Kalurka: New Beginnings

God never make mistakes. Shep Mark once told me that.

We had it all planned. October 14, 2010.
1. Go home to the celebrate Papa's 60th birthday here on earth and his 1st birthday in heaven.

2. Have a mini birthday party for teo with his cousins.

3. Launch our online store, Blue Closet at 7 pm.

4. Leave the next day via cebu pacific and go back to work.

Sounds like a plan? Well, the universe had another plan.

The first plan was executed well. :) Papas first birthday in heaven was a success. His friends and family visited his final resting place. The whole day went well and we ended the night lighting and flying the sky lanterns. Pretty site :)

The second and third plan did not push. My bro in law, kuya Allan was in a car accident October 12 and was in the hospital waiting tobbe operated on. He fractured his L leg and dislocated the other. My party planner and store manager, Achie, was preoccupied.

October 15 at 8 am, he went in for the long procedure and I went in with him.

Orthopedic procedures haven't been a favorite of mine.

I left when they started and went to the airport. I arrived exactly at 10 am for my 1040 flight and of course the ground staff refused to let me in. There were a number of us who arrived 5 minutes late and if you would have seen how tiny the airport strip is, you would have been frustrated too. We could see the plane from the counter!

I knew I was late so I wasnt really upset but when I heard the plane leave at 1010 I asked the girl how come the plan left 30 minutes earlier than departure time, she said that the one written on the ticket is just an estimated time and not the real time. And since the plane arrived early from Manila, it left Cauayan early.

Sigh. The answer was just too dumb and stupid that I didn't have the energy to argue. It was just like extracting water from stone. Pointless. Futile.

So I went home and planned to leave with Mama at 5 pm. Kuya Allan was still in the OR and I went to see him again.

It seemed okay. There was drilling, bones, blood, and loud surgeons. Just like a typical ortho surgical procedure that I know.

Oddly enough, we were delayed again and left late. We were traveling already when we got a call. Something had gone wrong and we had to go back.

My body felt cold and my heart was thumping the whole time. It felt like forever.

The hospital looked darker and gloomier than usual. I saw my sister crying and my heart was broken at the site of her. Kuya A and she have been a team and superduo for more than 20 years and I cannot imagine one without the other.

Kuya Allan arrested post op, was revived. His vitals was ok but he was not responding. At all. No reflexes. No nothing.

No one had answers. The pain was excruciating.

I tried to flush out grim thoughts in my head and fill my head with positive thoughts.

All I could think of was "this is not happening. Lord God".

Prayers and family was the only thing that was left of us. We had to be strong for each other. Then God enveloped us with His love and gave us a miracle.

Kuya slowly woke up. It was a nightmare that turned into a miracle. A gift from God. A gift of second chances.

It is still a long way from full recovery but now we are grateful... Thankful that we are on our way to full recovery ...

Thankful for the gift of life. The gift of smiles :)