DOT 220 : PRIORITIES

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

At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes      

Daniel (14+ years old) (Tuesday 29/9/2009)  

Day 20 in Lourdes   

NOVENA DAY 12



AUNT DIANA'S EMAIL FROM LOURDES TO FAMILY BACK HOME IN MALAYSIA


hey jes, chare says (dictating to me right now cos she's still eating) ... a million thank you, hugs and kisses for standing up to mom and letting God's will be done (for me to be here) ... 

hehehehe ... 

now she wants me to stay here for 10 days ... 

but i can't, so she's praying for that ... 

i on the other hand ... still can't believe i'm here ... and can't believe i met the bishop ...

ok, time to get ready ... 

i will write more later ...

dans says hi, especially to kish and the rest of others ... 

hehehehe ... 

geez, where's his priorities ...

and special message to amah ... 

he says tell amah, "hi amah, i miss you" ... 

and chare and i immediately said ... awww ... 

and he blushed ... 

hehehehehe ... 

honestly ... he said that in his low-scruffy voice .... 

ok later then...

diana      

with kish ...

DOT 219 : BOXERS

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

At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes      

Daniel (14+ years old) (Tuesday 29/9/2009)  

Day 20 in Lourdes   

NOVENA DAY 12



AUNT DIANA'S EMAIL FROM LOURDES TO FAMILY BACK HOME IN MALAYSIA


and dans says, thanks to aunty jessie for making Aunty D come here ... :)

so now dans woke up and came for bfast ... 

thank goodness we brought his clothes ... and socks ... 

Justine ... we forgot to bring him more underwear!!! 

he only has 4 boxers here.

he looks quite handsome ... 

he says, "Why only quite???"

ok ok ... VERY handsome with his baby pink t-shirt ... and white jumper ... getting ready to go to the bath ... so far he says he feels good today ... and he says he really enjoys the PSP ...

well ... lets keep on praying la ... 

i hope today will be even better than yesterday ...

carol, check how long can someone take dexa (steroid) and what's maintenance dose ...

at the beach on Jan 2009

DOT 218 : NAILS

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

At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes      
Daniel (14+ years old) (Tuesday 29/9/2009)  

Day 20 in Lourdes   

NOVENA DAY 12



AUNT DIANA'S EMAIL FROM LOURDES TO FAMILY BACK HOME IN MALAYSIA

anyway ... chare is sitting next to me now stuffing her face with buns to prepare for a new day ... they really working very hard ...

bryan especially is exercising like u probably never saw before ... he has lost 10 pounds already ... he pushes daniel's stretcher to the church every time ... 

while chare holds his legs in the front of the stretcher ... now he still has to be on the stretcher so that he doesn't exert himself too much and he can rest when he wants ... 

he fell asleep during the benediction mass yest ... thank goodness he was on the stretcher .... or he wouldn't be able to rest ... and he would have just slipped off the wheelchair if he was in it!

oh and he looooooooves his PSP ... 

he had to cut his nails before handling it ... thank goodness ... cos his nails were soooooo long ... longer than justine's ... all he needed was nail polish ... 

and then he said "hey, there's scratches on the PSP protector!!!"

oh man!!! 

so justine and carol ... i dunno ... 

hehehehehehe

touching of the rocks at the grotto

DOT 217 : BISHOP

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

At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes      

Daniel (14+ years old) (Tuesday 29/9/2009)  

Day 20 in Lourdes   

NOVENA DAY 12



AUNT DIANA'S EMAIL FROM LOURDES TO FAMILY BACK HOME IN MALAYSIA

so yesterday (mon) was the first time, he went for the bath twice ...

and chare said that yesterday he actually said to her after soooooo long ... after his morning bath ... before she came to pick me ... 

he said "I FEEL GREAT!"

then after lunch, we went for the bath ... i went too ... chare can't believe that there was no queue ... she said it was luck ... yippee ... maybe mother mary tot i have been waiting too long during all my transits and that i need a bath!

