Update from November 14: In the quiet spaces between sorrow and solace, where grief lingers like the echo of a cherished melody, I find myself compelled to pen down these words of gratitude. To everyone who has woven threads of sincerity into their condolence notes, a heartfelt thank you emerges, a balm for the wounded soul.

Your words, like gentle strokes on a canvas of pain, have painted hues of understanding and compassion. It is said that grief is a journey unique to each soul, a solitary pilgrimage through the valleys of loss. Yet, in the whispers of your heartfelt condolences, a bridge is built—a connection that transcends the isolation of sorrow. Each carefully chosen word is a stepping stone across the river of despair, a small yet significant gesture that says, “You are not alone.”

As I reflect upon the value of sincerity, I am reminded that it is the invisible thread that weaves the fabric of genuine human connection.

To everyone who has taken a moment to offer SINCERE condolences, your kindness is a lantern in the darkness, a compass guiding through the labyrinth of sorrow.

And if you’re wondering, I find myself dreaming once more. Though not as vividly as before, the colors of my dreams are beginning to unfold gradually.

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I am a storyteller, trained to capture human emotions on film and paper. But when it comes to expressing my own, where do I begin? They say to start at the beginning, but where is that? The love of a mother has no clear origin, no defined end; it knows no bounds. It makes the impossible possible.

I took this photograph of my mother with the knowledge that, one day, she would no longer be here with us in the physical world. On that day, I asked her to sit with me and draw, but she couldn’t think of anything. How was it possible? We were just beginning to face one of our family’s greatest challenges, Alzheimer’s. Nobody knew she had it, and she was even scared of flying home alone.

Life had made her a widow with three children when she was my age. In those times, many people showed kindness, while others took advantage of our fallen tree. Despite the surreal circumstances life threw at us, we became a united “us.” This is a story I intend to write one day. She cried many times, as we all do, but the world never witnessed her tears. She wore a mask and carried on, for stopping meant surrendering to the pain. And warriors don’t surrender; they rise, again and again.

The true heroes don’t post on Instagram or Facebook; they often wear disguises. They’re your neighbors, the people you pass on your way out of the office, and the parents who refuse to give up, no matter the challenges they face.

I always thought I’d one day face my deepest fears. That day is today. Despite my presence on social media, I’m deeply private about my personal life. I share this because I know many people loved my mother, and I want them to know that she passed away peacefully, just as she faced life—with love, forgiveness, and a smile.

Do you know why I started writing children’s books and donating them around the world? Because I was once that child whose castle of love crumbled, and I needed the right words to hold onto hope for another day.

I would have gone insane witnessing my mother from afar as she entered the world of Alzheimer’s during the pandemic. This disease plays with the minds of its victims, but I’m thinking of the ones around them. Families often disintegrate under pressure, testing the limits of the decisions to be made and challenging our beliefs about what is right and wrong. But remember, I am a storyteller, like my father was, and pain offers only two choices: more pain or love. We chose the latter.

Three brothers: Reyes, Nano, and myself. A testament to the fact that we are our mother. Together, we stand strong through what will be the most challenging days of our recent life.

Pilar Ramiro, you were loved by many. I was one of those who saw you as a beacon of love. Our connection transcended mere understanding because warriors don’t truly die. You have become a part of us. May you enjoy your journey to the heavens.

With eternal love,

Kike