A prayer for Erin
By Sonny PasimioInquirerLast updated 02:23am (Mla time) 08/12/2006
Published on Page A11 of the August 12, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
I SIT in bed tonight, watching Ria and our 2-month-old daughter Erin sleep side by side. Only a few things in the world are as breathtaking as this. It’s still the biggest thrill for me: watching my two girls huddled close together in their matching blankets. In a few hours, our roles will be reversed. They will lie awake for their feeding session, while I try to catch some sleep under the sheets.
We spent the whole day today at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital, where our little Erin had to go through a HIDA scan to rule out biliary atresia (BA), a condition where the bile ducts don’t function and so bile is not flushed out of the body. It is a serious and life-threatening condition, to say the least. The only way to “cure” it is via the KASAI procedure, where the ducts are bypassed and the liver is connected directly to the small intestines. I put “cure” between quotation marks because the procedure provides transitory relief rather than the solution. It prevents further damage to the liver. It buys us a bit more time to raise funds and find a matching liver donor.
Well, the ruling out didn’t happen. The good news is there wasn’t any “ruling in” either -- not yet. All that we know now is that there is indeed an obstruction in Erin’s ducts that prevents the bile from flowing out. Whether it’s biliary atresia or not, our little angel will have to undergo surgery right away.
I don’t know how I can begin to measure the pain that my wife and I are feeling at the moment. Imagining our daughter, a fragile infant, going under the knife is just unthinkable. Every night, we spend countless minutes chasing down that last mosquito in the room just to make sure it doesn’t bite our baby. Ria becomes completely oblivious of our tight monthly budget by letting the air-conditioning unit run 24 hours just so Erin doesn’t get rashes. Unthinkable. But we know that with God’s blessing, we will survive this pain, and maybe emerge from it stronger.
We are a ball of mixed emotions right now. We bounce from fear to pain, to sorrow, to guilt, to denial and then to fear again. In spite of this, we are sustained by hope. Somehow, we know that the Lord will lead us gently through it all.
After the initial “why us?” (biliary artesia strikes one in every 15,000 live births), we began to persuade ourselves that there must be a reason why the Lord allowed this to happen. Beneath the fear and anxiety, we feel humbled, knowing that Erin has been singled out by God to serve a greater cause. Yes, our baby must be truly special.
At her very young age, Erin has already touched hundreds of lives, and she continues to do so by the minute. Text messages have been pouring nonstop from friends, acquaintances and even strangers, rallying around this little infant and cheering her on. Our families have never been closer and more united in prayer. Petty differences are, all of a sudden, forgotten and, more importantly, forgiven.
Even the doctors treating her, who I assume are trained not to show emotion, never fail to be touched by her smile and by her innocent stare, and they walk away with softer hearts.
Our officemates have bonded together, doing their best to pitch in and support us in every way possible. They have started a “Livestrong Erin” movement to raise funds for our little one.
The following link will take you to INQ7.net for the FULL article.----------i read this in one of my e-groups, i hope you will also be moved by it and take the time to support this cause either by ...buying Baller IDs (this may be picked up at Nestle office in Rockwell or Powerplant Mall)...posting it in your respective blogs...emailing it to friends...telling someone about it...or get creative! i'm sure you can find some way to help. Üfor Fundraising...you may want to get in touch with the following people...Jay Paredes (0917) 5300041Mark Francisco (0920) 9046432Hope Namoca (0920) 9241279Roderick Labanguis (0917) 8735386"Never doubt that a group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead
kagabi, bumaba si charlie sa sala kung saan nanonood kami ni noel ng veronica mars habang nag-uusap. hindi ko malaman kung bakit siya tumatambay kasama namin. madalas naman umaakyat siya agad dahil gabi na at kailangan niyang matulog dahil kung hindi, siguradong mapapagalitan siya. maya-maya, bumaba na si daddy. daddy: nasabi mo na ba sa ate mo?charlie: hindi pa.cla: ang ano? daddy: kung pwede mo siyang ihatid sa saturday...cla: bakit? ano meron?charlie: wala. e kung pupunta ako.cla: saan nga?!daddy: kasi may soiree sila sa saturdaynoel: yihee!(sa mga panahong ito, medyo naiinis na nahihiya si charlie)cla: saan ba?charlie: sa bahay ng kaklase ko.cla: saan nga?charlie: wait. kunin ko yung directory.daddy: so ok na kayo ha?cla: somebody's going to lose the pustahan... (excuse my taglish.