Goodbye, Bentong.

[darth_stitch]

I've always hated it when little kids get sick and die.

Of course, no one wants a loved one, of whatever age, get sick and die. And a life is a life and you can pack a whole lifetime of experiences in six years of living and have nothing to show for in fifty.

My "adopted" cousin Bentong died the day before yesterday. I only found out late last night. He was six years old.

He suddenly went blind earlier in the year and when they took him to the doctors, it was found out that he had a brain tumor. Worse, it was in a section of his brain that rendered operation inadvisable. The pediatrician did not recommend it as it had every chance of leaving the kid a vegetable. The neurologist wanted to take the risk. My aunt, being desperate and wanting every chance for her boy to live, took the risk.

Bentong lingered for about about a month or so and unfortunately the operation didn't take and it did leave him a vegetable. I know there's all sorts of controversies going 'round about that but I feel no guilt in admitting that I thanked God when I heard the news that Bentong had "gone home" at last.

No one deserves a lingering death like that, least of all my little cousin, who had nothing more on his mind than to play, watch Batman cartoons and dance to the latest Filipino pop songs on the T.V. (Bulaklak and the Spaghetti song among them).

I wonder what Bentong might have been like, had he a chance to grow older. Grow up, discovered that he liked girls, had his first kiss, gone to high school, listened to loud rap music on the radio.... things like that.

We'll never know.

I wasn't very close to Bentong - he was one of the cousins I saw only on Christmas and other holidays. But he always liked coming to our house and he liked it when my brother took him aside to talk about boy stuff and he and I had entertaining discussions over the good and bad stuff in cartoons.

And the most distressing thing for him was the loss of his sight - because he couldn't watch his cartoons, play his video games or do whatever else that a kid could do that required vision.

I'm going to miss him.

I hope that whereever he is now, he can finally see again, all the colors he missed, all the life that he never had a chance to get.

Goodbye, Bentong. Rest well and in peace.

Comments

[canada-cowgirl.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for your loss.
I have not lost a cousin, but an aunt a few weeks ago and I understand what it feels like.

But for him to have suffered so long, that's the worst part.

My condolences go out to you and your family.

[h311ybean]

I'm very sorry to hear about your cousin. I have to admit though, that I'm also glad that he's "gone home" at last. I hope he now has plenty of cartoons, candy, other people to play with and fun music to dance to, wherever he is.

*hugs*

[psycho-tabby.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear about your cousin. Its really sad when people die young, there is so much potential and life just gone.
My condolences for you and your family.

[byandby.livejournal.com]

*hgus*

My condolences to you and your family. The loss of a young one is always tough.

[tiranog.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. Best wishes for peace to you and your entire family.

[murasaki99.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry about your young cousin. It's a tragedy when little kids die young. I'm sure he's fine now - but for everyone left behind it's hard. *Hugs*

[femmequixotic]

I'm so sorry, hon. Losing a child is so difficult, even if you know they're in a better place now. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers right now.

*lights a candle for Bentong*

*hugs you hard*

[lherelenfeline.livejournal.com]

Oh darlin', I've said it all yesterday... and I would do no good to say it again, so I'll just shnoogle you and wish him a safe journey home.

[iulia_linnea.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for your loss, and for everything that Bentong went through; I like to think that now he's in a better place, discovering greater joys than video games: getting to *be* in his own. :)

I'll keep Bentong and your family in my thoughts today.

[thepinkangel.livejournal.com]

I can only offer hugs, support, and lots of love.

Oh, and the promise of more Snarry pics just for you <3<3