Batang Thomas Atbp.: July 2009

While we were finalizing this entry, Batang Thomas himself insisted that a glimpse of his cast must be offered here. So here they are, showing him drawing and writing on his last day at the hospital, two days after being cast.

In sharing these we are focusing on his recovery -- which is as well ours -- which he fills with grins and laughter while creating and imagining, scribbling and reading, learning words, asking questions, watching his favorites and so on (and of course not to mention the various levels of 'kakulitan' that make us reach stress points, ehehe) all within and after his school-at-home mornings. In other words, very much being his normal self, except for his temporary, limited physical ability.

Again, these lines from one of Batang Thomas' earlier song-favorites:

"Every cloud is silver-lined even when it rains
So don't be too downhearted as things are bound to change
All you have to do is wear a smile and you will find
The sun will shine..."

We turned Batang Thomas' hospital bed around to face the window so he could see the beauty of the sky.

Light fell softly into the room and provided subtle spotlight on these: (1) clay pendants Batang Thomas created, inspired by an entry in a Tita's book-gift, "World Art"; and (2) paper cranes, which Batang Thomas' Titas and Aunts began to make (a target of 1,000) to have a beloved one's One wish granted. Making the paper cranes was infectious as we, Batang Thomas, and his cousins began habitually folding them, too, as well as some of the hospital's nurses. We were happy to give some away as Thank You tokens (whenever we remembered to :)).

Batang Thomas delighted in the many books he received while in the hospital! Only among his favorites were (of course) thinner versions of his Thomas Collection of Stories (from his Ninang Tita and Auntie) and "How the birds got their colors (an Aboriginal story from another Ninang Tita)". He took these pictures himself with the camera phone (with which all other pics here were taken) passed on to his Tatay by Tito Daddy (maraming salamat po!):

Towards our third week in the hospital, we knew Batang Thomas was feeling less pain and more normal than ever because he went back to creating and drawing fun stuff like these (some with magnastix, pontiki, clay, magic snake and crayons and a magic slate from Lolo, Auntie Lola, Titas & Titos, Ninangs & Ninongs).

He made this thank you card for an Uncle. He thought the text up -- following his fathers' day cards style where he gave the recepients titles. He dubbed his Tatay "Mr. Infinite Work" for the ability to do an endless list of things, Papa "Mr. Sarap-Luto" for making for him the most sumptuous tortang talong, and Loloheart "Mr. Scientist" for being a physicist and showing him scientific stuff. More on these thank you cards later, hopefully. :)

His idea: the first image is how he originally made it. Then he asked us to bring it in front of the mirror so we could read the label properly.

This is a 'family portrait' by him of Nanay and Nanay's Tatay and Nanay. His Lolo mounted it on a frame beneath a clock and put it beside Lola's bedside.

He loooooooves the Eraserheads! He is a big fan of Ely Buendia (whom he first idolized liking Pupil's 'Disconnection Notice') and of Raymund Marasigan, especially the latter's drumming prowess which he aims to imitate, pati facial expression minsan! The following is his image of 'The Final Set'.

The following are more clay creations by his Kuya and Ate cousins who were his most frequent visitors and really brightened up his days. Like theirs, your visits, thoughts, greetings, gifts and notes all pave our loved ones' roads to complete healing. Again, thank you very, very much!