As Expo Mom celebrates its tenth year, the longest running event of its kind pays tribute to #TeamMoms that have served as a lifeline for mothers all over the Philippines. Meet Feliz Lucas, a mom who found comfort and solace in her many communities as she went through a most heartbreaking challenge.
The world is certainly what we make of it. Life can throw us a bunch of curve balls, but what’s important is how we address the unexpected. From sadness, there could be joy. From anger, there could be forgiveness. From pain, there could be redemption. From death, there could spring forth life.
When Feliz Lucas shared her daughter Caitie’s courageous battle with a rare form of leukemia, she did not expect her family’s struggle to resonate with so many people. From friends and family to colleagues, acquaintances, and veritable strangers, Feliz was surprised at the outpouring of encouraging words and solid assistance. She says, “I never thought that people from work or people you don’t meet as often or people you only know by name could become a created community because there was a tragedy that came.”
One of the first groups to come to her family’s assistance was members of her church. More than helping raise funds for their daughter’s treatment, they visited them physically and supported them emotionally. Almost instantly, the Lucas family gained honorary aunts and uncles, lolos and lolas, and brothers and sisters as they were wholeheartedly embraced by the community.