In Loving Memory...

EOH 
An officemate of mine, Eli, once posted a Friendster bulletin regarding an exhibit that will showcase the artworks of her sister who had recently passed away. Being new in the office, I barely knew Eli and so didn't give dropping by much thought. A few days later though, I chanced upon a leaflet that another officemate had gotten when she had visited the exhibit. After looking through the artworks and reading the message at the back, I immediately regretted not having gone. Although I've never met Eisselle (Eli's sister) personally, her story is a truly inspiring one. There have been times in my life where I feel like giving up without even trying. It is so easy to succumb to the thought "I cannot do this, there is someone else who can do better" or "Cut me some slack, I'm just normal, not a Promil kid!". Eisselle, having battled many a sickness in her life could have easily said all that and she would have every right to do so. She could have just given up and you yourself could have assured her that it's okay. She however, chose not to give up; she chose not to think of herself as something less than what God deemed her to be. She continued to live her life to the fullest, facing challenges head-on, and reaching great heights, despite her circumstances. Maybe that's what we all need, someone like Eisselle to awaken the tiger in every one of us, fighters till the end, no matter the circumstance, no matter the challenge ahead.
God bless! Ü
This is the message at the back of the leaflet:

Since Eiselle was a child, she was already suffering from a serious illness. When she was jsut 18 months old, she was operated on to remove a mass found on her left thigh. After only a month, the mass reoccurred and was thus removed again. After the 2nd operation, the doctor already diagnosed it as rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the muscle.
Her first treatment of chemotherapy was at the age of 2. Because of the medicine's side effect, she vomitted blood, was rushed to the hospital, and was given a 50-50 chance of survival. Through everyone's prayers and Eisselle's fighting spirit however, she survived. After chemotherapy, she was treated with Cobalt, which made her bones brittle and caused the shortening of her leg.
When she was 9 years old, her leg suddenly broke so the doctor had to put a screw to attach the bones together. However, the screw didn't last long and was replaced with a long, stainless rod to support her bone. When she was 13, she was treated again with chemotherapy. Eisselle had to stop her studies and was put under a home study program for two years. Despite her situation, she had really wanted to have a regular schooling and so went back to school and graduated high school in 1995.
She took up Architecture at the University of Sto Tomas but could not continue the term because her heart was becoming weak. She had to have another operation and more chemotherapy. Despite this, she still enrolled in the Philippine School of Interior Design (PSID) and finished her major courses.
She was able to work for a year. Her heart however, was getting weaker so her mom had to ask her to discontinue her work. Yet, Eisselle could not stand having nothing to do so she took up minor subjects at the College of Saint Benilde (CSB). She eventually was not able to finish the term and just stayed home.
In mid 2002, Eisselle's heart problem (cardiomyopathy) became serious that she was confined in the hospital for almost 3 months. She became too thin and fragile. She rested at home and spent her time painting to eade her boredom. She even enrolled in the painting class of Mr. Fernando Sena, a renowned artist who considered Eisselle as one of his 3 top students.
On Februaray 2004, Eisselle was again rushed to the hopsital due to lack of oxygen. During this time, she had thought it was already her time to go. she made it. 5 months later however, she was again confined, this time due to pneumonia. She insisted that she felt fine and need not stay in the hospital.
August 12 of 2004, the maid went up to Eisselle's room and found her lying in bed, her lips discolored. Her parents immediately rushed her to the hospital where the doctors tried to revive her for almost an hour. Sadly, she passed away at 1:30 in the afternoon due to heart failure.
Although Eisselle's life was full of sufferings, she tried to live her life as normally as possible. She did not let her sickness stop her from her passion - designing and painting. She was able to make 50 artworks, all of which showed happiness and contentment in life. Her friends did not know about her condition as she did not tell them nor did she compalin to them when she was not feeling well. Everyone thought that she just had polio.
Before she passed away, she had wanted to share her works with other people. She was very happy when she found out that her paintings could be exhibited. Knowing that she would be very happy, her family prepared this exhibit in memory of her.

To view Eisselle's works, follow the link below:
Online Gallery