Ü)noel: wow, charlie may soiree kayo! gusto mo bihisan ka namin?charlie: ayoko nga. cla: yihee...girls!charlie: hindi maglalaro lang kami ng classmate ko.noel: charlie, kaya nga may soiree para matutunan mo mag-interact with girls.charlie: eeeehhhhh...cla: i'm sure maiinis ang mga girls kapag ganyan. noel: dapat sumali ka. meron mga seven minutes in heaven...sa puntong ito isa lang ang paulit-ulit sa utak ko...seven minutes...seven minutes...seven minutes... lekat! sinong ka-seven minutes ni noel?! ok, ok! hindi pa kami magkakakilala nun pero wala lang. syempre, gusto...wait! scratch that! kailangan! kong malaman. AND the bigger question is...ano ba nangyayari sa ganun? syet. di pa ako nakaranas sa tanang buhay ko makipag-soiree (btw, ang basa ko dati sa salitang ito ay soy-ri). i am so deprived. blame it on the nuns! kaya pala ako nagkaganito...sabik! huhuhu. my little brother is growing up! bINata na siya! hanggang ngayon, iniisip ko pa rin bata siya. ang bilis talaga ng panahon. at least may mga times when i can still pretend na little boy pa rin siya. tulad kapag nagpapasama siya sa kwarto niya para matulog. mana sa ate, takot sa dilim at sa pag-iisa. Ü
Rules:This is simple. Just:1. Emphasize all lines that apply to you.2. Tag five more people after you finish, complete with links to their sites.3. Let the person you've tagged KNOW that they've been tagged, for Pete's sake.I wish I was a different ethnicity.I have an eating disorder.I'm short.I'm tall.I think I'm really attractive.I prefer winter over summer.I'm a geek.I'm a shopaholic. I'm reasonably intelligent. I'm attracted to girls.
I'm attracted to boys.
I like British accents.I smoke regularly.I drink regularly.I smoke socially.I drink socially.I get drunk easily.I do drugs.I will never date a bad kisser.I've lied to avoid kissing them again.I brush my hair at least 50 times a night.I'm religious.I'm not religious but have morals. I lie frequently.I'm impulsive.
I'm hardworking.
I liked "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind"."She's All That" is one of my favourite movies.I'm good at History.I speak more than two languages.I enjoy taking pictures.I like spending money on myself.I like spending money on others.
I have a regular income.
I earn money on a job-by-job basis.I pay my own bills.I rely on my parents for money.I can cook.I enjoy cleaning. Tidyness is a must in my life.I like clutter.My idea of good music is Britney Spears.I have heard of Blonde Redhead.I enjoy Blonde Redhead.I'm fashion-conscious.
I have good taste.People tell me I have good taste.I excel academically. I'm told I have yet to fulfill my potential.I'm good at sports.I'm good at certain sports.I couldn't do sports to save my life.I'm creative.
I'm artistically inclined. I wanna be an artist when I grow up.I wanna be an engineer when I grow up.I eat when I'm upset.I cannot adapt to change.I'm interested in politics.I have shoplifted.I download MP3s.I've done underage drinking.I've gone underage clubbing.I can dance reasonably well.I can dance extremely well.I dance like a cardboard gorilla.I can sing.I sing like someone stepped on my foot.I can swim.I enjoy surveys.I enjoy surveys when I'm bored.I keep a journal. My teachers don't like me.I enjoy controversy.
I can be a bitch/bastard.I have a thing for bad boys/girls. I have tattoos.I've been in a nudist colony.I'm not sure if I want to have children.I'm not sure if I'll get married.I know who I will marry. I'm interesting.I'm a good liar.People enjoy talking to me.
I annoy people from time to time. I'm a born leader.I'm a born leader but shouldn't lead.I enjoy felching.I have a foot fetish.I have a shoe fetish. I watch "Sex and the City".I don't think Sarah Jessica Parker is pretty.I wanna be J.Lo.I cut myself.I've cut myself.I hate people who pretend to be suicidal.
I hate popular people.
I think cheerleading is a sport.I'm photogenic.I live in Chucks.I think graffiti is art.
I have dated a criminal.I have been cheated on.I have cheated on someone. I have a temper.I like playgrounds.I dance in the rain.I'm obsessed with Shakespeare.I have tanlines.My favourite color is pink.My favourite color is black. I would classify myself as emo. I'm musically inclined.
I like listening to music.
I like music-blasting cars.Thongs are comfortable.I like flip-flops.I know what monogamy is......and I believe in it.I wanna be a social worker when I grow up.I have sibling/s.
My sibling/s annoy me.
I think "South Park" is funny.I believe in LOVE.Tag! YOU are it! > > > Kuya Albert,
Ava,
Ate Kams,
Les,
Chris B
pasaway na naman ako. lagi na naman akong late. well, lately pala once a week nalalate ako. consistent ako sa pagiging inconsistent. hehe. ang labo.
at dahil wala ngayon si... makakapagblog ako. Ü
sa office...
...wala pa rin akong mahanap na kapalit!!! waaaahhh!!! baka may kakilala kayo diyan na gusto magmarketing for an IT company. email your resumes to me at clarisse@acapacific.com.ph. sige na please.
