she cracks me up

while inspecting our fridge: "mom i have no more rice pudding, you have to buy some."

*****

while looking at our new coffee table: "what is this?"
me: "it's called a coffee table."
after 2 minutes, amori: "where is the coffee?"

*****

on our way out one morning: "mom i did not bring my keys and wallet."
my thought bubble: i didn't know you had one. LOL

*****

me: "that's Barney's tail, amori. do you have a tail too?"
amori: "no, i don't have a tail, i have a bum-bum."



and she's only almost-3! i blame it on Barney, Sesame Street, and Hi-5. LOL

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

this is a repost from my sister Sam's (Lucas' mommy) facebook page.

The phrase "Thank you" may not be enough to express our gratitude towards all of you.

It has been the most difficult 3 weeks of our lives; March 23 - April 16, 2009. Lucas had 5 attacks on the 2nd night after his operation at the recovery room. Each of those times, he had to be revived, his heart had to be massaged. He would lay still, and his heart would beat so slowly, almost to a halt. Your prayers for his recovery during his critical period helped Lucas survive this ordeal. He is fondly called "Lazarus" by his surgeon, Dr. Reynante Gamponia, as according to him, no kid would be able to survive what he went through at the recovery room. We stayed there for 5 days, another 10 at the ICU.

His attending physician Dra. Baby Leus, along with her team; Dra. Aurora Gamponia, Dr. Reynante Gamponia and Dra. Annabelle Corres are indeed instruments of God.All the fellows at the Philippine Heart Center, all Lucas' nurses have touched our family with the amount of genuine care and concern they have shown to Lucas.

You have helped me, Gene and Lucas surpass this difficult challenge in our lives. We are overwhelmed by the immense support given to us by our friends and relatives. As Gene and I look at Lucas, we will always remember each and every one of you who have helped lighten our burdens through your prayers and financial support.

God is good, for He has given us our son. God is good because we are blessed to have family and friends like you.

Thank you, and may God continually shower us with his grace. :)

Plan B

Lucas' doctors have gone ahead with Plan B. not really sure what it is in technical terms, but it involves a graft of some sort to regulate the blood flowing into his lungs (before the procedure, his lungs were drowning from too much blood. apparently it is a much simpler procedure, one that can be supported by the equipment in the Philippine Heart Center.

He was operated on yesterday, March 25th at 7am. He is still in the recovery room, hooked up to the heart and lung machine until his vital signs become 100% stable.

My mom told me that they have booked him in a Ward in the meantime, so that they can still qualify for medical aid. (Foundations and non-government organizations that give medical aid require patients to be in wards as opposed to semi-private rooms.) It works out fine though since Lucas will still be in the Intensive Care Unit for a few days anyway. According to my mom it was quite heartbreaking to see her grandson, pre-surgery, unable to get some sleep because he was in a room with 4 other patients (and of course we all know that in the Philippines, each patient has at least 2 or 3 family members at ALL times), and there was a TV in the room. now really, why can't people respect visiting hours - especially in a hospital that is for heart patients?

so anyway... that's where Lucas is at. please continue to pray for a speedy recovery so my sister can bring him home soon.

March 21, Big Sky Mind

We are still waiting to hear from the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne and the University of California, San Francisco but since it will be a private surgery, it will be costly. Lucas needs this operation at the soonest possible time so my sister, brother-in-law, and their friends have come up with a benefit jam session to raise money.

(We did get a reply from the Standford University Hospital but their cost estimate was a whopping $750,000 so the pediatric-cardiologist is looking for another hospital.)

If you are looking for somewhere to go on the 21ST OF MARCH, please please make your way to Big Sky Mind (New Manila, QC), and help us repair Lucas' broken heart.



I have no idea who these bands are but apparently the band Kjwan is mainstream. Take that plus the other bands and 2 drinks... it's well worth your P500. =)

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your prayers... but don't stop now! =)

are you there God? it's me, Pia

Lucas hasn't gotten better since my last post. last week he started wheezing so my sister brought him to the doctor. she said that it was a sign of heart failure, and that they need surgery as soon as possible. monday he was admitted in the Philippine Heart Center, and was being prepped for surgery on wednesday. after his cardiac catheterization procedure, his doctors tell my sister that their surgical plan will not work because what he needs is more complex than what they can provide.

WTF?!

you would think that they would have known that 2 months back when Lucas was diagnosed with Truncus Arteriosus.

or they would should have told my sister that Plan B is to look for a hospital outside of the Philippines.

to top off all this frustration, Lucas was referred to the royal children's hospital in melbourne. i emailed them and asked for the requirements, but got an "unfortunately we cannot accept overseas patients at this time".

so we're on a pressure cooker hunt for a hospital and a sponsor - Lucas needs this operation within a week or two.

so God, if you are online, this is me sending out an SOS. send my sister a miracle please.

a not-so-perfect little heart needs your prayers

My nephew Lucas was born on Nov. 6th with a rare congenital heart defect called Truncus Arteriosis.

Truncus Arteriosis

Normally there are two main blood vessels leaving the heart: the aorta carrying blood to the body and the pulmonary artery that branches immediately to carry blood to each lung.

Instead of having a separate pulmonary artery and aorta, each with their own three-leafed valves, a baby with truncus arteriosus has only one great blood vessel or trunk leaving the heart, which then branches into blood vessels that go to the lungs and the body.

This great vessel usually has one large valve which may have between two and five leaflets. Usually this great vessel sits over both the left and right ventricle. The upper portion of the wall between these two chambers is missing resulting in what is known as a ventricular septal defect (VSD). In rare cases, the ventricular septal defect is absent.

The pediatric cardiologists who are looking after him have recommended 2 surgeries to correct his heart: one when he is 6 months old, and an open-heart procedure when he is 4 years old.

We currently need to raise at least P400,000 for his first operation, which will be in 4 months' time. If you have any information on how to apply for medical aid, or how to get in touch with other pediatric cardiologists abroad for a sponsorship of some sort, or any info for that matter... it will be greatly appreciated.

More importantly, please keep Lucas in your prayers because every little helps. =)

praying for a christmas miracle

my one-month old nephew Lucas has been diagnosed with a heart condition. he has been seen by a pediatric cardiologist, and gone thru an echo-cardio test. it's not a hole in his heart as previously suspected, but the doctor says it may be that his heart walls are too thick. he will be seen and checked again by the pediatric cardiologist after christmas.

please keep him in your prayers this christmas.