica called us to inform us of the surgeon’s recommendation (surgery the next Tuesday) it was early Wednesday morning for us and we were on the road in Taguig, stuck in traffic (it took us 2.5 hours to go the 15 miles to our first appointment) on our way to do our planned six housing inspections.

When we got the news from Jessica on Wednesday morning, I felt the right thing to do was try to get there in time for the surgery and stay until other family members could help.  I called President Alder, who then asked Elder Taniela B. Wakolo (first councilor in the Area Presidency) if we could have a leave-of-absence.  Elder Wakolo’s answer back was two-fold; first, that he was praying for our daughter, and second that he approved our going to Oregon to help Jessica and her family.  That started a process for us to leave the Philippines.  If we left on Saturday we could be there in time for her surgery.  I never imagined that it would prove to be so hard to get things arranged through the Philippines immigration for us to exit the country quickly.  It turns out that once you have your long-term visa, which we do, that you have to have a specific exit permit which we did not yet have.  The process on Friday was one that I never want to repeat.  First, being told that we would not be permitted to leave on Saturday and sharing that news with Eileen; and second driving to immigration in the heart of old Manila and then home in rush hour traffic.  But what we experienced Friday afternoon was truly a miracle.  Something only one person in the Area office Travel Department thought might be possible.  We met Juancho when we stopped by the Area office Friday afternoon and picked him up on our way to immigration.  Attached below is a letter of appreciation I wrote to his boss later the next day. 
  

Russell, Eileen and Brother Juancho Gallano-an angel of mercy when we really needed one

Dear Brother Notarte,

My wife and I are currently serving as full-time missionaries in the Antipolo Mission. Last Wednesday we were informed by our daughter that she had just been told by her neurosurgeon that she would be going in for surgery to remove a tumor on her spine, something that she had just been diagnosed with the week prior.  For the last month she has been experiencing pain in her feet, legs and back.  In the last week it has extended into numbness in her arms and hands.  She has three young children and lives in Oregon, away from other extended family members. 

On Wednesday we discussed with our mission president, President Alder, our desire to go help our daughter.  He in turn asked Elder Wacolo for permission for us to travel to Oregon, which request was granted that day.  We notified the Travel Department, in person, that day of our intent to travel on Saturday in order to be there in time for the surgery on Tuesday.

We were notified on Friday (through our mission president, who heard from the IFR, who had been told by Area travel department personnel) that we would not be able to fly out on Saturday because we had yet to be granted our ACR cards.  We contacted Immigration directly and learned that our ACR cards were actually “ready for pickup.” Accompanied by Brother Gallano, we drove to immigration Friday afternoon and were able to secure the cards and board our plane on Saturday.

My wife and I both recognize that it was only through the efforts of Brother Gallano that we were able to secure our ACR cards in time to leave for our daughter’s surgery.  We regard it as a miracle and that Brother Gallano was “God’s hands” in that miracle for us and our daughter.  His efforts to not just secure our ACR cards but to also see that we were able to find our way home Friday night were evidence of both his professional capabilities and compassion for those he works with.  We are very, very grateful for Brother Gallano’s help and hope that he is rewarded both by God and you as his employer for his outstanding service.

Best regards,
Elder Healy