READ: The hospital visit that changed the life of Solenn Heussaff
A week ago, Solenn Heussaff made public her visit to Marawi. Now follow her story on the day she went back to visit a hospital and how that certain moment changed her life.
Solenn Heussaff shares her story with the heroes of Marawi
According to Solenn, her first visit gave her a restless night. Her mind wandered with the questions about pain and suffering of our soldiers and led her to research about PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
She wrote, “Many of our heroes have to live with this condition. Even if they look “normal” on the outside, on the inside, they are bearing invisible, painful wounds. For some, therapy can help in overcoming PTSD. I am no doctor, but from personal experience, I find that talking does a great deal of good to the mind. So on July 21, I decided to visit our soldiers again, to keep them company and also because I promised that we would see each other again.”
On her second visit, Solenn came in with a group of her closest friends and she had an inner battle of gladness and being a coward.
She explained, “When we arrived, it was so heartwarming to see their familiar faces again. It was also a relief to find slight improvements in their condition. But this didn’t keep me from literally breaking down right in front of them… and I felt so embarrassed by this. So many people in that hospital deserved to cry, but I definitely wasn’t one of them. While I was wiping my tears, feeling so overwhelmed by what I was seeing, one of the soldiers told me he just went through an eye surgery and that he had lost his eyesight completely. I was at a loss for words. How could life be so unfair? I can’t and don’t even want to imagine how living in darkness would be like, but this is now his reality."
After that moment, Solenn discovered how her short trips to Marawi forever changed her ideals in life. She also lauded the courage of these soldiers who continue to risk their lives in order to instill peace in the country.
“I want to tell you how in just two short visits, these men have changed my life completely. And to think that there are many others out there whom I haven’t met yet. I can’t help but think that if only more of us had the character of these heroes, the world would be a much better place. If only we were less selfish, less hateful, and more grateful and more persevering. When I decided to meet them, I thought that I would be the one to lift up their morale. Instead, they were the ones who gave me a completely new perspective in life.”
Solenn added, “I strongly believe they should be acknowledged, not just because they are doing their job as soldiers, but because they are one of us. They are your neighbor, your ka-tropa, your brother, your father, your friend. They are hardworking people who have given so much into what they do—literally, their blood, sweat, and tears.”
See more of Solenn's visit her website, Solenn.ph.