quite a mishap using a spray cleaning agent while cleaning a bathroom stall, eye injury not related to bangka/paddle carving resulted with almost worn out lining of the epithelial cells close to exposing the nerves. OUCH! a good reminder from lolo after he saw my eyepatch and how i got it, baby girl (he calls me), bE CAREFUL IN THIS INDUSTRIAL WORLD WHEREVER YOU GO. tHOSE PEOPLE MAKING TOXINS THAT EVENTUALLY GET INTO AND MURDER OUR WATER ARE OUR STAUNCH ADVERSARIES. yes, lolo, i understand and now a lucky me experience as my vision is still intact despite the excruciating pain of the toxic chemical reaction. my eye weeps and weeps, i feel as mother earth weeps and weeps for the toxic wastes in her system. if only people will see and clean up after themselves. i will no longer use spray bottles with toxins for cleaning; back to basics – sponge, non toxic soapy water.

thankful for intact vision

this mishap reminded me about a difficult summer spent in the Philippines conducting a research project on nursing student’s knowledge, attitudes and behavior about organ donation and transplantation with HOPE related to kidney donation. below are some stats on quick facts in about organ transplantation issues in the US.

Quick Facts

• Over 115,000 men, women, and children in the United States need life-saving organ transplants, and a new name is added to the national waiting list every approximately every 10 minutes.

• Each day, approximately 18 people die while waiting for an organ transplant.

• 90% of Americans say they support donation, but only 30% know what steps to take to be a donor.

• Although donor designations have increased, only 42% of licensed drivers and ID card holders have registered to be donors through their state registry or motor vehicle department.

i am one lucky bangka girl. i am ever so grateful and thankful for the wonderful gift of a vision intact, a gift of seeing. yes, love is blind and yes, i cut my long curly hair to donate to children with cancer for a wig but it is not easy to donate an eye or any body part. a chumash-pinay elder shared her thoughts upon hearing about my summer project: “that is quite disturbing to hear as indigenous peoples’ belief is that our body is sacred and all parts of the body is sacred. i cannot even comprehend the idea of organ transplantation.”