𝘉𝘺 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯
Sabino just turned two years old. He is growing healthy, playful, and full of life. But two years ago, hindi namin akalain na darating pa ang moment na ganito.
Right after birth, Sabino was admitted to the ICU, where he stayed for almost a month. He was diagnosed with Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome), along with a heart condition, hypothyroidism, an enlarged liver and spleen, and gastric bleeding. Hopes were low during those times. Nauna nang ma-discharge si Beth, my wife, kaya dinadalaw lang namin si Sabino every morning and evening to bring breastmilk. One by one, the babies around him were either sent home discouraged, or called to heaven.
After he was discharged from the NICU, sunod-sunod naman ang check-ups sa iba’t ibang doctors. At first, may mga “classmates” pa siya from the ICU—other babies na sabay naming nakakasabay sa check-up. But as the weeks passed, isa-isa na rin silang nawala. Later, nabalitaan na lang namin that many of them had already gone back to heaven. Sabino, meanwhile, remained thin and lethargic.
One day, while waiting in the lobby for his doctor, we noticed a playful little boy running around. What struck us was that he too had Down Syndrome, just like our Sabino. But unlike our frail and quiet baby, this boy was energetic, cheerful, and full of life. Watching him gave us a glimpse of what healing could look like. Para bang ipinapakita ng Diyos sa amin na despite everything Sabino was going through, there was still the possibility of a joyful and hopeful life ahead.
That boy did nothing extraordinary. Naglaro lang siya—just like other kids do. But because he was living his healing openly, he lifted us up.
And that’s when it became clear: our healing is not only for ourselves. It’s a gift meant to be shared with others. Too often, we carry our healing as a shameful scar, instead of displaying it as a testimony of restoration. God intends to use our healing—not to keep hidden—but to help others see what healing could look like.
Now, Sabino is growing healthy and happy. Medyo mataba na, ang makulit na, ang ingay na. One day, naniniwala ako na gagamiting ng Diyos ang healing ni Sabino to touch the lives of parents who will go through what we once went through.
#GOTO #GodOfTheOrdinary
#WFALoveConnects
