The good Lord took back into
His wings and protection a little angel yesterday. An Angel He
has lent to us for a few days --- to hold, to love and to have
memories of we will cherish for the rest of our days.
Her name is Therese and she’s
my goddaughter --- my first goddaughter amongst the many nieces and
nephews in my father’s side of the family.
I have not seen or held her
but I treasured her existence months before she was even born.
She was introduced to me excitedly by her mother, who after years of
trying and hoping to have a little baby to be sister to her little
boy, finally had her wish granted. She was only 2 months old,
lazily floating inside her mother’s womb, and scientifically
speaking, has not achieved full human form yet. Yet the news of
her traveled far, and I was most honored to be one of the first to
know, a person her mother knows share the dream of her to be an added
bundle of joy to their little family.
Her parents are two good
people. Her father, an older cousin, was almost a brother who
in his bachelor days, would take me shopping. Ironically, I am
now closer to his wife, who is only my in law but her simple,
amenable and thoughtful character endeared herself to me. They
are both beautiful persons, inside and out who work hard for their
family and their loved ones.
Once Therese became a moving
person inside her belly, she asked me to be her “KUMARE” and I
readily accepted. It was an expected invitation and I would
have been disappointed if she did not offer one. I was to be
her daughter’s second mother, and I happily stepped into that role.
A few months after, Manang,
my cousin in law, asked me to come for the christening. I tried
to rearrange my schedule around that too. I was glad that she had an
uncomplicated delivery, and because of her age and difficult
conception, it was a granted blessing. I embraced her
enthusiasm over her family’s new gift and I appreciated her efforts
to share their happiness to me and my family.
After a few days,
however, she texted me one sad news. Therese developed an
infection and was brought back to the hospital. She was not
able to defecate for a few days and this alarmed her doctors.
It was an unexpected development and a most unwelcome one.
Manang was devastated. She was only given a few days to care
for her little girl --- to feed and burp her, to bathe and clothe
her, to lull her to sleep. Only a few precious days then she
was again confined inside the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit to be
cared for by other people not of her relation.
We fervently prayed and asked
for others to offer prayers for little Therese too. We hoped
against hope that all will be well. But her condition worsened
and went downhill from that point on. She was subjected to a
major operation and a colostomy was made for her to be able to
defecate. She bravely endured the procedures and with barely a
whimper, suffered through pricks and suctioning, and all maneuvers
necessary for her betterment. She persisted and showed such
endurance that her parents can only cry for her frail little body
that goes through so much day after day. In their stillness,
they grieved. They believed and surrendered to God’s will
everything that is Therese --- to decide, to give and to take.
Manang never forgot to update
me. Despite my being islands away and unable to do anything
physically for them, I was her ‘kumare’, her daughter’s second
mother, and her ally in all of these. My cousin, Manong, was
already home to be with her and that assured me that her burdens and
suffering is shared by her husband who is at her side.
She texted me one last time
yesterday morning to tell me that Therese has passed away, to be with
her Creator. A God fearing and God loving person, she was
comforted with the knowledge that her baby now lives among the angels
and will always have happiness in the gardens of the Lord. In
that special place, her little one will not know discomfort or pain.
I know that it will take many
more days and months and years for them to be totally happy again.
Manang will have many nights with dreams of her precious Therese and
many daydreams filled with what ifs of her lost angel. I
believe that The Lord provides and the Lord is ever merciful.
Manang will smile again --- for one and many things.
