Interview w/ Pamela Rapiñan

Pamela Rapiñan, a Massage Therapist in WA, was cooking at home one day when suddenly she became unconscious. When she awoke, she had burns all over her body. She had no health insurance and did not qualify for Medicaid. Her friends reached out to Massage Without Borders, and we set up a way for people to donate to Pamela's medical fund. Approximately $2200 was raised in about a month. We contacted Pamela to see how she is recovering and how she felt about her situation and the help that was given, and here is what she had to say...

How did you learn about Massage Without Borders and why did you reach out to MWB for help?

"Barbara Heard and Collette Wilson contacted Gloria [and told her about my situtation, asking if there was anything MWB could do to help. Gloria reached out and MWB set up a way for people to donate money to me via the Adopt an MT campaign]."

What kind of assistance were you looking for? What kind of assistance were you given through MWB?

"I was not looking for anything specifically, but I found prayers and words of kindness from all over the world, and amazing kindness from Anatomy in Motion who also helped MWB raise funds too. [Approximately] $2200 was raised."

How has the assistance you received from MWB impacted your life?

"It restored my faith in good things; I would have never been able to pay any bills [without the assistance from MWB]...I make too much income for state assistance and have not worked since the accident."

What has your experience made you most thankful for?

"I am most thankful for friends and random acts of kindness from fellow massage therapists."

Do you think Massage Without Borders is a valuable resource for our comunity? Why?

"Yes! Gloria was phenomenal, and MWB (Along with Anatomy in Motion) really stepped up when my friends and family could not. I am very grateful for all of you!"

Have you become a volunteer or plan to in the future?
"I don't plan to currently, but I will give back to those around me in the form of healing through massage."

Anything else to add?

"The detox off pain meds has been really awful and the continued support in prayer and kind words from my new friends all around the world has been so amazing during my healing! You really find out in crisis who your real friends are and I am forever grateful for the ones who gave tremendous time and energy at home helping me as I recover!

I still haven't figured out why the universe wanted me to go through this life lesson and am fighting hard daily to get back to 'Supersonic Pam' so I can continue helping people heal.

Be in the moment, choose happy, and notice beauty everyday and be thankful that you can."


Pamela after the burns in the hospital Pamela Now  

Interview w/ Julie Bunnell

   Many of you might remember Julie from our previous posts on our blog and on Facebook. Julie is a self-employed massage therapist who found out she needed emergency brain surgery after getting frequent migraines and seizures.
    Massage without Borders set up a fundraiser and raised approximately $8,000 towards her medical expenses. Julie's surgery went well and the tumor they biopsied came back benign. She missed two months of work but thanks to all the generous donations from everyone she now does not have the burden of debt weighing on her shoulders. Julie talked with us recently about her experience and how grateful she is for the kindness of strangers and all the help she was given through Massage Without Borders. Here's what she had to say:

  How did you learn about Massage Without Borders and why did you reach out to MWB for help?
"My good friend Robin Lawder actually reached out to MWB for me. We both knew Gloria [the executive director for Massage Without Borders] and Robin contacted her the same day I found out I needed emergency brain surgery. Right before I was moved from Liberal, Kansas to Wichita for surgery I was told that they had set-up a fundraiser for me [on GoFundMe.com]."

  What kind of assistance were you looking for and what were you given through MWB?
"I had no idea financially what monetary amount was needed, and I did not expect anything. What was amazing was the amount of strangers that were contributing money and reading all the well-wishes. It really made me reassess my own standards of generosity.I was blown away by all the support, and MWB raised [approx. $8,000] for me."

  How has the assistance you received from MWB impacted your life?
"Hugely; I received charity from local hospitals and family, but there were still bills...the assistance I received from Massage Without Borders helped me come out even, meaning I have no debt. All that I lost was time off of work. I had never had health problems before, so I didn't know what to expect financially [for medical costs]. Seeing the hospital bills was terrifying, but having the money in the bank to pay them took a huge load off."

  What has your experience made you most thankful for?
"I have lots to be thankful for! I am thankful for the generosity and kindness of strangers, for the donations and pages of comments that were all very humbling and moving to read, and of course I am thankful for being cancer-free and having my health...but most of all I am thankful for not being in debt. Thanks to MWB I don't have huge bills overhead or have to worry about declaring bankruptcy, which was a very real possibility."

