Cool, Calm, Collected

18 September 2007. Are these what we really feel? Or what we are trying to feel? I guess it’s more of the former than the latter.

Two days back, Dr. Jeannie Ong, Yam’s pediatrician in Davao, briefed us on Yam’s bone marrow aspirate analysis. It was negative for blasts, the immature blood cells that can rapidly multiply to a leukemia level. But her bone marrow remained hypo-cellular, meaning it is not yet producing enough blood cells. The first was enough to allay our fears of a leukemia relapse – one that was not ruled out until this result came out.

This result was also sufficient to make us feel this way – cool, calm and collected. But are these not the feelings that aptly describe one who musters courage under stress and distress?

While Yam was at San Pedro Hospital, her energy level spiked up each time Kuya John visited her from his work in Polomolok. Upon our arrival at the airport, her eyes sparkled at the sight of her Kuya Joseph. Last night, she silently listened that her Kuya Joseph listed her as his dependent in his group health insurance and her hospitalization will be partly paid for by this. And when her Ate Janice arrived from school to pay her a visit and spend the night with her, her lips widened with a smile. She then rose up and bantered with her until they retired for the night.

Looking at all these, Mom and Dad just sat down, observed them do their thing, looked at each other, silently convinced why they felt this way.