Jhonnavon Walking

Apr. 29, 2008 Newsletter by Tara C. Alverson

There are certain people you meet that change the way<br /> you think. One of those people I have met in the Philippines is<br /> a young woman of 17 years old, her name is Jhonnavon. (Jonea-<br /> von). Born and raised in Dipolog, on the Island of Mindanao.<br /> Sure, Jhonnavon looks normal at first, but if you were to walk<br /> beside her you would realize just how amazing she really is.<br /> Jhonnavon has no legs, and<br /> yet, she still walks. At the age of 12<br /> Jhonnavon was in a terrible motorcycle<br /> accident. The tri-cycyle-motorcycle<br /> she was riding in had over 6 people in<br /> it when a truck swerved from the other<br /> lane hitting them head on. Tri-cycles<br /> and Jeepneys are the most common<br /> mode of transport in the Philippines,<br /> not always being the safest. The collision<br /> left Jhonnavon laying on the<br /> street, one of her legs had already been<br /> completely severed just below the knee.<br /> Because of all the blood the people<br /> presumed her dead, and for six hours<br /> she lay unconscious as the large crowd<br /> watching did nothing. Eventually she<br /> was taken to the morgue where she<br /> awoke, telling the men nearby, ‘I’m<br /> not dead, take me to a hospital.’ By the<br /> time they reached a hospital her other<br /> leg had gone too long without circulation<br /> and had to be amputated at the<br /> knee, leaving her without any legs. ‘It<br /> was a hard decision but the doctor said<br /> it would save my life, so I agreed.’<br /> Spending two years confined<br /> to a wheelchair was not easy for the<br /> once very active and energetic Jhonnavon.<br /> ‘Just to get to church my brother had to tie me to his<br /> back. People would stair at me, but I did not care, I ignored<br /> them. Oh, but Ate (Older Sister, Aunt) Tara, I missed walking<br /> on the mountain so much. I missed running and jumping and<br /> swimming. But instead of thinking about what I couldn’t do, I<br /> thought about what I could do. I wanted to go to church and sing<br /> to God.’ Luckily the ICM found out about her situation and paid<br /> for her prosthetic legs and the physical therapy to learn to stand<br /> with them and walk with by the help of a walker. But, this was<br /> not good enough for our strong willed Jhonnavon. ‘No, I will<br /> learn to walk without the walker, I told them. But, Ate Tara, they<br /> did not think I could do it.’ The doctors tried to explain to her<br /> that it couldn’t be done, that it would be too difficult for her. One<br /> year later Jhonnavon, the determined, was walking up and down<br /> stairs, up hills and making her way across town, without the<br /> walker. ‘But Ate Tara, it’s not easy, you know? I still need help to<br /> get places and every night my legs hurt, but it is worth the pain to<br /> walk again.’ She smiles to me as she continues. ‘There are many<br /> things I can’t do, you know.’<br /> I replied, ‘Like what?’<br /> ‘Oh Ate Tara, you know I can’t fly.’<br /> I think it would be a traumatic<br /> experience to loose your legs, something<br /> that would forever change the way you<br /> live. But Jhonnavon’s will and determination<br /> seems to drive her over road<br /> blocks that most people could not get<br /> over. She lives her life to the fullest;<br /> more mobile in mind and spirit then<br /> most healthy adults. She has no legs, but<br /> walks. The world sees her condition and<br /> could say she is a cripple, but everything<br /> about Jhonnavon begs to differ. She continues<br /> to live life unafraid, valiantly set<br /> against the odds. I told her she reminds<br /> me of Joan of Arc. She replied, ‘But Ate<br /> Tara Jonah had no arc, it was Noah.’<br /> She had never heard of the<br /> Saint but was delighted to find out that<br /> Joan of Arc was her age when she led<br /> the French in victory for their independence<br /> against the English. ‘Ate Tara, I<br /> think I would like her if I met her.’<br /> I don’t think I will ever forget<br /> Jhonnavon’s smile. She is now working<br /> for the ICM in Cebu, Under the Bridge<br /> at the new center there inspiring those<br /> she reaches out to. Jhonnavon continues<br /> to walk; courageous, brave.<br /> The ICM had a children’s camp<br /> the first week of April. It was great to see 112 kids from around<br /> Dumaguete and Sibulan, running everywhere, playing sports, doing<br /> crafts, smiling and laughing. I was blessed to be able to give<br /> out some sandals my parents donated. I can’t forget the first little<br /> girl who I gave a pair to. Her name was Crystal, 5 years old. Her<br /> heals and toes where hanging over the tattered and torn sandals<br /> she had probably been wearing for more then a year. One of the<br /> ICM staff members, Elan, tells me that most of the families cannot<br /> afford to buy shoes for their children, and so they often go to a<br /> shoe stretcher or repair shop, but that can even get too costly. It<br /> is so important to take care of your feet in an environment where<br /> dust, disease and bacteria cling to every street, sidewalk, and curb.<br /> When I found a pair that fit Crystals feet she got excited and took<br /> them off right away and put them in her small pack, clutching to<br /> her chest. She nodded politely to me and ran back with the other

children. Elan explained to me, ‘Tara, don’t worry she likes the shoes very much,<br /> she wants to enjoy them today.’ It wasn’t that Crystal did not like the sandals, but<br /> rather she didn’t want to get them dirty on the first day she owned them. This culture<br /> seems to cherish their belongings much differently then the western culture<br /> does. The next day I saw Crystal wearing her shoes, careful not to get them dirty.<br /> Some of the other kids lined up at the water fountain to wash their new sandals<br /> when they got them dirty as well. What a bunch of little blessings.<br /> Little Blazela of Cebu, Under the Bridge is still struggling. Honestly, it<br /> doesn’t the look good. The hole in her heart has caused severe liver and health<br /> conditions. And the cost of the medications and operations is too much for her<br /> family to afford. They simply can’t save the life of their little girl and it’s hard to<br /> think that this is something that happens everyday. In a society where the divide<br /> between the rich and the poor seems to be made with a thick felt tip marker, it’s<br /> the children that seem to suffer worst.<br /> I’m still painting and now working part time with the ICM outreach<br /> programs, as well as teaching some art and crafts to the pre-schoolers. It’s been<br /> a great experience and a lot of fun. The staff and the people here are grateful for<br /> your continual support! I’m looking forward to May, I’m traveling to the Island of<br /> Stiqihior, where the witches live and have a school. Maybe I’ll see Harry. Pagpipinta Sa Pulo: Jhonnavon Walking, Tara C. Alverson / T.C. Artworks, 29 . April . 2008. Photos: Crystal & Necie with new sandals. They say ‘Salamat,’ which is Cebuana for Thank you; Top: Johnavonn standing at ICM Center, Under The Bridge, Bottom Right: Homes in Lahug, Cebu, Bottom Left: Badjo, mother and child diving for pesos.

Pagpipinta Sa Pulo page 3 photos: Pictures taken outside Dumaguete ICM Office Compound, Negros Oriental.

Pagpipinta Sa Pulo page 4 Photos: ICM Kids Camp; Shell from Olango Island, Lapu Lapu, Cebu.


pagpipinta sa pulo Newsletter © 2008 Tara C. Alverson. Reprinted with permission.