Sixth Post - Caroline Gamboa-Vestuto

AUTOBIOGRAPHY
My name is Caroline Gamboa-Vestuto. I was born on Dec. 3, 1965 at Vermont Maternity Hospital in Manila, Philippines to Amelia Florendo Gamboa and the late Ramon Nepomuceno Gamboa. I am the eighth child out of ten children. When I was born, the attending physician, Dr. Macalino who was also the owner of the maternity hospital, my was having a hard time taking me out of my mother's womb and as a result, the doctor had to vacuum me out which was successful.

Three years later, I had to be taken to the hospital again and this time, my late cousin, Dr. Lolly Rabor had to take water out of my spinal cord to see what was wrong with me. She diagnosed me having encephalitis which is an acute infection and inflammation of the brain. While lying down on a hospital bed, I heard a Pelita Corales song that was playing on the radio and I was trying to sing, but I couldn't which made me tear down. After the late Dr. Lolly Rabor gave the diagnosis, Dr. Prado took over and prescribed phenobarbital, which I had taken until I was thirteen years old. As I have gotten older and my seizures lessened, I've decreased my medication intake until I finally stopped as suggested by the late Dr. Lolly Rabor.

Because of my childhood incident, my parents were overprotective of me and tried their hardest to protect me from any physical harm. As a youngster growing up, I was very fragile and sickly.When the weather got too hot, I started having convulsions. I remember when I was ten years old, I closed the door in our bedroom to take a nap and when I got up, to my surprise, my Ate Gaye and my other siblings were all around me.
They have told me that I had a seizure, but I was completely unaware of it,
which felt like I was just waking up from a nap naturally.

Because of my convulsions and sensitivity to hot weather, I was never allowed to go outside without an umbrella to avoid getting ill and the possibility of having seizures all over again. One day, when I was two years old, I stopped breathing for a few minutes. A priest was all ready there to pronounce me dead. However, Manang Lolly did not give up. She gave me CPR (Coronary Pulmonary Rescusitation) until I started breathing again.

Furthermore, after many years, my mother went to the United States to provide for a better living for her ten children since my father and mother were separated at this time. She went to the United States in 1977 with my youngest sibling, Greta, who was only seven years old at the time.

After five years, my older brother, Greg, went to the United States. A few
months later my two sisters, Amelita and Natalie and myself followed. We were all teenagers at the time (Amelita-19, Natalie-15 and I was 17 years old).

Both Natalie and I attended high school in Los Angeles. Moreover, few years thereafter, during one normal afternoon, I felt like crying all of a sudden without knowing why. The following day, I have learned that Manang Lolly passed away. Because of what Manang Lolly had done when I was a toddler, I, somehow, felt a strong connection with her even without having a contact with each other for so many years. During the time when I was very sickly, I had to be taken back to the hospital again. My mother took me a private room and took me in her arms and dedicated me to the Lord and saying, "Please, Lord, heal my daughter and she will serve you for as long as she lives."

As a family, we were very active in church. We have attended many different churches, but the one that I truly remember was First Baptist Church of Manila. I was a choir member and have attended Daily Vacation Bible School in which I became an honor student. When I came to the United States, I taught Sunday School at United Methodist Church of Los Feliz and was also a choir member along with my other siblings (Manong Nitoy, Natalie and Greta) which was under our mother who was both the organist and choir director.

We were members of UMCV of Los Feliz for many years until I met my husband, Nick. At the time, Nick was all ready living in Glendale for two (2) years in a small apartment and I joined him when we got married on November 18, 1989. In December 1992, we moved to Valencia and became members of the United Methodist Church of Valencia where we both sang in two (2) choirs: Chancel and Cornerstone and at the same time, I was attending Sacred Dance Group. Needless to say, we remained active members of UMCV for many years.

Although many special moments in my life made me what I am today, there were two very special moments that I will never forget: When Manang Lolly saved my life and when my mother prayed and dedicated me to the Lord. It is because of these moments that I find strength and courage to face any challenges that come my way. In addition, I am also very grateful to all of my brothers and sisters who took care of me when I was young and ill especially Ate Gaye who took over he family when our mother went to the United States. Due to our mother's perseverance and our late Auntie Lois' assistance and support, almost everyone of us are now living in United States, and in turn, it made me meet my husband, Nick Vestuto, Jr., who gave me a wonderful son, Nicky, who is now 12-years-old.

I am currently a preschool assistant teacher and presently attending college to get my degree in education. As a preschool assistant teacher, I feel like I am doing what God has called me to do: To serve God by educating young children. Through my family's love, encouragement and support, I am doing what I love the most which is truly an amazing experience!