Reign.

Rizalyn Reign.
Photo taken March 2011. Star City, Manila

Her full name is Rizalyn Reign. She was born three years ago. She’s got cute dimple in her right cheek. At her age of three, she’s very talkative and full of energy. She can easily memorize songs taught to her, but sometimes she has difficulty following instructions.

Why? Let me tell you her story.

Reign became totally orphaned in a matter of one year. In August 2008, she lost her mother; June 2009, she lost her father. She’s left in the arms of her lola, my maternal aunt, together with her three other siblings. And because of my aunt’s family’s economic condition, Reign has never been to a doctor, and seldom can have vitamins or a full drink of milk in a day. I learned too that when her mother was pregnant of her, she never had any vitamins nor had nutritious food for the baby Reign in her womb.

Last year, when I went to visit my relatives I got her and brought her home. That was intended for a brief vacation. I just wanted her to be fed right. But three nights after having stayed with us, Reign showed some signs of asthma. On the fourth day, I brought her to the doctor (it was first time for her), and she was diagnosed to have pneumonia. I had her treated for that. Then she underwent several tests and labs. Finally, it was found out that aside from pneumonia, she has primary complex! I had her treated for that for six months. Good enough her system responded well to the medication, and her primary complex was gone in just six months! After her treatment, I gave her back to her lola and three siblings.

Every time my mother comes to Manila, I would get Reign and bring her home. I do this every time I know that someone can take care of her in my home while I go to work. Recently, she stayed with me for almost three months. I would have wanted her to study in the nursery school near my place come June, but this will remain a wishful thinking.

Yesterday, I brought back Reign to her lola and three siblings. I am sad that I have to do this to her. I am sad because I know that there in her lola's, she's not given much care and attention, that she's not well fed. But I also find comfort in the thought that she's happy there with her three other siblings whom she'd always mention.

I am sad, but what can I do? The circumstances forced me to return to her lola and siblings again. Yesterday. Yes, just yesterday. And I am saddened by the fact that I don't know when I can get her back again. Not that I want Reign to be my own, but I just want her to be taken care of and to be fed well.

And I can only hope for the best for her.