oh, and on my flight to pau, i met a pilgrimage group from US with a bishop and 3 priests ... they said they were coming here to Lourdes to say mass ... so i tot it would be good if we could join them ... who knows when was the last time bryan and chare went for English mass right???

so long story short ... we went for their mass ... and after that the bishop and priests gave dans blessings!!! so that was nice ... they even mentioned his name during the mass "special blessings to daniel PAU and family from Msia."

then, after mass, dans said, "was the bishop talking about me? why did he say daniel PAU?"

heheeheheehehe

you're at the far left ... always proud to be an altar boy 

DOT 216 : HUG

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

At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes      

Daniel (14+ years old) (Tuesday 29/9/2009)    

Day 20 in Lourdes    

NOVENA DAY 12



AUNT DIANA'S EMAIL FROM LOURDES TO FAMILY BACK HOME IN MALAYSIA


hello hello ... 

today is tues 9:30 am.

Ok, no need to talk about my travel here la.

i reached after 24 hrs ... 

chare met me at the train station ... we came back ...

i walked out of lift ... 

not sure what to expect when i see dans ... 

then i saw him sitting at dining table ... his back faced at me ... he was eating ... 

i quickly ran to him and gave him a hug and kiss ... 

he was his usual smiling self ...

then chare said, "dans, why don't u stand up and say hi to aunty D properly ..." 

and he said ok, while he was concentrating on Bryan's nasi goreng and telur (fried rice and egg) ...

and wow, i was sooooo happy when i saw him get up and hugged me (of cos his face was his usual when he hugs girl)

justine, u know his "comfortable" face when he hugs me, right????? :)

recuperating from your 4th surgery at the waterfall in merbok

the face Aunt Diana meant is something like your expression in the photo :D

DOT 215 : COMICAL

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

 
At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes    

Daniel (14+ years old) (Monday 28/9/2009) 
 
Day 19 in Lourdes
 
NOVENA DAY 11




Your aunt got your attention all right.
 
You grabbed the PSP eagerly with both hands, and started inspecting it with delight. 

At one point, You gave a sudden jerk forward, before peering closely at the gadget, your eyes wide open like You had spotted something You were about to complaint about.

Squinting to scrutinize even more intensely, You let out a loud wail that there were some scratches on the screen protector. 

Your dramatic howl made Aunt Diana laughed. 

She responded by saying You would have to take that up with Aunt Carol and Justine, because they were playing with your PSP before she packed it in her luggage.

Attempting to erase the marks You saw, You pulled at the bottom of your tee shirt and started to rub the screen furiously. 

The marks were stubborn, and would not disappear. 

Your facial expression showing child-like frustration somehow appeared comical in the eyes of your aunt, causing her to throw her head back and laughed heartily. 

Dad and Mom grinned from ear to ear. 

When was the last time we laughed so much?

When?

Seriously, when?

Your mother inhaled deeply, filling her lungs gladly with the freshest, sweetest, crispiest air, she could find in France.
 
Oh, today was a beautiful, beautiful day indeed!    

 

Aunty D took this photo of us. 

We spent the afternoon in the Son ...

DOT 214 : PSP

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

 
At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes    

Daniel (14+ years old) (Monday 28/9/2009) 
 
Day 19 in Lourdes
 
NOVENA DAY 11




We arrived at the hotel at 1:30 pm. 

Walking into the TV lounge where You were still having your lunch, with your back facing us, Aunt Diana tip-toed towards You, and let out a surprise, "Hi Dans!" before throwing her arms around You, from the back, giving You a big squeeze, and a peck on the cheek.

You calmly turned to her and replied gruffly, 

"Hi, Aunty Diana ..." before turning back to your food and continued eating your lunch.

Mom chided impatiently, 

"Daniel, why don't You stand up and say Hi properly?"

Today, You were able to stand. 

Hurray for that. 

Hearing Mom's firm tone, You pushed your chair back, and slowly stood up. Turning to your aunt, You bent down to give her a big hug. 

