Meet Rizza

As it did for thousands of families in central Philippines, Typhoon Haiyan descended with a fury into the world of eleven-year- old Rizza. Rizza lived in Leyte with her mother, father, and seven sisters and brothers. Just the day before Haiyan hit land, Rizza’s mother gave birth to another child so Rizza went to stay with her aunt and uncle. While there the typhoon spent its fury on the islands of the Philippines causing the house where Rizza was staying to collapse, trapping her under debris for hours. She was rescued, but not before the storm badly fractured her leg and claimed the life of her father.  MTI volunteer paramedics, Ian Yokum and Robert Petracca found Rizza. Using contacts they had developed while treating victims of the storm, Ian and Robert were able to secure private helicopter transport to Cebu, arrange an orthopedic surgeon to treat Rizza for free and then personally monitored Rizza’s condition as she was transported to safety. After exchanging information with the medical staff, Ian and Robert went to Rizza’s bedside reassuring her that she was now in good hands. “She didn’t say anything, she didn’t have to, the worried look went away and was replaced with a look of relief.”