IN 2015, the Tebow Cure Hospital in Davao City, opened its doors for children, who are in need of medical treatment for orthopedic problems.
The hospital specializes in orthopedics providing treatment for clubfoot, bowed legs, spinal conditions and other bone deformities (including those affecting arms and hands).
The hospital also performs certain plastic and reconstructive surgeries to treat cleft lip/palate and untreated burns.
Tebow Cure Hospital is Cure International's first facility in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. It was established with the support of Sacred Harvest Foundation and the Tim Tebow Foundation together with other donors like the United States Agency for International Development.
The hospital features state of the art facilities to cater to the needs of their patients, who are mainly children.
The hospital has 17 beds and will soon be expanded to 30. It is also equipped with three operating rooms, pediatric wards, private patient rooms, pharmacy, emergency room, physical therapy, x-ray, laboratory, private clinic, charity clinic, social work and spiritual ministry, and a cafeteria.
Tebow Cure Hospital also features the first international Timmy's Playroom, which is equipped by the Tim Tebow Foundation.
The hospital also has an Emergency Department known as MDQuick @ Tebow Cure to cater to urgent consultations 24/7.
In 2017, the hospital helped around a thousand children coming not only from Davao City but also in Mindanao and other parts of the country. In a week, they cater to around 12 to 20 children. Most of the patients are being referred to them by their partner non-government organizations (NGOs).
Despite being a Christian institution, the hospital caters to all patients regardless of their faith.
Vincent Bitana, development and sustainability officer of Tebow Cure Hospital, said the curable orthopedic cases here are all charity treatment wherein they help provide the financial needs of the child and the family. He, however, added the treatments are not totally free of charge.
He said the hospital subsidizes the child's medical treatment though they also help the family by getting support from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office or Lingap sa Mahirap to further subsidize the cost of the treatment.
Aside from the subsidy provided for the treatment of the child, Tebow Cure Hospital also covers other basic expenses that could be incurred if a child is admitted to a regular hospital.
“Once the child is admitted, they don't have to worry about their medicines. They are also provided a month's worth of medicines when they leave,” Bitana said.
He also said the hospital stay and the meals of the child and a guardian is also covered by them.
Bitana said when the family brings their child in the hospital for treatment, they ask them for a counterpart as to how much they can pay for the treatment based on their resources. The hospital is also committed to treat each child regardless of the family's ability to pay.
One of the beneficiaries of the Tebow Cure Hospital is 13-year-old Angel Boy Petes, who was born with a clubfoot. His father passed away in 2012 while his mother is working overseas as a nanny.
His grandmother Deborah Petes, 68, takes care of him and his four other siblings. They live in Pangantucan, Bukidnon.
“Nangayo mi ug bulig sa kay ma'am Ruth sa DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) nga tabangan ko niya maoperahan ni si Angel Boy (I asked for help from Ma'am Ruth of DSWD to help me in Angel Boy's treatment),” she said.
Petes said she also asked DSWD to help her get support for the operation of Angel Boy's imperforate anus.
Ruth first found the need for medical help for the young boy's operation for his club foot.
She said the boy's father was working hard to get treatment for his son's conditions but died due to an accident before he could save enough money for the treatment of his son. Hence, the family sought help from DSWD.
Petes said the treatment they received at Tebow Cure Hospital was fully covered. Angel Boy underwent surgery for his clubfoot last April 25, 2017.
Elisha Grace Leduna, 10, is also another child who received treatment at the Tebow Cure Hospital.
Arnel Leduna, 31, Elisha's uncle, said she had a dislocated elbow when she was only three years old.
Leduna said they were able to treat Elisha's elbow back then. However, Elisha again broke the same arm twice, when she was four and when she was five, due to accidents.
“Three times siya na dislocate. Gi-suggest man na by teenage nalang icorrect though makit-an gyud nasingkaw gyud ang kamot (Her arm was dislocated thrice. Then it was suggested that we correct her arm when she reaches her teenage years though you can see that her arm has deformed),” said Leduna, who helps in taking care of Elisha after her mother, a single parent, passed away in 2014.
Leduna said they notice Tebow Cure Hospital every time they pass by J.P. Laurel Avenue on their way home.
“Kabalo mi naga-offer silaug charity services. Kami pud, kulang pud mi financially. Naa man sila free services and check-up during Thursdays, gi grab nakoang chance. Basin diay, basin makahelp sa amoa (We know that they offer charity services. We are also in need financially. The hospital has free services and check-up on Thursdays so I grabbed the chance. Maybe, just maybe they will be able to help us),” he said.
Leduna said they came to the hospital on a Thursday and went through the consultation process. He said they were well assisted during their visit as everything went smoothly.
“Eventually, gihulat namo karong summer na wala klase ang bata para moperahan siya (We just waited for the summer vacation when there are no classes to have her operation)," he said, adding that they also have a counterpart for the treatment of Elisha while the hospital took care of the rest.
Aside from the treatment, Tebow Cure Hospital also provides free clinic for physically-disabled children every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Our tagline here is 'healing changes everything,' because we believe we are not just healing them physically but we are healing them emotionally and spiritually,” Bitana said.
He added they also conduct mobile clinics to provide medical check-up and screening to kids with curable orthopedic cases in different areas. Children who are screened will then be scheduled for operations.
He said they have brought the mobile clinic to General Santos City, Buda, Calinan, and Sto. Tomas. They are also looking into bringing the mobile clinic to the cities of Cotabato, Mati, Tagum, and Panabo.
Bitana said they provide counseling for children and parents, too.
They also boldly share the Gospel to them but clarified that they do not force them to change their faith.
“We are also seeking for people, who have the hearts to help us fund the hospital and surgeries of the kids. Because we also want to be able to accommodate more kids. We want to see Filipinos helping fellow Filipinos,” Bitana said.
He said their partner NGOs also extend assistance to the patients of the hospital. Among their partners are Seeds of Dignity, Operation Blessing, Sacred Harvest, Compassion International, among others.
Tebow Cure Hospital, located along JP Laurel Ave., Lanang, Davao City is one of the hospitals of Cure International and is their first in Southeast Asia.
Other hospitals are located in Afghanistan, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, and Zambia.
Our readers who want extend help to the children seeking treatment at Tebow Cure Hospital you can contact them through this number, (082) 324-1791.
You can also email Bitana at vince.bitana@cureinternational.org
To know more about the hospital, login to www.tebowcure.org. You can also check on Angel Boy's and Elisha's recovery at Cure International's website (cure.org).