WATCH ABOVE: A Montreal woman is speaking out on being the victim of a devastating hit and run, and leaving her family behind in the Philippines. Global’s Sarah Volstad reports.
MONTREAL – As her father was dying, Mailane Bituin promised him one thing.
“I promised my dad, before he passed away, he asked me that I should bring all my children here, no matter what,” she told Global News exclusively.
It’s a promise she was close to fulfilling.
Bituin left the Philippines alone in 2000 so she could earn enough money to support her family back home; her youngest son was only 3-years-old at the time.
She now works as a caregiver to the elderly at a home in Westmount.
As long as I have four hours sleep, I don’t mind,” she said.
“I know I need to save money, save money for the tickets, for my kids to come.”
Fifteen years after leaving her country, Bituin had almost realized her dream of giving her three children, and now two grandchildren, a better life.
But on June 25, the day Bituin received her permanent residency, she experienced a devastating setback.
“It was my day off, so I needed to check my bank account…because I need to send some money for my family,” she explained.
On her way to catch the bus, she reached a crosswalk on Fleet Road in Hampstead.
Cars stopped to let her pass, but as she stepped out, an impatient driver whipped into the vacant lane and struck her.
“I felt heavy in my chest. I couldn’t breathe. I saw my left leg was already swollen,” she said.
“I couldn’t move so I asked somebody to help me.”
She said a young Caucasian man got out of a green van, panicked at the sight of her injuries and then sped off.
Bystanders called the ambulance.
“I told my dad: please dad, give me more strength, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die,” said Bituin.
“I need to bring my children here because I need to keep my promise to you.”
The driver of the vehicle still hasn’t been identified, but police told Global News they’re looking into it.
“This case was transferred to the collision squad investigation team and it is currently under investigation,” said police spokesperson Daniel Lacoursière.
Bituin suffered three broken ribs, a damaged lung, a broken ankle and arm.
A month later, the pain is still unbearable.
“Sometimes I wish in the morning, I don’t want to wake up,” she said.
“I ask God to let me sleep until the pain’s gone, you know? Because every morning is like I’m dying.”
Beyond the pain, Bituin isn’t able to work – and her bills and debt continue to accumulate.
She has no family to rely on in Montreal; the Filipino community has come out to say they’re standing by her.
“I am here to support her, emotionally and spiritually,” said Josefa Nicolas, a member of the Federation of Filipino-Canadian Associations of Quebec.
Bituin is staying positive.
She said because she now has her permanent residency, her children can finally get the visas they need to come to Canada – a small step towards being reunited with her family once more.
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