Mio fights cancer

A few years ago, several months before college graduation, we found out that one of our blockmates, Jasmine was pregnant. Secretly some of us were afraid and saddened for her. She hadn't even graduated, how will she get by? How will she take care of the kid by herself? How will she ever manage all the challenges of a single mom at such an early age.

But soon after, Mio was born and everything else seemed of no consequence. Mio was such a sweet bundle of joy who made everyone around him smile, we knew everything would be alright with him and Jas. 

But life and its Creator have quite the sense of humor. They throw you the most unexpected challenges at the most unexpected time. Just when you thought that everything's fine and dandy, something goes horribly, horribly wrong. A few months back, we found out that Mio had cancer. I share Jasmine's disbelief:

"That’s how I understood it but to be honest, I don’t get it; I don’t get it how my bouncing baby boy born with healthy bones, ten toes, ten fingers and grew up with twenty healthy teeth can have cancer; I don’t get it how my son who irks at paint or crayon stains on his hands, asks for alcohol after he pees or holds money, chose to be a vegetarian, hates softdrinks and candy (which I’ve been trying to shove down his throat, believe me) and takes his time with chocolates and ice cream would be so ill; I don’t get it how a child born and raised by hundreds of my friends, schoolmates and family—loved even by strangers, would have this disease."

I don't get it either. But at this point, what has happened is not for us to question. You look at Mio and he seems to understand this better than most of us. He is his old self, cheerful and a kid in every way. Somehow he knows everything has its reasons and that everything will be alright. 

It is not for us to know, or even understand why what happened to Mio, happened. What matters now is what we can do to help Mio. 

And I guess I'm not the only one who has fallen head over heels in love with Mio. Soon after news of the cancer came out, help in so many forms from friends and strangers came in such abundance and with such speed that it was all simply overwhelming. 

Some of Jasmine's friends organized a star studded fundraising concert for Mio a few weeks ago. Jas has been interviewed in several magazines and TV shows about Mio's story and what people can do to help a 5 year old kid with cancer.  Mio will also have a fundraising art exhibit where his prominent artists expand on Mio's cute artworks. The exhibit will open on Wednesday at the Eastwood Mall Gallery.

Pino, a restaurant in UP teacher's village, also offered to have Mio Mondays. When you order a 5 course meal on a Mio Monday, proceeds go to the kid's medication. 

Tonight our college block decided to have our Christmas gathering at Pino. And let me tell you, the food was excellent, a festival of flavors and textures. These were what we had. (Do forgive me for the low quality pictures. I only had my cellphone camera.)

Pumpkin & Carrot Soup with Bleu Cheese Croutons

Tofu Shiitake Teriyaki Salad with Pork Cracklings
Pork & Shrimp Lemongrass Skewer
Cream Dory on Wilted Spinach served with White Chocolate Sauce
or Red Wine Braised Beef with Cream Cabbage on Saffron Risotto. I had 

the beef.Tempura Oreos with Raspberry Ice Cream and Chocolate Sauce

For drinks, you have a choice of red wine or iced tea. It's a great way to celebrate the Christmas season, you get to experience the most wonderful dishes at the same time help Mio.

What's even more wonderful about all these is that the overwhelming efforts of so many people have reached not just Mio but also other children who are suffering from cancer.  Mio's fight against cancer has now become everyone's fight.

Some of the funds that the Mio Warriors have been able to raise also went to Mio's chemo friends, fellow children who also have cancer. Better still, with all the help that Mio is getting, the advocacy of helping children with cancer in general has grown a hundred times stronger. 

If not Mio, then there are many more kids out there with cancer who need your help, not just financially, but also emotionally and mentally. Kythe, for example offers volunteering opportunities where you can spend time to play with and be a friend to a kid with cancer. You can also help by spreading the word, that we need not be helpless against cancer, that we do have the power to help. 

We can help Mio and thousands of children with cancer only if we choose to.

To learn more about Mio's fight against cancer and how you can help, you can visit www.miofightscancer.com