Agnes
by Jade Dawn Marie G. Amor
"Ahhh! Please, ayaw na! Humong na doc! Jesus, tabangi ko!" These were the ear piercing cries of pain by my 7 year-old cousin, Agnes.
We usually heard her cry before and we sort of got used to it. But that one was spine tingling. I'd call it a "hair-raiser".
Agnes, usually, was this cheerful littler girl who loved to laugh and had a perfect smile that matched her dark brown eyes and fair complexion. but at that time, all you could hear were shrieks of anguish and her sobs. I bet if I listened much longer, there would have been more. But I was too much of a chicken to do so.
The year was 1997, nighttime, in the comfort of our own home. I was listening behind the half-opened door of my room, while there she was, crying her heart out. You would too, if you had a broken leg being fractioned! And I thought, this is too much for a kid! When will her suffering stop?
It all started when Agnes was still 10 months old. She had her first injury, a broken arm. Year after year, she broke a bone. until she was 4 years old, she was diagnosed with "Osteogenesis Imperfecta" - a severe bone disease. And from that moment on, she had one broken bone after another.
When she was still 6 years old, she was bed-ridden. And she had to deal with it for two agonizing years!
But you wouldn't believer how she was able to content with all the things happening to her. She really had an amazing coping ability unlike any other.
Her inner strength and determination astounds me! He being bed-ridden didn't stop her from doing what she loved most, painting. And she did it while lying down! She never gave up hope on being able to sit up 'til she was able to.
Now, it has been quite sometime since I've heard her cries of pain. And I hope that I will never again hear it.
I still see her as the same strong and determined person. She's still not giving up hope on being able to walk again. Why? Because she's not a quitter. She's just like me and you, struggling with the adversaries of everyday life.