As some know, I have a friend in the Philippines named Princes. I have spent some time with her and her niece when visiting and they were quite a team filled with both typical and untypical Filipina traits. I am a friend to their family which includes 2 young boys, one autistic and a new baby on the way for the niece. They live in Laguna on the big Island of Luzon, where Manila also is located. The boys are visiting and live in Catanduanes, an Island that was recently hit hard by a typhoon. The boys recently had lost their caretaker and paternal grandma too so they have had their share of Philippine tragedy.
Life can be hard in the Philippines and in spite of the showcase cities and even within them, poverty is all too common and the struggle to survive goes on. The hustle and bustle can be overwhelming and the whizzing scooters, trikes and other chaotic traffic can also be dangerous.
A few weeks ago, I received an email from the niece saying that Princes, her Tita Jackie, was deceased. I knew nothing more than that and it was devastating. She had been standing on a busy corner and was suddenly struck by a speeding Trike and declared dead on site. I reluctantly told my friends and family who knew about Princes and they too shared my devastation. Then as suddenly, the niece emailed about 2 hours later that at the hospital she was declared alive and in a coma. I knew no more but the miracle had begun. She was not dead but alive in the ICU.
Princes came out of her coma 9 days later, eyes open, awake but unresponsive. 4 days later she became responsive. This had her moved out of the ICU to to a regular ward were she continued to gain responses and be alive again. As I type, she is doing much better and reportedly the doctors plan to release her once final tests are complete to ensure that there is no unknown brain damage or clotting issues leading to strokes. She will be home for Christmas to celebrate with her family, especially her 2 boys who have not been allowed to see her since the day of the accident.
This is my Christmas Miracle and I am thankful to God for bringing her back to life. I hope she will use this gift and make the best of 2026. Whatever problems she has, she can improve and overcome using her new found birth. I am thrilled for them all and from what could have been a terribly sad Christmas, it now will be the best Christmas ever. My Christmas Miracle. Today December 18th is Princes's birthday/ What a present she has received.
Thank you for letting me share this amazing tale with its happy ending.
Donn Marier
DM-Your Own CFO