Dying wish fulfilled

AHS helps patient return to Philippines for her last days

Sometimes health care professionals can’t cure the sickness that ails a person.

But they can still make a positive difference in someone’s life.

That was the case at Calgary’s Foothills Medical Centre in May. Alberta Health Services (AHS) staff – including nurses, physicians, social workers, administrators and volunteers – helped a woman terminally ill with ovarian cancer return to the Philippines where she wanted to die surrounded by her family, including a nine-year-old daughter she hadn’t seen in two years.

Annaliza Vergara told Foothills staff of her wish on May 7. Ten days later, she arrived in the Philippine capital of Manila. She died on May 31.

“We wish we could change the medical situation but we couldn’t,” says Erin Forsyth, nurse clinician with the Palliative Care Consult Service at the Foothills Medical Centre.  “So we did the best we could to take care of this patient in other ways.”

Forsyth co-ordinated everything from her Foothills office. For one week, she was a travel agent as well as a nurse, arranging transportation plans and community partners.

These partners include Arnida Guillermo, co-ordinator of the Filipino program with the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association.

“When I first met Annaliza, it broke my heart,” says Guillermo. “I had to control my tears. She was very sick. Without thinking, I volunteered to go home with her. I just felt for her.”

Guillermo also helped raise $5,000 for Vergara’s medications and medical care, while Vergara’s employer – a Crossfield-area restaurant – paid for her airfare to Manila. Foothills staff also donated money to Vergara’s cause, and AHS volunteer resources covered Guillermo’s return airfare and accommodation.

Emergency medical services transported Vergara to the Calgary airport and ensured she was seated comfortably on the plane. Following the 13-hour flight, she was met at the Manila airport by an ambulance and taken straight to a hospital before being moved to a hospice.

Forsyth says those 10 days of organizing the trip were incredibly hectic.

“We had to move fast because, if we had waited much longer, the patient would have been too sick to leave,” says Forsyth.

“It is a very sad situation. But it is very gratifying to know that you can take a hard situation and make it better for the people involved. It was a lot of work but, at the same time, it is a privilege to be able to help someone in such an intimate way.”

Vergara’s brother, Vennie Legaspi, is grateful he and his family were able to support Vergara in her final days.

”You can just imagine the feeling of not being able to help your love ones in time of needs,” Legaspi says. “What do we do? We prayed and prayed and prayed. And the Lord answers all our prayers.”

Foothills social worker Debbie Becker says she was inspired by the people who stepped up to help Vergara.

“From the hard-working staff to the compassionate folks who dropped by Annaliza's room to quietly provide donations to the cause, it was wonderful,” says Becker.