  Do you think Massage Without Borders is a valuable resource for our community? Why?
Yes! We all [as massage therapists] understand what it is like to have no insurance and depend on every client for your income and the financial uncertainty that comes with that. Being able to ask for prayers or energy and to read all of these well-wishes, how can you not be affected positively? The connections are also valuable; to be able to reach a lot of people instantly as a community of support. When someone is in a scary time, [a resource like this] is pretty invaluable.


  Have you become a volunteer or plan to in the future?
"I definitely plan to become a volunteer, I just don't know where to start to be honest. I am trying to figure out how to volunteer my time from the middle of nowhere. Trying to figure out where I would fit [in the organization]. I want to volunteer; this all has definitely changed the way I donate and view generosity towards others. Recently I donated to Pamela Raven [another recipient of assistance from MWB] and I never would have expected to be able to be in a position where I could do that today if not for the help I received."


  Anything else you would like to add?
"Overall I have been more positive since it all happened. I have been so much more grateful, holding onto that feeling in the moment of "It'll all be okay", and that is an awesome moment."

Remember, you can volunteer from anywhere! There are many things you can do from your computer just by sharing our events and website. You can help with fundraising events or schedule a small one in your local town. You can get involved in whatever capacity works for you. Contact us for more details at vp2mwb@gmail.com!

2013 Humanitarian Award

Congratulations to MWB for winning the 2013 Aunty Margaret Humanitarian Award for their compassionate service to our colleagues!

James Waslaski presented the award to former 1st VP Kathy J Burley earlier this month.

Scholarship Announcement!

   All of us here at Massage Without Borders are happy to announce our first scholarship winners! Amanda Van Buskirk from Dayton School of Medical Massage in Ohio won a $1000 scholarship, and Theresa Hyman from Body Care School of the Healing Arts in New Mexico won a $500 scholarship. Both ladies also are receiving a student massage table package from Oakworks! Congratulations to both of you, may the scholarships lessen your financial burden as you embark on this journey to become wonderful, knowledgeable, healing bodyworkers! Enjoy everything your education has to offer you!

Theresa Hyman receiving her $500 check with her school director Veronica Hernandez

Special thanks to Oakworks, Massage Book, and Bon Vital for contributing to this scholarship mission, and also thank you to everyone who participated in the National Event raising funds so we can make these scholarship opportunities happen. :) We now have fall scholarships available! Interested in applying? Just head over to our website for more details and an application.

Call to Action: Pamela Raven, a fellow MT in need

   Pamela Raven is a massage therapist from Washington. Three weeks ago she was cooking at home when suddenly she fainted. Twenty minutes later she woke up to burns all over body. She now has to have extensive skin grafting done. As horrifying as this is, it could happen to any of us. Pamela does not have health insurance and does not qualify for Medicaid, so she has to rely on money out of her own pocket for all the expenses she is about to have, and the bills will be adding up quickly.

Pamela before accident doing pet therapy

Pamela post-accident

 

   

  
   Massage Without Borders is a newer 501(c)3 non-profit so we do not have funds readily available at this time to cover her expenses. However, we also do not want Pamela to have this heavy financial burden to deal with when she gets home from the hospital either, and will use what resources and opportunities we have to raise funds to help her. So we look to you, our volunteers and supporters, to help us by "adopting" this massage therapist. As we have said before, every penny counts, so whether you can spare $5 or $50, the relief and overwhelming joy that a person feels when they know they're community is stepping up to assist them is priceless. Take it from Julie Bunnell, the MT who needed emergency brain surgery a few months ago...MWB had so many amazing supporters who jumped in and total donations were approximately $8,000. We just received this letter from Julie a few days ago: 

"It is hard to sum up how big of an impact Massage Without Borders has had on my life. It is remarkable that a few people can network and raise thousands of dollars in a few days, but they did that and more. When you are sick and have hundreds of people rally around you financially, and hundreds more praying for you, it is impossible to not have your outlook on life shift; because of the tremendous moral support I received, I had a much easier recovery...and because of MWB, I will have a much quicker financial recovery from this unexpected ordeal as well.  It seems cliche to say that my faith in humanity has been affirmed, but that is the truth. I can never say enough thank you's to the people who donated to me--a perfect stranger. All I can say is that for the rest of my life I will follow their example. Thank you, all. Julie Bunnell, LMT"

   

   This is why we do what we do. This is why Massage Without Borders exists. Julie's words show us just how much of an impact you can have on someone you have never even met, and you can feel the gratitude coming from her letter. 

