Eulogy for Bappy | Celebration of Life for our Dear Brother with Special Needs

In Memory of Albert Stephen "Bappy" Chua Rojo
July 22, 1987 - October 14, 2023
It was just a few days passed when we were still greeting each other good morning and good night. It only seems like yesterday when we enjoyed a low carb meal, and exchanged tight hugs and "I love yous".
Before Bappy's passing, I remember sending condolences to families who've lost brothers. Little did I know, we will be the recipient of the same sympathy in a matter of days.
Losing someone you grew up with, you've known and loved all your life is heartbreaking.
The bond between siblings is so unique, it's incomparable to any relationship we will ever have in this world.
They are your best friends and the ones who can also annoy you like no one else could. You have this inherent sense of entitlement to do some scolding or pointing out the other's fault, even sometimes to a point of almost bullying each other, but you are ready to go to battle with any outsider who would dare do it to them.
At the end of the day, your love always prevails.
That's us to each other, especially to Bappy who was born with special needs (Down Syndrome), a kind heart and a gentle soul.
Having congenital multi-organ anomalies, we were aware of his shorter lifespan, 18 years as a good number, they said. But after all the surgeries, medicine, lifestyle change and faith, we made ourselves believed he will be with us for the rest of our lives.
At 36, his system gave up.
His heart have been working well for 8 years since his cardiac operation, but it was already after 28 years of working 2-3x more than normal (because of Rheumatic Heart Disease, Severe Mitral Valve Regurgitation and Atrio-ventricular Septal Defects).
His bowel movement have been a concern since birth (with imperforate anus) & he lived his life with colostomy. Few years ago, repair operation was done in hope for him to have a better, more normal condition. But because of his age & newly discovered Hirshsprung Disease, it got complicated needing multiple surgeries after.
Being a meticulous person with a penchant for cleanliness, it gave him stress like no other. Psychiatric condition like anxiety and auditory hallucinations is more common for people with DS and so it was for Bappy. That stress contributed in worsening his already immunocompromised s
Looking back, we now realized Bappy have grown weaker the past year, always tired and sleepy, like that of an aging man. But we missed it because he is full of life and ready to give out positivity whenever we check on him.
We chose to see his energetic side and the happy and care-free version he is always portraying.
Two weeks ago, he complained of pain. Labs were taken an only a loculated pneumonia was seen. Antibiotics were give but before he is halfway with his medications, he suddenly became cyanotic and collapsed.
In 10 minutes, we rushed him to the ER. Upon arrival, his pulse became weak and CPR was initiated. After 20 epinephrines and an hour of attempted resuscitation, Bappy was pronounced dead.
It came as a shock for all of us.
We didn't see it coming.
We felt so lost and didn't know how to process it..
But God is good.
We were able to gather strength and made sense of what happened. After mourning and grieving together with loved-ones who shared the same grief because of Bappy's passing, we were able to let him go with peace in our hearts.
The night before his burial, the room was filled with tears and laughter as we celebrated the life of Bappy, the great memories he left us and the lessons that inspired us to be better.
One of the reasons why we were able to deal with it with light acceptance is the fact that we did our best and showed him our love whenever we could.
36 years is a not long, but those days are already a blessing. And we are beyond grateful that Bappy was shared to us, as the greatest gift we have in our family.
To those who have lost someone dear to them, know that they are now in a better place and they'll rest better knowing we will endure in this life despite having them only in our hearts.
Right now, we have no regrets, just gratitude for the opportunity to love him and take care of him, the best way we know. We believe that everything happens for a bigger reason and that we've done for him, including low carb lifestyle, helped Bappy reached adulthood with better quality of life than otherwise.
Eventually, we will all leave this world. By then, I pray that each of us will look back without regrets knowing we did our best to maximize this life, especially by choosing better on controllable factors (like healthier food intake and avoidance of vices) and showing our love, respect and care whenever we can to the people we value the most, while entrusting the rest to God almighty.
From our family, we thank everyone who extended their sympathy in the form of gifts, presence, service, time and prayers. We feel the Divine love through all of you and it made Bappy's passing more bearable.

[@emmanarciso8669]

Our heartfelt sympathy to the whole family 🙏

[@drjosephinegracerojotan]

Salamat

[@tommcguinness4500]

condolence he will always be in your heart

[@drjosephinegracerojotan]

Thank you

[@jovyfajit4414]

Condolence sa imo Doc kag sa bug os nga pamilya.

[@drjosephinegracerojotan]

Thank you

[@Mhe-annAndrada]

condolence po

[@drjosephinegracerojotan]

Thank you

[@lorinagerman]

Sending love and prayers to you and to your family po. Thank you for sharing the good memories of Bappy po. God bless po🙏♥️🙏

[@drjosephinegracerojotan]

Thank you too

[@aliciafernandez330]

CMy heartfelt condolences to Rojo family May Bappy soul rest in Peace Amen

[@drjosephinegracerojotan]

Thank you

[@aliciafernandez330]

@@drjosephinegracerojotan He is at Peace now Dr Resting in our Lord no more pains

[@ginasanio2967]

my deepest symphaty to the whole family

[@drjosephinegracerojotan]

Thank you

[@joyjoycostoyastumm9384]

Condolonce Doc and to your Family ..ahay.., wala na gali si Bappy😢😢, dugay na abi wla ko Open Fb.

[@drjosephinegracerojotan]

Thank you

[@angelitaalejo7028]

Condolences to the family Rojo🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@drjosephinegracerojotan]

Thank you

[@hazelaustria5110]

Condolences to the Rojo family..rest in peace Bappy❤🙏

[@drjosephinegracerojotan]

Thank you

[@agnessumang6310]

Condolences

[@drjosephinegracerojotan]

Thank you.

[@khris_olaes888]

Condolence po dr.

[@drjosephinegracerojotan]

Salamat

[@greenteamode]

Condolence po sa family

[@drjosephinegracerojotan]

salamat

[@erninocastillo4888]

Condolence po

[@drjosephinegracerojotan]

:)

[@princekianuzumakinaruto5758]

Condolence doc grace and to the whole family may bappy rest in peace @maxim jarandillo

[@drjosephinegracerojotan]

Thank you