i'm back
patrick and i arrived at a little past 5 in the morning today. i am still out of it but i thought i'd stop by and tell you all about my trip. but before that, i want to thank everyone who sent us their condolences and support. it means a lot and has helped tremendously. thank you.
thu, 20.10.05 / fri, 21.10.05
we were supposed to be at the airport by 7pm and yet it was past 4 when bernie and i headed home. we each had our own work to clear and tidy up before we left and with him being away for 2 weeks he had more pressure getting things right. we got home, changed, finished packing, said goodbye to the older kids and were driven to the airport by his brother ricky.
we got there with plenty of time to spare. with neither of us getting any lunch we decided to get some pasta before heading on to the boarding gate. patrick had been very good the whole time, enjoying the scene and playing with the little trolley bag we brought as a carry-on.
we got window seats! yay. oh no, the window is actually partially hidden by the seat in front of us and patrick had to stare at a blank wall all the way to hong kong. we had a one-hour stop in bahrain and then an 8 hour or so stretch to hong kong. we all tossed and turned in the night and were the worse for wear when we arrived in hong kong. we found our gate but were too hungry so we wandered around, following our noses and the smell of really delicious food. we had some noodles and had enough time to get back to our boarding gate. there was no delay at immigration and baggage claim in manila and we were out within 10 minutes of arrival.
when we got home (bernie's family) we just freshened up and brought supplies for patrick and headed to the chapel with bernie's dad. he brought us up to date with everything as much as he could. bernie and i both hesitated when we got up to the doors of the chapel - we knew what was waiting for us. we went in and that's when bernie broke down like i've never seen before. it took a while before we both calmed down.
aldryn's coffin was white. he looked so peaceful like he was only sleeping. in fact, when i brought patrick with me to take a look he shushed me and whispered that aldryn was sleeping. his parents decided not to bring the body home because they didn't want any sadness to linger on where they live. wise decision, i think.
we stayed there until about midnight, talking to the family, remembering how aldryn was and exchanging stories. it was then decided to follow the advice from aldryn's surgeon and have all the kids and their fathers do full blood tests. there are certain similarities and parallels in the other kids which considering what's happened could only be a good idea. eivy had severe anemia when she was 9 months old. ronan's white blood count keeps spiking up when he has his e.n.t. infections. and i heard that cedrik also shows some signs of blood infection too. we will get to it as soon as bernie gets back home.
bernie stayed back that first night while me and patrick went home to get some rest.
sat, 23.10.05
my parents arrived to pick me and patrick up to visit. i also met my grandfather for the first time in over 10 years. he's old, quite frail but still very fiesty. and he does remember me! patrick was also invited to a kiddie party. i had second thoughts about going but it was a separate thing from what happened so i took patrick anyway. pictures here and here.
my parents and my grandfather came along with us to the chapel. the family planned on spending the night there until the funeral services the following morning. we stopped by at home to pick up supplies for patrick and a change of clothes and then went on to the chapel. there was the daily mass at 8pm and a few more family friends arrived to offer condolences. we all stayed up talking until about 2am and that's when we had to call it quits as the kids were also starting to nod off.
to be continued as soon as i get some rest. i'm too tired still to get all this out of my head.
thu, 20.10.05 / fri, 21.10.05
we were supposed to be at the airport by 7pm and yet it was past 4 when bernie and i headed home. we each had our own work to clear and tidy up before we left and with him being away for 2 weeks he had more pressure getting things right. we got home, changed, finished packing, said goodbye to the older kids and were driven to the airport by his brother ricky.
we got there with plenty of time to spare. with neither of us getting any lunch we decided to get some pasta before heading on to the boarding gate. patrick had been very good the whole time, enjoying the scene and playing with the little trolley bag we brought as a carry-on.
we got window seats! yay. oh no, the window is actually partially hidden by the seat in front of us and patrick had to stare at a blank wall all the way to hong kong. we had a one-hour stop in bahrain and then an 8 hour or so stretch to hong kong. we all tossed and turned in the night and were the worse for wear when we arrived in hong kong. we found our gate but were too hungry so we wandered around, following our noses and the smell of really delicious food. we had some noodles and had enough time to get back to our boarding gate. there was no delay at immigration and baggage claim in manila and we were out within 10 minutes of arrival.
when we got home (bernie's family) we just freshened up and brought supplies for patrick and headed to the chapel with bernie's dad. he brought us up to date with everything as much as he could. bernie and i both hesitated when we got up to the doors of the chapel - we knew what was waiting for us. we went in and that's when bernie broke down like i've never seen before. it took a while before we both calmed down.
aldryn's coffin was white. he looked so peaceful like he was only sleeping. in fact, when i brought patrick with me to take a look he shushed me and whispered that aldryn was sleeping. his parents decided not to bring the body home because they didn't want any sadness to linger on where they live. wise decision, i think.
we stayed there until about midnight, talking to the family, remembering how aldryn was and exchanging stories. it was then decided to follow the advice from aldryn's surgeon and have all the kids and their fathers do full blood tests. there are certain similarities and parallels in the other kids which considering what's happened could only be a good idea. eivy had severe anemia when she was 9 months old. ronan's white blood count keeps spiking up when he has his e.n.t. infections. and i heard that cedrik also shows some signs of blood infection too. we will get to it as soon as bernie gets back home.
bernie stayed back that first night while me and patrick went home to get some rest.
sat, 23.10.05
my parents arrived to pick me and patrick up to visit. i also met my grandfather for the first time in over 10 years. he's old, quite frail but still very fiesty. and he does remember me! patrick was also invited to a kiddie party. i had second thoughts about going but it was a separate thing from what happened so i took patrick anyway. pictures here and here.
my parents and my grandfather came along with us to the chapel. the family planned on spending the night there until the funeral services the following morning. we stopped by at home to pick up supplies for patrick and a change of clothes and then went on to the chapel. there was the daily mass at 8pm and a few more family friends arrived to offer condolences. we all stayed up talking until about 2am and that's when we had to call it quits as the kids were also starting to nod off.
to be continued as soon as i get some rest. i'm too tired still to get all this out of my head.