November 28, 2006

some people tells me i have a heart of stone, because they think i don't get emotionally affected much by the things that i read, hear or even see. madalas kasi, i always tease those who cry from the movies they watch. kasi naman there are some like one of my officemates na hindi ko maintindihan na kahit sa napanood namin na "charlie's angels" ay naiyak pa rin... now that’s really disturbing.

well this post will be a sort of confession... actually napaluha na rin ako once sa isang movie.. "deep impact". but from one scene lang, where this couple had to persuade their daughter (played by leelee sobieski) to take her infant sibling and leave them to go with her husband (played by elijah wood) to higher ground and be safe. i just felt really sad for the parents letting go of their kids in that movie. and that's it!

but i never thought i would ever cry from a documentary, until i saw the episode of i-witness last week (november 20). kara david documents the struggles of two young girls with progeria. a child with such illness (i hate to use the word disease) ages six times faster than normal. in this picture are rachel (right), and maureen (left). presently rachel is 9 years old, and maureen is 14. as to their physical age, you do the math.

rachel was first introduced in the show. she's a typical young little girl.. very high-spirited who loves to play, laugh.. and mind you, she dance really well. but even though she tires easily because of her state, makikita mo sa mukha nya ang pagiging masayahin nya. she always smiles at the camera. she likes to crack jokes too. kahit kay kara david na nu'n pa lang niya nakilala ay malambing siya. pero nakakagulat at nakakalungkot na isipin na sa edad nyang yun, she's aware of her illness, and that she only have until 15 to live.

now maureen being 14, sad to say, is in her final stage of progeria. at her age, she's already afflicted with sickness usually being suffered by old people like diabetes and heart problems. maureen is a shy person (though i'm not sure if it's because of the sickness she's currently having). she likes stuffed toys and dolls. and i really find her mother very brave for not showing her true feelings in front of maureen. she doesn't want maureen to see her cry so as not to add burden to what maureen has to bear right now.

on the bright side though, these two girls doesn’t have to endure much of the cruelty of this world. i’m sure there’s a much better place that god has in store for them. as for me, i see them as two little angels who gave great joy to their mothers/ guardian.

special thanks to ms. kara david for sending me these photos.