That made her day.

And Mom's.

Watching You both, Mom felt a sudden burst of emotional wave that crashed against her painfully before subsiding gradually. Standing by the side of the table, she watched silently as Aunt Diana brought out the much awaited PSP. 

You were wearing the pink tee shirt that day,
the one with the words FREE printed on it,

and happily showing off your new PSP.

DOT 213 : BOLLYWOOD

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

 
At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes    

Daniel (14+ years old) (Monday 28/9/2009) 
 
Day 19 in Lourdes
 
NOVENA DAY 11



It was noon. 

We were back at the hotel. 

Dad was preparing some lunch for You. 

You were at the TV room.

Meanwhile, Uncle Peter drove Mom to the train station. 

At the station, Mom was breathless in anticipation, looking at every passenger that came down from the train coaches. Aunt Diana took her time in making an entrance as she descended slowly from the very last coach. 

Hurrying towards your aunt, Mom yelled out her name. 

Aunt Diana waved. 

For the next few seconds, there was the Bollywood drama as both your aunt and mother half-ran, half-walked towards each other, with arms wide open, and oh, don't forget the emotional embrace that followed afterward. 

Picture all that in slow motion, will You please?

After the informal introduction between Uncle Peter and Aunt Diana, we were on our way back to the hotel. 

Breakfast the next morning with Aunty D.

DOT 212 : MAGICAL

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

At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes   

Daniel (14+ years old) (Monday 28/9/2009) 

Day 19 in Lourdes

NOVENA DAY 11

 

A lump appeared in your mother's throat.

Allow her to take a moment to breathe that line in. 

I -- feel -- great -- today ...

Pause to reflect.

What a magical line ...

If only You knew the impact of that seemingly simple sentence on Mom and Dad. 

It was so very good to hear You say that. 

Inwardly thanking Our Lady with all her heart for your well-being, Mom found herself repeating that line over and over again in her head, so as to hold on to that magical moment for as long as she could, while Dad and her continued to watched You from a bench nearby.

I feel great today ...

"Yes, You're so gonna feel great every day from now on," Mom heard herself muttering firmly under her breath, as an overwhelming sense of fierce instinct to protect her son swept over her, an instinct only a mother could relate and understand.

 

  On Christmas Eve, your birthday (and Dad's) in 2008.

DOT 211 : RAYS

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

At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes   

Daniel (14+ years old) (Monday 28/9/2009) 

Day 19 in Lourdes

NOVENA DAY 11

 

It truly was a beautiful, sunny day that day. 

After saying our prayers, we headed to our usual spot beyond the stream, to bask in the sun for a bit. 

During these moments in the sun, it would appear to Mom that God is shining His holy rays down on You. 

Who could blame her? 

You always looked so contented and at peace resting in the Son, a delicate moment so beautiful to watch. Even though at a distance, Mom could sit there all day long, just gazing at that sight - forever.

At one point, Dad walked over to You.  

Mom followed right behind.

Dad removed your blankets. 

You brought your knees up, as You clasped your hands together, looking very happy and relaxed. 

You turned to Mom with a half-smile on your beautiful face, and said, 

"I feel great today ..."

 

 Taken at the mall.

 

DOT 210 : FANTABULOUS

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

At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes   

Daniel (14+ years old) (Monday 28/9/2009) 

Day 19 in Lourdes

NOVENA DAY 11

 

Today, the sun was somehow shining a little brighter.

The rays were definitely warmer. 

The sky was very much clearer. 

We got up much fresher today than the previous days. The best part was having You wake up and said that You felt well. 

There was an unmistakable air of excitement in the room as Mom brought your breakfast tray to You.

Aunt Diana will soon be here. 

Your aunt has arrived at the Paris airport, and had taken another short flight to Pao. As it is only a twenty minute train ride from Pao to Lourdes, Aunt Diana would be at the Lourdes station at about 12:30 noon. 

