Memento - A Picture Tells A Thousand Words

Life....Treasured

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Behind the Dark Clouds is the Silver Lining

Thankful. That was the first word that grazed my mind as I looked at the dark clouds at dusk yesterday. For the last 60 hours our family faced a crisis that we once stared right in the eye, a good 18 months ago. My mom got ill and needed 4 units of type AB + platelet to pump up what was a level critical for people more than 50 years. My mom was 65 and her blood type was more than "preciousssss" (pardon the pun, I wouldn't have been this relieved 24 hours ago).

For close to one day the search was in vain as friends, relatives and networks (Friendster was spared) were contacted in search for the blood - to no avail. At 6pm, while seated outside of the room desperately making phonecalls, my wife, received a prayer booklet from an utter stranger. She immediately gave the booklet to our mom, and it was the start of the miracle. That very moment, 2 donors walked in Makati Med and donated blood with blood type AB +. In 30 minutes and after we prayed the Angelus on top of the prayer on the booklet, the hospital blood bank called to say that 2 bags are ready for infusion the next day (pending screening).

The platelet count increased from 20,000 to 30,000 in 24 hours, and with the 2 units, was expected to increase further. 2 units down. 2 units to go.

The next day was less nail-biting, although one by one friends dispatched their contacts and each one failed to match the blood type needed. We knew in our hearts, God will not fail us as He continued to show us His control over our lives.

At 6 pm, 2 new bags were made available from Chinese General Hospital and this paved the way for recovery for Mama.

That moment, relayed to me over cellfone, was captured through this image I took after the great news. Behind every dark cloud is a silver lining. God was testing us and how we will band as a family and act in times of crisis. He wanted us to do everything as if everything depended on us, but in the end, it was still Him that took control.

God is good. All the time.

To all those who helped, one way or another, I borrow this line from a presidentiable - "Balang araw, (with raised hand and index finger pointing to the sky), balang araw....makakaganti rin ako sa inyo...."