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Junie’s Story

Jonecar (Junie) Ermino is a young lady seafarer from the Philippines. She was on a six-month contract as an Ordinary Seaman (OS) onboard a cruise ship.

In brief, one of Junie’s legs was crushed by a ship’s gangway platform and she spent one month and four days in QE2 hospital in Halifax. After four surgeries, she found refuge at an airport hotel awaiting her sister’s arrival who accompanied her during her repatriation back home four weeks later. Being far from home, she was out of money and with no place to stay. Junie sincerely acknowledges the moral, spiritual, and logistical support and emergency funding provided by the Mts Halifax and from the Philippine-Canadian community.

Junie personally recounted her story, which was first published in the Spring 2024 edition of the MtS Halifax Flying Angel newsletter (read here full story on page 10).

Subsequently, Junie’s story was published on page 21 of the Mission to Seafarers Flying Angel News (FAN), October 2024, Issue 43.

Seen in the photo is Junie with her sister Joyce and MtS volunteer Colm.

Latest communication from Junie —-

Hi there! This is me again, Junie (Jonecar Ermino). The last time I remembered writing about my experience was that I was still dependent on devices and still needed a wheelchair. It has been a year since my accident and now I can tell that time really goes by quickly. The legitimacy of what patients who have gone under surgery tells, that real challenges do begin on your post ops. It is because there will be no more nurses or doctors that will look after you. Only yourself.

When I was repatriated here in the Philippines, I guess that was the hardest part of my journey. Trying to move along in a house that I used to be in without any physical impairment. Those times, I felt like a burden to my family, specially my mom. I once provided for the. I just can’t accept the fact I was always in bed then to the hospital for my physical therapy. I kept on asking myself whether I’ll be able to walk again. I was not as optimistic as I was when in Canada. Most of the time I have some breakdowns. Traumatized by any moving objects that might get me pinned in even just a small moving object/device. Colleagues of mine kept asking me when I will come back. It’s easy to say “when I get better” but deep inside me just doesn’t know. Will I get better? Will I be able not to be so frightened that this kind of accident might happen again? I thought would be easy, but it has not been. There are days that I feel like I can do things again and then there’s PTSD coming back again. I have to deal with it repetitively. Even now, thoughts like this continue to appear, although not as often as before.

It’s been a year. I can proudly say to myself that I was able to see pictures taken of my injured leg, pre ops. Yes! It took me a year to look at those pictures! I can truly say that it really was a nasty injury. It looked like slaughtered meat where you can see the raptured flesh. The things that I can only see on red meats whenever I’m cooking and the exposed bone. I can barely imagine that it was my leg. I can’t help it but when I first saw my leg, I felt sorry for myself. It made me became lucid about the thought that this is not a dream and definitely wasn’t a joke. That, things weren’t as easy as I thought. That this won’t be all sunshine and butterflies. More likely an unexpected rain storm or maybe clear blue sky, but you just can never be complacent about it changing anytime soon. The reality is that I can no longer bring my old leg back again. That, I have to deal with what I have now. And that is the only option that I have. Acceptance. That’s the only option that I have.

I have lost some of the spark in me. I can say that it is alright. And that what I felt and am feeling is valid.

After sessions of therapy and continuous check ups with the doctor, it has been decided that I can no longer go back to my previous job as an ordinary seaman. Not with this kind of condition. Things has been settled with my previous company, but the question is, what would be my next step? Will I settle for this? It has only been 2 years since I started my career. I have seen improvements with my mobility but still hasn’t reached it’s fullest capacity. Dorsiflexion of my ankle still has restrictions due to the screws that blocks it. During my first sessions of therapy here in my hometown, it felt like I was a little child again. People around were excited to see my first step and so was I. The unexplainable joy that I felt when I was finally able to see again my first dorsiflexion. When I was able to move my big toe again. My first step without lifting my leg. But just like a child who just learned how to walk, I also have this fear of stumbling to my feet. Every step was made cautiously. That there’s no room for any mistake. It took me 8 months to finally walk just with my bare feet.

If I will be asked about going back to seafaring again, maybe the only answer that I can give is, I will forever be in love with my career; with the astonishing scenerie. With the calmand rough sea; with the blue or cloudy sky; with the cultural disparities; with the adrenaline whenever you’re steering the wheel with lives of thousand people lies in your hand and made through it. With the exchanging of thoughts with your superior or colleague whether who’s right. With the chance of seeing Arctic fauna. These are the things that I will long for. This experience really did change me, good and bad. Well, life really is a harsh teacher sometimes. So, either you cherish every teaching or just mope around and tell how unlucky you are. Either way, time will still be ticking and life must go on.

So, it is really just a matter choice. So once again, this is Junie and this is my story.