Oh, we were so looking forward to seeing her.

After breakfast, Dad and Mom took You on the carriage for your usual morning bath. Today, we walked with a little lighter spring in our steps. 

As for You, well ... You had a ready smile for every person we met on the road. There was literally a perpetual smile on your happy face. 

It was certainly going to be a fantabulous day, we could feel it already. 

After the bath, Dad pushed your cart to the candle area, where we lit some candles, before heading to the grotto.

 

 

DOT 209 : HAPPY

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

At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes   

Daniel (14+ years old) (Sunday 27/9/2009) 

Day 18 in Lourdes

NOVENA DAY 10

 

Michelle and Sophia left about an hour later.

We had embraced and deep in her heart, Mom had to admit she was touched and was grateful for their kind friendship. 

After all, they were strangers. 

They did not have to spend their time with us. 

It is true, that often ... very often ... God uses an unfamiliar, seemingly insignificant, person to carry out His mighty works.

You went for the bath at 2 pm that day.

While Mom and You spent some time at the grotto and thereafter relaxed and rested beyond the stream, Dad went back to the hotel to meet up with Uncle Peter. He was taking Dad to the pharmacy to get your medication which had finished this morning.

Dad came back to meet us at 4:15 pm and said he managed to get the steroids.

As usual, we attended the Blessed Sacrament at 5 pm and Holy Mass at 6 pm, before we went back to the hotel for dinner. You felt better and was able to join us at the dining hall this evening. 

After dinner, we wrote an email home to Justine. Mom started the email greetings and You took over.

You were in a happy mood tonight.

Aunt Diana would be here tomorrow. :D

 

  Mom, Aunty D, You and Justine reading a sign on a tree 

at A' Farmosa, Malacca in April 2009.

DOT 208 : DEAL

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

At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes   

Daniel (14+ years old) (Sunday 27/9/2009) 

Day 18 in Lourdes

NOVENA DAY 10

 

A Priest ...

That was far, far, far from your "What I'd like to be when I grow up" ambition.

The holy idea came about during a very desperate negotiation Mom had with God. 

A plea, a deal, she had attempted to struck with God. What else could she do to entice God to see things her way? 

Of course, she had ignored whatever little voice that appeared in her head, telling her that :

"We cannot tell God what to do. No one tells God what to do. We can only pray that our will is in accordance to God's will, because God's thoughts are not our thoughts. His ways are not our ways."

Still, that did not stop her determined efforts to pester and bug the Lord - continuously. She would do whatever it takes to persuade God to see things her way.

At times when she felt very alone, and could not feel God near at all, she would turn to and cry to Our Lady. 

Your Son is being very unreasonable. What could Your Son possibly want with my son? What could my son possibly do for Your Son up there that he cannot do down here? 

Please Mother Mary, I'm begging You, from a mother to a Mother, please talk to Your Son. Let my son be well and I promise You, my son will serve Your Son for the rest of his life. 

He can be a priest if that's what it takes. 

He can be a priest.

And that's how the priest idea came about. 

 

  You, Mom and Justine on our 2nd day at the grotto.

DOT 207 : PRIEST

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

At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes   

Daniel (14+ years old) (Sunday 27/9/2009) 

Day 18 in Lourdes

NOVENA DAY 10

 

Michelle had expressed, in an unhurried and soft spoken manner, 

"Do not be discouraged. The challenges in front of us always seem impossible, but when we receive the graces, and we look back, it would seem very small ..."

Pause ...

Yeah, small ... like a dot.

An insignificant dot.

Mom found herself being comforted by their warm support, friendly presence and encouraging words. It was as though two angels had dropped by to pay her a visit and to lend her some strength. 

They had apparently heard about your wanting to become a priest when You recovered, and both said with much enthusiasm that they would pray for You to be well enough to realize that purpose.

A moment's silence.

Priest?

Oh ... 

Oh that ... 

Mom acknowledged awkwardly.

