My Hero by Chinie Canivel

My Hero

By Chinie Canivel

I am sure you all expect me to give some account of my leadership role in my school, of my past experiences as a student leader, or perhaps, anecdotes about my own encounters of challenges and opportunities. But this story is not about me. This story is about a hero. My hero.

Heroes come in different forms. Many people think "big and strong" when they hear the word "hero". Others think of sagely intellectuals who write inspiring novels and ideologies, or kindly old men and women who dedicate their lives to the poor. My hero came in the form of a baby - born on June 22, 1997 with a hole in his heart and water in his lungs. He was kept in an incubator in the intensive care unit and was only brought home after a month. Doctors diagnosed him with Down's Syndrome, a condition that would hinder him from ever developing at a normal child's rate, both physically and intellectually.

This baby was a fighter. From the very first day he was born, life was a struggle for him. His condition was critical and his health was touch and go. And so he was named Emilio Emmanuel, so that, true to his name, God may be with him. Mio, as he was fondly called, pulled through his first few months, fighting the instability of his health with a strength one would never suspect from a one-month old baby. Though physically, he was weak, his will was full of fortitude and strength.

Mio's first few months were not the last of his challenges. Because of his condition, he had to undergo therapy for strengthening his weak physique. At the young age of two, doctors noticed his low blood count and confirmed that he had anemia. Just a few months later, his condition progressed, and he was diagnosed with cancer of the blood – leukemia, a sickness common to children with Down's Syndrome.

Quite a load to bear for a child of two. Every other week was spent in the hospital for blood transfusions and chemotherapy sessions, and days out of the hospital meant going to the doctor's for check ups. But Emilio, at a young age, displayed such grace in his situation. Even from a hospital bed, he would greet all his visitors with a cheerful laugh and a clap of his hands. Because of his condition, he hadn't yet learned how to talk or walk, but the sparkle in his eye and his infectious laughter was enough to lift anyone's spirit. He was a loving little boy, playful and optimistic and always willing to share a smile. Mio would eagerly hug his sisters and brother when they arrived at the hospital and when he was home, he would roll around his bed laughing at nothing in particular. Through all the pain of therapy, Mio kept his head high and his smile on his face.

Leukemia took its toll on Mio. Soon after his third birthday, Emilio passed away. Till the very end, he was an astounding example of strength. He fought his illness and faced his challenges like a hero. He was a gift to his family -- our family. He was my brother.

Mio has been my inspiration. He taught me that one doesn't have to be powerful to be strong. I continue to find it amazing that so many of life's valuable lessons, I learned from a child - a baby - one who couldn't speak, or even walk. Through his times of tribulation, all one received from him was a loving smile. In facing his hardships and all the trials that life handed him, Mio was a pillar of courage. He is one of the best people I have ever met.

I believe we all go through our challenges for a reason. Mio's story is one for me to share, so that you too may be inspired by his life and find the driving force in your own. I hope that you remember this lesson that my brother taught me: dare to dream big, but do not forget the little things along the way. Aim high, aspire to reach your ultimate goals. But do not forget to thank those who helped you along the way, and to celebrate small victories.

Remember that we each have our gifts. No matter what life gives you, you choose what to make of it. You can fight your way through the hardest times, if you keep in mind that you can make it through. My brother was met with so many challenges in his three years here, but he showed me that you fight your fights from within. In his three years he made me believe that miracles do exist in this world.

You all already have so much to be proud of. So I hope that each of you goes out to create your own miracles. In your journey, may you keep looking out for that big dream, that ultimate goal, and try your hardest in achieving it. But do not forget to look over your shoulder sometimes, so that you may also see how much you have accomplished. There are times when we each get too engrossed with how much we have yet to achieve, that we forget how far we have already come.

And most especially, remember to meet all your challenges with a smile. Times will be trying, and I cannot guarantee that you will be able to get all that you want. But even if times may get tough, we all already have so much to be thankful for. Being able to stay optimistic and strong in the face of difficulty is one of the most admirable qualities that one can find in a leader.

I wish you luck in all your endeavors, and hope that you may also find your Emilios, your God-be-with-you's. As leaders, it is not in the end of the journey that you find your reward. It is in the process of your being a leader - your process of learning, adapting, inspiring. So enjoy your journey. Dream big, celebrate your victories, be thankful for what you have, and keep smiling. This is only one more meaningful step in what I am sure will be a lifetime of inspiring experiences. Thank you, and good luck to all of you.

In memory of Emilio Emmanuel "Mio" Canivel June 22, 1997 - July 30, 2000

Chinie Canivel is a Management Engineering senior at the Ateneo. She wrote this as an inspirational address for other young leaders in 2004. I thought it would be worthwhile to share it with all of you and your children and your friends.