DOT 113 : DINNER

THE FINAL CHAPTER : A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY (Sept 2009 to Jan 2010)

At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes   

Daniel (14+ years old) (Wednesday 16/9/2009) 

Day 7 in Lourdes

5th day in Hospital (Pao) (afternoon)

 

Dad and Mom laughed heartily.

Once again, You effortlessly made light a situation which was otherwise tensed and difficult.

In the evening, Aunt Laura came to the hospital to see You. 

It was so comforting to see Aunt Laura. 

Mom saw her peeking into your room, before she knocked softly. Aunt Laura brought some home cooked rice she fried with tomatoes and zucchini, and tubs of yoghurt, she knew was your favorite. 

You had not eaten for the past five days so You eagerly welcomed your dinner. 

Before You took your first bite, You put your hands together and thank the Lord for your food. 

That unexpected act caught Mom by surprise. 

Your display of such pure and unconditional faith in your Creator, despite the bleak and grim situation, truly touched a cord in your mother's heart.

She was and is so proud of You.

 

On our second day at the Grotto. You had a headache in the afternoon, which went away after your nap. We went for a nice walk that night, with You trying on everything You could get your hands on without getting into trouble, at the souvenir shops. :D

DOT 112 : BATHE

THE FINAL CHAPTER : A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY (Sept 2009 to Jan 2010)

At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes   

Daniel (14+ years old) (Wednesday 16/9/2009) 

Day 7 in Lourdes

5th day in Hospital (Pao) (afternoon)

 

You turned to look at Mom. 

Mom had a big smile plastered on her face. 

Slowly, You raised your eye-brows, and then quite suddenly, You gave Dad and Mom a brilliant smile. 

After seeing You sleep through five days straight, without waking up, and without any sort of communication with your parents, it sure was the most wonderful sight we have seen since the day You were admitted to Lourdes Hospital.

That really was a beautiful moment.

Whatever hopes your mother has that had sunk below rescue level, began to rapidly rise again.

"You've been sleeping for the past five days, Son," Dad said.

You did not respond immediately. You appeared to be thinking. 

Uncertainly, You asked, "Didn't I bathe?"

Mom replied with a grin, "No, You didn't bathe. You were just sleeping the whole time." 

You looked amused.

Then, putting on an embarrassed expression, You said, 

"I broke my record then ..."

 

 Lighting candles at the Grotto.

DOT 111 : HEALTHY

THE FINAL CHAPTER : A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY (Sept 2009 to Jan 2010)

At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes   

Daniel (14+ years old) (Wednesday 16/9/2009) 

Day 7 in Lourdes

5th day in Hospital (Pao) (afternoon)

 

Mom asked again, "No more pain, right?" 

You replied, in a tone that was almost bored, "No." 

Like it was not a big deal. 

Perhaps this time, You thought, the medication was stronger, that's why. You were so used to not getting good news, that perhaps You thought what Mom had to say cannot be anything great. 

All that was about to change. 

Mom couldn't wait to tell You,

"Your back's healed, Daniel. The doctor took a scan this morning and he said your spine is all good." 

The words rushed out. 

You had no reaction and did not respond. 

Mom continued brightly, "You remember Dr Lee said You had a slipped disc? And You remember that you've been having a backache for the longest time?" Mom refreshed your memory in case You did not remember after that Sleeping Beauty sleep of yours in the hospital. 

"Well, Dr Desplait says your spine is normal and healthy. There is no prolapse. No slipped disc. God has healed You!"

It felt so, so good to be able to tell You that. 

 

 In the train to Lourdes.

DOT 110 : FARAWAY

THE FINAL CHAPTER : A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY (Sept 2009 to Jan 2010)

At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes   

Daniel (14+ years old) (Wednesday 16/9/2009) 

Day 7 in Lourdes

5th day in Hospital (Pao) (afternoon)

Upon hearing that, hot tears instantly sprang in Mom's eyes. Turning briskly away, she brushed away tell tale signs before going back to your bed side. 

She caught You staring blankly up the ceiling. 

Your look was dazed, your eyes glazed, and your thoughts distant. 

Faraway. 

So very faraway.

Mom was determined to change that. 

Taking your hand, she gave You an assuring squeeze.

Then, Mom asked You as cheerfully as she could, 

"Do You notice something, Daniel?" 

You shook your head slightly, almost disinterestedly, and answered, "No."

"Do You still feel pain in your back?" Mom asked with a big knowing smile. Knowing, because your mother knew God had taken away your back pains.

You thought for a while, like You were checking if your back hurt, and then said, "No."

 

 At the airport in Paris.

 

DOT 109 : PRESSURE

THE FINAL CHAPTER : A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY (Sept 2009 to Jan 2010)

At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes   

Daniel (14+ years old) (Wednesday 16/9/2009) 

Day 7 in Lourdes

5th day in Hospital (Pao) (afternoon)

 

Now that your spine was all good, and a metastasis was ruled out, the doctor advised that a lumber puncture could help release the increased intracranial pressure. 

He fixed the procedure at 1:30 pm that afternoon.

The procedure was over in five minutes. 

As the fluid was literally shooting out from a specific point on your back, the doctor said that there was "very high pressure" in the head. 

Thinking about it now makes Mom want to cry. It will always be difficult for your mother to remember You in pain.

Reflecting back, we are grateful that God put You to sleep so that You did not feel the build up of intracranial pressure, because this pressure in the cranium as we were aware of, is very painful, dysfunctional and life threatening. 

The doctor collected about 30 ml of fluid. 

You felt much better after that.

Dad asked You whether the procedure hurt. 

You mumbled dully, in a slow tone, 

"I - don't - care - whether - it - hurts - anymore ..." 

 

 Basking in the rays of the Son overlooking the Grotto.

(this photo is taken after hospital stay)