Casting her eyes downwards, Mom was guiltily silent and could not make a comment on that.

 

Picture taken on Sept 12, 2009.

Mass at the grotto.

DOT 206 : FELLOWSHIP

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

At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes   

Daniel (14+ years old) (Sunday 27/9/2009) 

Day 18 in Lourdes

NOVENA DAY 10

 

Grandma called at 6:30 am in the morning.

Uncle Peter (owner of the hotel), before putting the call through to our room, had said over the phone, 

"It's your mother ..."

Mom did not take the call as she did not want to disturb You. The phone was by our beds. 

You were not well this morning. You had just taken your medication and gone back to sleep. 

Mom told Uncle Peter to inform Grandma to call back later. She did, an hour later, to tell Mom that Aunt Diana will be flying over tonight from Kuala Lumpur, and arriving in Lourdes tomorrow noon.

An instant sense of comfort filled your mother's heart, mind and soul, upon hearing that.

It was 9:30 am.

Dad had gone for Mass with Uncle Peter.

Sophia, the Korean girl, and Michelle, the Malaysia girl (who fasted and prayed for You the day she heard about You from Aunt Laura), came over to the hotel to pay You a visit. 

Mom informed that You were still sleeping.

We spent some fellowship time together and had coffee in the TV lounge. 

Michelle, in the course of our conversation, said some words that Mom felt, had a sprinkling of divine influence. Surely, Mother Mary must have sent her to say those words of comfort.

Taken on Sept 29, 2009.

Aunty D's second day with us.

DOT 205 : DIARY

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

At the Grotto of Our Immaculate Conception, in Lourdes   

Daniel (14+ years old) (Saturday 26/9/2009) 

Day 17 in Lourdes

NOVENA DAY 9

 

You scribbled the following in Mom's pink diary that night, laying chest down on the bed, your elbows propping yourself up. Mom was right beside You, resting on the bed, whispering a note of thanks to Our Lady that You were well enough to - write. :D

 

By Daniel ... Saturday

Actually, the first thing (You underlined first) I'm gonna do is to check out my brand new PSP. Of course it won't be brand BRAND new once Justine is done with it. THEN, I'll jam all night with Dad on my elec guitar. :D

I'm thinking of getting Jus a new fone - one with bluetooth AND infared bc she's always complainin' about the phone she has now to me. Not that You got her a bad phone, Dad, if you're reading this. Hopefully, she'll be happy with the fone I'm gonna get her.

I'm thinking to get Aunty D and C something nice for Christmas as well. But I can't give Aunty D a phone bc I can't compete with da fones she gets from her bfs. I dun really know what Aunty C likes tho. That's right, this year is all about giving (underlined giving).

I received enough this year - the PSP, elec guitar. I'm quite disappointed that I'm not sitting for PMR. Me and Jus were supposed 2 gt laptops. But actually part of me is quite relieved - I mean I couldn't really prepare for PMR.

Mom just told me 2 rite abt my experience in da baths. It's actually basically me going into ice-freezing water. But every time I go in, I get a little better - I'm happier, I feel better and I just feel like huggin' everyone I see. Julian gave me a snow globe today he said "Whenever you pray, always think of our Lady of Lourdes." This is the 1st time I'm doing this and I feel less of a man ... But 2 be honest, this beats lying down any day. Well mom is sleeping and I guess I should too.

Mother Mary, Immaculate Conseption, Our Lady of Lourdes, help us all to get a goodnights rest so that we may wake up full of life to go to the Grotto tomorrow and pls help me to get better so that I may join Mom and Dad to walk to the Grotto without having to take any trammal (painkiller) and without any pain. That's my goal. Maybe, MAYBE, I'll write again tmr.

C U then.

Chiaozzz ...

Daniel

 

 Taken on Sept 30, 2009.

You struck a few dramatic poses to show, as well as to entertain, 

your Aunty D that You were feeling much better since she arrived. 

We were in the living room of the hotel.

You had us in fits. :D