Floriza Codeno is a 40-year-old mother from Talamban, Cebu City, Philippines. What began as an ordinary day turned into a life-changing moment for her.

She visited the BMA Legacy Health-Charity Clinic to have her blood pressure checked and to receive free medication. While there, Dr. Livia Capuy noticed her sitting with her leg stretched out. What had seemed normal to Floriza for years caught the doctor’s attention: She was wearing a bulky, heavy-duty-looking prosthesis. Upon inquiry, Dr. Capuy learned that Floriza had a congenital partial absence of her right lower limb.

As they continued their conversation, Dr. Capuy discovered more about Floriza’s situation:

• She is a food vendor
• Her husband is also a person with disability (PWD)
• She has been using the same fiberglass one-piece prosthetic leg, secured by various makeshift contraptions, for over 20 years.

Dr. Livia Capuy quickly conferred with her colleagues, Dr. Halbert Capuy and Dr. Lorenzo Alaan and together, they decided to take action.

Dr. Alaan reached out to his friend, an Orthopedic doctor, Dr. Judith Acol, who generously offered her services for free. Dr. Acol then referred Floriza to Mr. Minard Sagoman of Instalimb Solutions. After an assessment, Mr. Sagoman recommended a modern, lightweight, and ideal Pneumatic Above-the-Knee prosthetic limb for someone with an active lifestyle like Floriza.

However, the cost is a bit of a challenge. As a small-scale food vendor, Floriza had limited income. The prosthesis was priced at 151,000.00 pesos, but with PWD and VAT exemptions, the cost dropped to 107,000.00. While alternatives of lower prices existed, they were designed for sedentary individuals, unsuitable for Floriza’s daily routine.

Floriza came back to the BMA Charity Clinic with her paperwork and prosthetic quotation. When she sat down with Dr. H. Capuy, Dr. L. Capuy, and Dr. Alaan, they delivered the final good news: the BMA Community will sponsor the amount needed for her to receive the most modern prosthetic available in Cebu.

Overwhelmed, Floriza was speechless at first. Smiling through tears, lips trembling, she quietly said:

“Salamat kaayo ninyo BMA, kay, na diin diin na lang ko ini, politicians, NGO’s, Government offices, looking for support with no success. I never thought that during a simple BP check-up, I would find the help I’ve been praying for.”

News of Floriza’s situation spread within the association’s network, and many expressed that she truly deserves support. One of the BMA’s patrons, Mr. Jiji Gullas, generously donated 75,000.00 to cover more than half of the cost.

In addition, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) extended assistance by contributing 35,000.00 pesos toward the prosthesis.

Despite her condition, Floriza never let her disability become a barrier to providing for her family and raising her child. Perhaps deep down, she always hoped for the day she could walk and move freely – unburdened by the weight of an outdated prosthesis.

Like many who come through the doors of the BMA legacy Health – Charity Clinic, words of thanks may not be enough to express the gratitude owed to the Bisaya Medical Association and its supporters. Through their compassion, they continue to create life-changing opportunities for those in greatest need.

As of this posting, Floriza’s new prosthesis is already in production.