Nine-year-old Penny was blind since birth.  She lives in Bagac, Bataan with her mother and eight siblings.  She is thin and frail with ankles about the same size as the cardboard ring of a toilet paper roll. Her mom taught her to read Braille.

The family had no food the day Operation Blessing visited their village. Penny’s mother Precy Aguisay said they can only afford to eat vegetables and ask for food from their neighbors.  Or sometimes get extra catch from a fisherman friend and sell it to support the family

Penny’s father left the family years ago because he was embarrassed of their blind child, Precy said, grieving.  But she’s thankful to the Lord that she has kept the family together despite no regular means of livelihood.

For weeks now since the day OB came, Penny has stopped playing the piano, her favorite activity at home. Blowing into the piano tube caused too much pain because of her nagging toothache.

Penny’s piano is not like most. In order for it to work, she has to blow into a yellow tube which is connected to the row of keys.  Penny’s airflow, combined with her fingers pressing the keys, creates the music that people stand around her house to hear.

But because medical attention for the children was not an option (all their money goes to buying food), Precy had to experiment with several remedies.

Penny would put toothpaste on her tooth for some relief. Or Precy would take a matchstick with cotton soaked in kerosene on the end of it, heat it over fire, then dab it on the affected area. This procedure only numbed the pain for a couple of hours.

At night when Penny couldn’t sleep because her tooth hurt, she would pray, “Jesus, can you take away the pain?”

The answer came on the day OB visited to give free dental and medical services. Penny was jumping for joy when she heard the news!

Her mother Precy was also very happy that her daughter could receive much needed medical attention.

Penny never heard of a dentist before but when OB came to Bagac, her tooth was finally extracted.  “I am happy,” she said. “Thank you, Jesus, because there is no more pain.”

Now, Penny can play her piano and share her gift of music without having to stop on account of pain.