Elena Desserich

Elena Desserich was a 6 year old girl who passed away in 2007 after a 9 month long battle with brain cancer. It's been 2 years, but her story and memory still lives on. It began with a random video and within 15 minutes, she's a familiar name already.

When she was diagnosed with brain cancer, one of the first things she did was to come up with a to-do list. In it, she included every possible thing her 5 year old mind could conceive of. When done, she passed it to her parents who ensured that everything was fulfilled. Some examples from the list were swimming with dolphins, driving a car and dancing with her daddy.

As the cancer progressed, she began to communicate through drawing and writing. She drew a great deal; she painted; she named her drawings and paintings. She prepared a kindergarten survival guide for her sister. She wrote random notes to her family and friends on a constant basis. She kept going. She became a known young artist. The above drawing is called "I Love You". It is a reflection of how generously Elena thought of love; love for her parents, love for her sister, love for her friends, love for life possibly. We'll never know. It's such a simple drawing and yet it speaks volumes about giving for love. It speaks about how loving can make you shine. It speaks about how selfless love should be. It speaks about how generous pure love is. It speaks the very essence of her tender life. I think it's a fantastic piece. Her art dreams were fulfilled when this drawing was hung next to her favorite painter Pablo Picasso in the Cincinnati Art Museum.

Elena passed on just two days after she had her last dance with her daddy. It was her dream for her to dance with him at her wedding, but since she couldn't, she did it at a party wearing a white dress. With teary eyes, her father says that he's glad that's one of his final personal memories with her.

After she died, on a random day while moving some books around the house, her parents found a note from her hidden away. Surprised and after more searching, they realized that when she was around, she had left numerous notes all over the house, at every possible corner - in her father's clothes' drawer, behind the cabinet, in jeans, within books and the list goes on. There is a whole collection. Her father put it all up on a website to speak of his daughter's sweet mind and the number of parents who were encouraged and inspired by them is amazing. They've prepared a book speaking of her battle and with all these notes put in.

Apparently, it was her ambition to become a teacher and as her mother says, "She'll be glad to know that the world has become her classroom".

I'm truly touched by the maturity and generosity of this little girl. It's amazing that she could take it all so simply, even in such adverse conditions and be so strong. There's so much for me to learn from her.

what a wonderful weekend :)

what a wonderful weekend.

it started with a huggggeeee smile and an awesome Friday evening and was followed by a lazy and well-rested Saturday. And, today, a very relaxed and stress - free Sunday. Oh, and the rain made it ALL better.

what a wonderful weekend.

now back to work and another hectic week!

i'm not.

i'm not the best you may have; i have my imperfections.
i'm not the nicest you may have; i can be selfish.
i'm not the best listener you may have; i can be self-centered.
i'm not the most patient you may have; i tend to overlook.
i'm not the most deserving you may have; i might have and probably will screw up.

but i'll stay, forever. and that isn't something that comes easy. i promise.

First times.

In the recent couple of weeks, i have:

1. Sung karaoke, that too in front of quite a big group of people.
2. Carried a newborn baby.
3. Changed , cleaned, fed, burped and put to bed a new baby(successfully, yes).
4. Tried shisha.
5. Shopped online.
6. In a few days, i'm going to be taking that.

ALL FOR THE FIRST TIME! I think that's pretty good, after forever.

So, when was the last time you did something for the first time? :)

I love my NIE friends. We are truly a crazy bunch, but awesome together with that. Despite the location being freaking retarded, the workload getting crazy at times, 'facilitators' being a bitch, and the canteen being a cage - life is still good. Thank god for colleagues cum friends cum buddies. :)

I am in love with this photograph, and yes of course, my dear little Adrielle too. How not to? :)

What would I do?

From Nora's note, which I think is very thought provoking :)

I looked at you napping, you with your eyes closed and I felt fear. If something were to happen to you, if you were to go, what would I do? What would I do? I've planned to give my entire life devoted to you, living with you, cooking for you, hosting dinner parties with you, seeing the world next to you. I've made plans in my head for us and you know I can't live without a 'to do ' list with little check-boxes by the side. What if yours is a box I never want to tick?

Really?

“Do you really want to know what I’d like to do? Huh. Do you really? I’ll tell you what I want to do. I want to come home from a long day, not to an empty house or to my cat, but to you. I want to come home knowing someone is there waiting for me. Even if he isn’t waiting for me, knowing that there’s someone itself is enough. And I want to take a shower and sit down with a nice cup of tea. And best of all, this is how I want to end my day. I want to lie beside you, bask in your smell, snuggle in, force you to tell me a story, close my eyes and listen, and watch you fall asleep before I do, and go to sleep with a very content smile on my face. I want to fall asleep in your arms believing that there probably isn’t a safer place on the face of this earth. There; I said it. You shouldn't have asked. ”

Sarah

"I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted." - Job 42:2

I remember once, when we were driving around in KL deciding where to stay for the night, I spotted Hilton Hotel at a distance, tried my luck and suggested it. I can still clearly remember your reaction. As you were driving, you turned around very slowly as you would when you want to ‘tekan’ someone, gave me a really funny smile and said something along the lines of “ரொம்ப முக்கியம்.ஹில்டன் கேக்குதா. வேற எங்கே வேணும். ஏன்..அப்படியே ஹ்யத்ட்(Hyatt) கேளேன்..ஹில்டோனுக்கு எல்லாம்.. கல்யாணம் பண்ணி உன் புருஷன கூட்டிட்டு போ சொல்லு”

When I deem appropriate, I will stay for atleast a night at KL Hilton, in memory of you. And when I do, I will remember you and talk to my partner about you.

I’m glad that amidst the sadness, I could still smile and even laugh at memories of you, by you, about you. I think that’s a wonderful gift that not everyone gets to leave behind. I hope I do.

I'm still telling myself not to forget that God always has his plans, always.

Goodbye, Vijay Annae.