...malapit na month-end! 18% pa lang ako ng quota ko. huhuhu. kailangan talaga makahabol ako, if not this month next month. kailangan kong maabot ang quarter quota para maka-avail ng triple-your-salary incentive. syet. sayang din yun. pwede na akong bumili ng phone, kotse, bahay at lupa. haha. joke. asa pa. sana na lang totohanin ang pangakong cebu trip for two. langya. kinarir ko pa naman yun.
...aalis na si clark papuntang dubai. kahapon pinapasok yun kapalit nya. natakot ata sa mga gurls. haha. hindi pumasok today. loko-loko kse itong mga ito e. na culture shock ata sa first day. hehe.
sa bahay...
...last weekend nag-away kami ng nanay ko. and for a time di kami nag-usap. mababaw na may pinag-ugatan na mas malalim. pero ok na ata kami ngayon. di na pinag-usapan. pero ganun naman sa amin ever since e. hindi pinag-uusapan ang mga pinag-aawayan. kaya ayan, balik ng balik. plus, pare-pareho kaming stubborn (ipinamana ito. Ü) kaya kahit pag-usapan...walang nangyayari.
...may problema ata si... pero di naman siya nagsasabi. ayoko naman mangulit. pero as of last night, mukhang ok naman siya.
... nabangga ni con yun kotseng puti. ewan ko ba. ipapagawa daw ni daddy. e sa tingin ko, mas marami pang ginastos sa pagmamaintain nun. siguro kaya din ayaw i-let go kasi ito ang first na kotse na binili ng tatay ko. yun pinaka-una nya kasing kotse bigay ng lolo at lola ko nung nakapagtapos siya ng pagdodoktor. heehee. naiimagine ko na si daddy...cruisin' sa bulubundukin ng cagayan at isabela. haha. ang weird.
...si kat, e di ayun. asa dorm. haha. communication thru text. sabi na nga ba sa globe...lahat possible. hehe. pano kaya namin ililipat yung computer sa dorm. sana lang gumagana at baka masayang ang pagod namin.
...si charlie, nagyayaya manood ng click. baka manood kami sa saturday. that is kung payagan siya ni ma. hehe.
sa buhay pag-ibig...
...e di masaya. hehe. lately napapadalas ang pagsama namin kila papu at yeg. haha. mas madalas ko pa sila makita kaysa kay chi. hehe.
...binigyan ko siya ng 2 book ng sudoku. haha. kakainis. isa pa lang ang natatapos kong set. yung kagabi na sinimulan ko, di ko na tinapos. lekat. ang hirap. ang utak ko talaga di pang-math. buti pa si babuy.
sa kung anu-anong bagay...
...sa wakas! nakabilia ako ng flats! hehe. medyo mahal nga lang dahil sa charles and keith pero super cute. hehe. at pink siya. yehey! oh, at kaya nga pala ako gumaling sa sakit (lalagnatin yata ako nung monday) dahil dito. hehe. shopping is the cure for everything...almost!
...may hinihintay akong pink na bag naman na binili ko c/o papu. yehey. terno!
...napansin ko mas hindi ako stressed ngayon kasi hindi ko na iniisip ang trabaho kapag nakalabas nako ng office. hehe. yun lang pala yun.
...malapit na umalis si brendy girl. :( at di ko pa rin alam kung may overnight or dinner ba kami. busy kasi ang mga tao.
...malapit na kami magkita nila ju, leah at jonats. ang mga kaibigan ko sa dako pa roon!
...nakita ko si bonita sa diyaryo today. may supplement kasi tungkol sa 8th anniv ng bbdo. e sa proximity na siya nagtratrabaho ngayon. sister company ata ng bbdo. hindi ako sure. hehe. anyway, nakita ko rin yung ad na inayos namin nung time na nagtratrabaho pa ako sa NGO. ang daming awards na nakuha ng bbdo para dun. kaya congrats! Ü job well done! nakakamiss tuloy ang mga meeting at shooting. hehe.
...si pj, theater actress na talaga. hehe. napanood namin siya nung isang gabi. galing! kasama ko pala manood si con, kat, noel at mga pinsan/tita (anabee, vanessa, rona). ang saya!
first anniversary ko sa job ko today! woohoo! i survived! kakainis. may nakaalala. manlilibre tuloy ako. hehehe.
I SIT in bed tonight, watching Ria and our 2-month-old daughter Erin sleep side by side. Only a few things in the world are as breathtaking as this. It’s still the biggest thrill for me: watching my two girls huddled close together in their matching blankets. In a few hours, our roles will be reversed. They will lie awake for their feeding session, while I try to catch some sleep under the sheets.
Even the doctors treating her, who I assume are trained not to show emotion, never fail to be touched by her smile and by her innocent stare, and they walk away with softer hearts.
