Pitches thanks you!

For all of you friends out there who have been so supportive regarding Pitches, thanks for your assuring response! We now have a 'Pitches Fund' blog. Go there to get full updates and details: http://childsfund.blogspot.com

God Bless you!

This is Metro Manila. The middle is a popular mode of transport called the 'Jeepney'. A great deal of personality. 

Love in the open hand

'Psychologists tell us that is a hard thing to do - to put your love in the open hand and hold it out to someone. When you put love in the open hand you're vulnerable. The other person can reject it. He can say 'I don't want it' and that is a very hurting thing. Most of us keep our love clenched in our fist and we hide our fist behind our back. We don't want to take the risk of offering naked love in the open hand.' -- excert from 'The Mustard Seed' Reflections for Daily Living by Joseph A. Galdon S.J.

Blowing a kiss

We take so many things for granted. Blowing a kiss to a loved one, blowing a candle on our birthdays. Studies have shown that we speak anything between 15000 to 30000 words a day. But we function so well that we dont have to focus on the intricatemovements of our vocal faculties. Every verb, nouwn, vowel, sound pitch happens without much thought.

And those those without, those who can't, can only imagine. Not just the hearing impaired or speech impaired. But also the starving, the old the stroke survivor. Can we even utter a simple one syllable word through parched lips? Sore throats.. the mouth moves but words emerge, only whispers. Great effor painful, still... no verbal communication.

We don't need catastrophes to remind ourselves that we are indeed blessed. With or without speech hearing sight. We are blessed because we can choose to transcend over and above our own problems. And reaching out to other. We dont need to talk about love. Love is action.

This is Pitches, taken recently before she was admited to the hospital. At home, there is no care-giver for her
 

Can anyone help with this child?

One of the mercy work case is of a 10 year old little girl called 'Piches'. She is suffering from a condition called encephalitis, and is now almost vegetative. and the hospital they have sent her is a small, poor hospital. If a drip is needed, the family of the patient has to go out of the hospital and buy it, bring it back and the nurses can then do the job. It's not too clean either. Anyways, the doctors say that there isnt much they can do with her condition. I wonder if it is because it is beyond their capacity or is it incurable.

In terms of knowing what to do. sending her home is a problem also since no one is there to take proper care of her, both parents need to work and there are other smaller children around. Leaving her at the hospital also doesnt look like much improvement.

Is there a doctor out there who can decifer the situation?

Or someone who would like to contribute? Every dollar goes a long long way to help this child and her family.

I will post photos of Piches when i get them.

More information about this condition:http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections
/bacterial_viral/encephalitis.html

Easter BBQ 

How would I want to go?

In a simple coffin, one man laid to rest. Millions standing for the impossible task of getting one last glimpse. Warm tears flowed freely. Even weeks before the allnight vigils, the mass emails and sms messages on the cell phone prepared us for the eventual. But did it?

When the pall bearers walked him back in and made a last roundabout turn for the people, that was really the absolute last time, an ordinary person would see him. More tears flowed. People waved. Applauded. One last standing ovation for the man they loved so much.

How many events in the world would we ever see dignitries, kings and queens, presidents and prime ministers and hundreds of other representatives from around the world congregate at one place. Sharing a sign of peace. Putting aside their differences to honour one man.

"We can be sure that our beloved pope is standing today at the window of the Father's house, that he sees us and blesses us," Cardinal Ratzinger (who celebrated the mass) added, pointing to the window where John Paul made his final public appearance.

So how do I want to go? Quietly. Hoping that I have done my best in everything that was given to me. Happily. Knowing that I will not only be seeing kings and queens, but going to be with the King of Kings. And finally, if there is one last breath left... with an 'Amen'.

Once a great man said

In His last words, He said "it is finished"...
Pope John Paul signaled the end of his life with the last word 'Amen'...

How beautifully simple. A simple word for a simply wonderful man. 'Amen'. Means 'Let it be so'. Amen Amen Amen.