   If you are interested in adopting a MT in need and, more specifically, helping Pamela out financially as she recovers, you can donate directly via our website under Adopt an MT. Please write "Pamela Fund" in the comment section of your donation. Each of us may be one person, but we all know the power that can happen when we all come together. At the time I am writing this, we have approx $900 in donations, in just a couple days time, but as we know medical bills are expensive and we still have a ways to go. With just a few clicks on our website you can help us get closer to our goal, and most importantly give hope and light to someone who needs it. 

Events of June 2013

   We recently had the opportunity to attend the Florida State Therapeutic Massage Association conference and what a great weekend it turned out to be! Gloria and Kate met many amazing people, welcomed a few more volunteers to the team, and had a great inspiring time with FSTMA! $500 was raised for Massage Without Borders, and there was a basket of goodies valued at $1000 that was raffled off and won by new MT Crystal Bowman! Congratulations Crystal, what a great way to start your career with a basket of products from our awesome contributers Biotone, Anita Shannon of Ace Cupping, Ivy Joe Staton of Bamboo Fusion, Gloria Coppola and her lomilomi book, DVDs, CDs, textbooks and more!

Kate Hudak, Gloria Coppola, and Kaye Jackson Hughes at FSTMA

Linda Beach presenting Crystal with her basket!

   During this time we also had our Educational E-auction and Telethon, which raised approximately $2500! A huge thank you to all of our supporters and contributing educators; every one of you matters and without your support we wouldn't be where we are today! Not only did you invest yourself in Massage Without Borders, you also invested in products and knowledge to help you further your career and become a better practitioner...how great is that?

   ***Attention: Aside from all the successful fundraising, Massage Without Borders' Board of Directors also has some important news for our team of active volunteers. We are currently accepting applications for two Vice President positions, and are also accepting nominations for Regional Coordinators, Assistant Regional Coordinators, and a Team Leader. If you or someone you know has a passion for MWB, wants to motivate others while collaborating with the board on projects and events, and/or feels called to do more within the organization, please contact Executive Director Gloria Coppola at massagewithoutborders@gmail.com for more information on these positions and what is required. The board will be voting soon, so send over your resume today! From MWB to all of our supporters we send our love and gratitude each day, for so many of you have stepped up, stepped in, and come together to help out our fellow bodyworkers! 

Results of May Fundraising

   The past month has been a busy time for our volunteers. We had the Art E-Auction, which raised about $400, and the National Event which has raised $3,100 and we still have more coming in to add to the total! Thank you to all the volunteers, businesses, and schools who participated. I wish I could hug each one of you in person, but I guess virtual hugs will have to suffice for now, so a big (((HUG))) to all of you, and we look forward to collaborating with you on future projects. It is a great thing to see when we all come together to help each other through Massage Without Borders. Your support never goes unappreciated and your hard work never goes unnoticed. We love our volunteers and partners!

   Next event is our Educational E-Auction & Online Telethon from June 23rd to 30th! Bid on textbooks, DVDs, home study courses, and workshops. Educators interested in donating any of these materials to the auction can fill out an application on our website. Students and LMTs can help the community by fund raising, and in return get the products they need to expand their professional knowledge. The telethon will take place LIVE June 26th at 9:30pm EST co-hosted by Ryan Hoyme (aka "The Massage Nerd") and Gloria Coppola. Come chat with the educators, including Erik Dalton, Irene Diamond, Gloria Coppola, Linda Beach, Sharon Puszko and many more! Thank you to BioFreeze and MassagePro CE for sponsoring this event. Click here to join the event via Facebook, and mark it on your calendar now, because it's coming soon and you won't want to miss this great opportunity to connect with educators in the field! See you there!

   One more note: as stated in the last post, tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma, and after that post was published they had more go through the area and surrounding states. Although the assistance of MWB has not been needed for these disasters we still send our thoughts out to the families and relief crews out there working to recover and clean-up the aftermath. As of right now there are also wildfires blazing through California, Arizona, and the biggest one through Colorado. There has been many evacuations and we will keep everyone up to date with whatever action we need to take. Please keep all areas in your thoughts and prayers and send healing energy especially to Colorado as they fight this fire that has already consumed over 500 acres. Namaste.