Last December 19, 2015 (Saturday in the 3rd Week in Advent), the Gospel reading was about the story of the annuoncement of the birth of John the Baptist. After the Angel Gabriel told him of the good news, Zechariah, for some reason or another, did not believe the angel's words. Hence, Gabriel told him: [...]
I admit that 2015 was not a very good year for me. It has been a struggle emotionally. However, there are still good memories and I will cherish them despite the fact that those good memories nearly have an associated bad memory. For now, I wish to refrain from publicly sharing what the details of [...]
Since September, Christmas carols have started playing on the radio stations, the speakers inside supermarkets and shopping malls, fast-food outlets, and almost any other place. Everyone started getting into the Christmas spirit with people beginning to buy the gifts they would be giving out, thinking of the parties, planning the holiday vacations or staycations, and [...]
Much sadness and loneliness fills our hearts As we slowly realize that you are gone. Yet we are also filled with gladness that you are free; United with God our Father in heaven. Mama, we miss and love you so much. Indeed we will always keep you in our hearts.
It was the summer of 1987. My uncle and I were seated in one of the small clinical examination rooms of Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children in Los Angeles, CA. It was my second trip to the US. The first was a couple of years ago -- when stayed about a year in the US [...]
Growing up as a kid with NF, I'm sure my parents had this nagging question inside their heads at one time or another: "Will he grow up to be normal?" I'm guessing that the "growing up to be normal" question isn't really exclusive to parents whose kids have NF, other disabilities or special needs. It's [...]
I have never been able to remember when I first experienced the pain associated with my NF. Perhaps it was because I always had a high-level of pain tolerance even when I was very little. But as I grew older, my left leg -- on which had numerous nerve endings had formed -- had become [...]
Because of neurofibromatosis, my left leg was malformed. It was longer than my right leg and was continuously growing faster. It was one of the first things noticed by my parents before they found out that was related to neurofibromatosis: whenever I walked or ran, there was a good chance that I'd trip over myself. [...]
"What is going to happen?" I had wondered to myself. I was 4-years old and I was going to the hospital operating room. They told me that the doctors were going to take a look at something inside my leg. I was trying my best to put my bravest face on. My parents had assured [...]
It's early evening. As I make my way home, the heavy rain comes down. It pounds heavily on the roof of the car and the windshield wipers seem to have little effect. Most of the other vehicles have slowed down considerably though there are still a few who show no concern for others' or their [...]