A Thought of Gratefulness
Today marks the thirty days when the flash floods hit the city brought by the Typhoon Sendong that left many dead and thousands homeless. Me and my family even my relatives here in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro are just thankful that no life was lost but then we can’t help to feel sad for the friends and our friend’s families that were lost. Our heart cried out also for them.
Personally, the water inside my home was up to my knees only but if you will go outside of the house, the water is deeper. But I did not experienced that because it was only my mom and my nephew that was carried out. Me and my sister were the ones left trying to save things from the fast rushing water. It was a traumatic experience because it was past midnight and the electricity was off. There was not much place to put up our things so those heavy ones were left to the water to enjoy.
I thought that it was just an normal rain flood we at times experience at least once a year, although the color of the water and the mud makes me wonder, where did this water came from. Only to realize at 8 in the morning, when I walked to the hospital, that the mud that arrived in our place is not a city mud nor sea mud/sand but the sticky yellow mud was from the highlands. No wonder it was yellow. Had i not left the house that morning I would discover late that the hospital was flooded too and that some close friends were lost and some died. I have to relay the news to my mom slowly or she will also wail in anguish and have a heart attack.
That first day until the days later I was disoriented. I can remember I had palpitations whole day. My mind was in turmoil because we had a messy house, so many things destroyed, and my mom was weak. I was not even able to blog about it though I was quick to provide a bit of information in my Facebook wall. But I know that as a blogger, plus being an IBS who spearheaded the $1 for ILIGAN – should have blogged about it. But di kinaya ng powers. My mind was flooded and the blogging electricity was off. ^^
Monday came, the water was almost out in our area. Our floor was already clean yet the foams were not usable yet, my father came with a complain of pain on the upper right quadrant of her stomach. I bet it was really painful because he already begged for admission in the hospital.
Admission. Not a nice news especially when anytime, my mom could be admitted too. But God has been so good, He strengthened my mom and avoided admission since that time up to this writing. And am not praying either that she will be in one day soon or later.
Prognosis was very bad. Cancer. Three days later, he went for a Colonoscopy and three days later, we got the biopsy result. Confirmed. Cancer.
It feels like I was submerged in water again. I won’t go into details all that i’ve been thinking except for one. I told my mom that maybe I should resign from current work and go abroad to support a sick parent. That just flash in my mind so quick that I was able to speak out, too. Maybe I dunno what I was thinking but it was possible.
It’s been thirty days since December 17, and less than a month since it was confirmed my father got CA. But in spite of the heavy thought, am blessed to have friends who overwhelmed me with their love and concern. They shower us with their prayers and with their monetary help.
In behalf of my family, i’d like to say BIG THANKS to everyone especially the following:
Archelie & James Barber
Pinay Mommies Community (PMC) family
Novie Lou Abalde & Family
MMA Batch 1990
All Blogger Friends (all who texted, facebooked messages, left comments in my blog)
Iligan Bloggers Society Family
Mindanao Sanitarium and Hospital Family
Dr. Thelma Egarle
^^^^
To all of you — thank you thank you thank you.
Thanks for making me sane.
Thanks for making my family smile in spite of the adversities.
Flood is over yet I felt it’s the struggle is not yet over for my family. I dunno when it will end, but God knows what’s best. All we have to do is to live one day at a time. The homeless are still in evacuation centers and I don’t have any idea when they will be given a place to stay for good. I know that those who lost families are still grieving and I know it will take time for them to heal of the pain — but God is great and always good — one day soon, they can see the sunshine in full blast and makes the shadow disappear.
I always believe that God will not allow any suffering unto a person unless he or she can deal with it. So in whatever form the blessing is — in pain, in sorrow, or in happiness, we should always praise Him for His goodness.