BEING a mother was something Mary Eli wished for on Christmas five years ago. Little did she know that she was already conceiving her eldest with her childhood crush and eventually her husband a month ago.
The couple were happy upon seeing the pregnancy tests confirming she was conceiving.
While it was a blessing, admittedly it was financially costly. But as a mother, she would do everything for her son, Jonas.
"Dili lalim mahimong inahan, pero I will do my best for my son. It's something every parent would do for their children," Mary shared.
However, Jonas' stay on earth was cut short.
In July this year, Mary's son was having severe fever, and an unexplainable rashes. This had caused panic to the couple. They immediately rushed him to the nearest hospital.
They later on found out that her child has dengue.
Sadly, because of Jonas' immature immune system, which was also caused by an undisclosed medical condition, Jonas succumbed to the viral illness.
Eli was too emotional to share the final moments she had with her son in the hospital.
"I wished I could've took the pain instead of him suffering," she said.
Months have passed and yet the pain is still attached within her.
"Murag di nako gusto mag-stay sa balay. Ma-feel gihapon nako iyang presence. Mag-sige lang kog hilak," Mary said.
Facing the Holiday season after the loss can be an unimaginable challenge for grieving parents. For those experiencing Christmas for the first time without their little one, the festive lights and joyful carols can feel like a stark contrast to the emptiness they carry.
This season, often a time of love and togetherness, becomes a delicate balance of honoring their grief while finding ways to remember and celebrate the short but meaningful life of their child.
But Mary remains thankful to God for giving Jonas' to them even in a short period of time.
If there is one thing she would wish for this Christmas is that Jonas would be happy wherever he is right now.
"If God would give us another baby, I would dedicate my whole life to protect him or her," Mary ended. RGL
