Sharing the Gift of Thanksgiving

Happy thanksgiving to everyone! While most people are gathered around the dinner table ready to feast on that turkey and yummy pumpkin pie, I am in my room thinking and thinking and thinking. On my side of the world, we do not have Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving is not a National Holiday here, but that doesn't mean that we can't celebrate it. This Thanksgiving I close my eyes and thank God for giving me a wonderful gift, the gift of life. God has been a great Father, for He has provided me with a wonderful mom and brother and blessed me with a loving boyfriend and great friends.

This Thanksgiving I would like to give someone else a reason to be thankful, I would like to share with someone else the miracle of life that God has given me. I'm probably not making much sense am I? Please don't turn away from this post. I really need you, yes you, you reading my blog.

This post is especially dedicated to baby Andrei Laris B. Daniel. Baby Andrei was born on March 5, 2011. This month marks his 8th month of life. He is my elementary principal's grandson. Andrei is a biliary atresia baby. Biliary atresia is a congenital medical condition wherein there is a blockage in the ducts that carries a liquid called bile from the liver to the gallbladder. The blockage of bile flow from the liver to the gallbladder can lead to liver damage and cirrhosis of the liver. Andrei underwent Kasai Procedure (a medical procedure which involves removing the blocked bile ducts and gallbladder and replacing them with a segment of the child's own small intestine. This segment of intestine is sewn to the liver and functions as a new extrahepatic bile duct system) last May 28. Up to present baby Andrei is still not jaundiced free and has an enlarged abdomen due to enlarged liver & spleen. Just last Oct 15, his Pediatric Gastroenterologist advised his parents that he needs a liver transplant at the soonest possible time. There aren't any doctors here in the Philippines who specialize in this sort of case. Andrei needs to have his liver transplant in Taiwan. His family needs Php4million to make this transplant possible. They will need to stay in Taiwan for 3 months for follow up check ups with the doctors there. I'm sure if they stay in Taiwan for 3 months they will not have a job to come back to when they get back to the Philippines.
A picture of baby Andrei and his parents. Look at his abnormally yellow skin color.

Baby Andrei, 1 week after his first operation.

His parents and family have organized a Concert for a Cause for their little angel. The ticket sells P50 (fifty pesos) which is equivalent to $1.16 USD, P100 ($2.31), P150($3.47).
This photo was taken on October 19, 2011.

I am knocking on your hearts. Please help me share the gift of Thanksgiving, let's give baby Andrei something to be thankful for. Let's give him the gift of life, the miracle that God has given us. You can help by donating, no amount is ever too small. If you or someone you know participates in medical missions, it would be a great help if they could send medicines for this baby, I'm sure he will be taking a lot of medicines after he has his liver transplant (should the transplant actually push through). Or you can pray. Prayer is very powerful. I believe the power of prayers can definitely move mountains, let's pray together to help make this mountain a challenge that Andrei can overcome.


If you guys would like to know more about baby Andrei, you can visit his facebook page that his parents created visit here.

Burn Baby Burn

Last week was an exciting week for me. Wednesday of last week I got a call from my dad's cousin that daughter was in town. It was her daughter's first visit in her childhood hometown. My dad asked me to show her around town and just hang out. I must admit, I was a bit worried about meeting my dad's cousin's daughter for the very first time. I worried about where to take her, what to talk about. Awkward much?

So anyhow, I met her for the very first time last Friday. So my dad's cousin's daughter's name is Berna. She a few months younger than me. We decided to meet up at the mall and have dinner together. She was in town with two of her friends. Berna, was just so nice and adorable. The "awkwardness" that I was so worried about was gone the second I met her. She reminded me a lot of myself, giddy and bubbly.

It's amazing how in such a big world, we could be related and have so much in common. How could I have not met this relative of mine. Makes me think of how many more relatives I have yet to meet.

So on her trip, we did a lot of eating, a lot of sight seeing, more eating, and a few cocktails.

Enjoy the pictures!
Meet my dad's cousin's daughter Berna, her friend Gerald, and her other friend Nino. I took them to this place that overlooks the city. The view of the city night lights was simply breathtaking.
After admiring the city view, we went inside the local coffee shop and plotted ourselves on this comfy velvety couch.
While the two guys settled for their chocolate lattes, Berna and I had Bailey's frap.

Anyone out there know how I should refer to my dad's cousin's daughter? Does that make us 2nd cousins?

Magical 3

I was walking around the mall when these two kids caught my eye. The two kids where all over the place. They were running and hiding and well you know, typical stuff that kids do. The mother was doing some shopping. This mom had a baby in one arm, her purse in another and a basket for some goodies she was planning on purchasing. Kudos to this mom who kept her cool. I don't think I could ever carry a baby in one hand, hold my purse and shopping basket in one hand and keep an eye on two other very young kids. How did this mom do it. So anyhow, the two kids found their way to the "breakables" section. The mother looked at her two kids and said calmly " don't make me count to three!" Her boys kept at it... Then the mother starts to count "one"...."two"....and before she could count to three her two tazmanian devil boys were now little angels who helped carry her shopping basket.

Ages ago, I used to be like those little kids, I would run around and have fun. And when my mom would start to count I would quickly run to her side before she could call out the #3. I don't remember mom ever getting to #3. Which makes me wonder, what would have happened if mom got to the #3? Another thing that could get me in good behavior was whenever my mom would call me by my real name, Melissa, and not Mel which is my nickname. Whenever she called me Melissa it normally meant she was annoyed with me or I had done something wrong.

To this day, I still have a bad feeling whenever my mom calls me Melissa. Lol. Are you guys the same way?

Hey Junkie

Hi I'm Melissa from ChinkyMel's Corner and I am a junkie. No no no, it's not what you think guys. What I mean is, I am a tv junkie. Whenever I have free time I am glued on my computer watching these:

Oh bite me! I never knew how much love sucks could ever be a good thing, but with the Vampire Diaries it just keeps getting better and better.

Then there's Teen Wolf. Rawr! I just finished watching season 1 and I can't wait for season 2!


Zombies? At first I wasn't too interested but boyfie's been watching this a lot so I somehow learned to like it too. You guys ever had that happen before? You know, when you just don't feel like watching something then after watching so many episodes you're finally hooked?

And there's the New Girl. Now, who doesn't love Zooey Deschanel? She is just so adorable.

What are your tv addictions?