A beauty or a beast?

Posted by queenmadison

This is Florante Bayle.58 years old. My uncle, cousin of mom’s. He has a rare skin disease called Neurofibromatosis , but despite of his appearance he has many goals in life. He is kind and very helpful. And when it comes to news and current affairs he is always updated. He’s like a walking radio.
Fury, as we call him, was raised with despise from his own father. He was my grandmother’s adopted son since he was unwanted in their home. He stays with my grandmother until his father died. Though he wasn’t born with the disease, he grown with it. He was 13 years old when rashes occurred in his skin. And ofcourse because he live in the society where they blame nature for everything they said he was cursed. Not believing my grandmother, his aunt, brought him to Manila to be cured but at that time, 1960’s cure for his disease was not yet invented. They did try everything from herbals to medicals. From medical doctors to faith healers and witch doctors. Nothing happened. He has no choice but to grow with the “skin”. This doesn’t stop him from reaching some goals in his life, like being everybody’s bestfriend. He is the friendliest guy in our neighborhood. Children, look at him like Santa Claus during Christmas cause whenever he has money or chocolates (given by his sister in Germany), he shares them without hesitation. He helps out in the family by being a male nanny to his nephews and nieces and now even to their children! Not only in the family that he shares that role has he also taken care some of the children here in our place. And he is a great story teller, he tells stories of folklore and such when I was just a kid.
“He’s a beast! He must be burnt to death!” said his father. He chases him with 2x2 thick stick and throw rocks at him whenever he sees him. Poor Fury doesn’t even curse or hated his father by doing that to him. He says, “I am blessed with family whom loved me so dearly, not having a father at my side doesn’t bother me at all!”
We all love him here, he will always be beautiful even not by appearance but by his works, he is Beauty. I will not argue with the comments he receives everyday by those who doesn’t know him personally, because, mostly of those who judge him are those who have flaws even not in appearance but as a person. I am a witness of this person’s good deeds. And nothing in this world can ever pay whatever he did for us, for our community, for those he touched their lives.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for such a beautiful story.

Anonymous said...

This made me want to be a better person.

Anonymous said...

wow, very nice. there is a woman who works near my job who must have this same disease. she has these "boils" all over her face and hands..never seen anything like it before. never knew what i was and didn't dare to ask. thanks for sharing this, now i know.

MeiYah said...

as what the saying goes; Don't judge the book by it's cover". Nice post...

Utah Mommy said...

Good one, touching story. thanks for sharing!

Shawie said...

must be a tough life for him but he's so blessed in Heaven:)

Anonymous said...

Yap that's part of life.

queenmadison said...

Fury isn't the only one experiencing this kind of disease, it's just up to the person on how to deal with life. Appearance is indeed a major factor in a person but no matter how beautiful you are when your perspective in life is uglier than ugly then you are a beast. Fury faces day to day challenges with positive view and with our love and support for him.My story helps you to realize how we are all blessed in a very special way.

Anonymous said...

Beauty, truly is in the heart and soul of a person.

Unknown said...

I saw someone with this disease on the Discovery channel. An American doctor was trying to help with the disease.

I didn't think that I would ever see another person with it since it is so rare.

It is beautiful that his kind nature shines through despite the outward appearance.

Anonymous said...

Such a beautiful person indeed. He is always loved and God knows that his heart is made of gold.
At tama ka, marami dyan magaganda o gwapo , sobrang pangit naman ang ugali----nakakadiri tuloy sila.

desperateblogger said...

are you sure nothing medical can be done about it? i think you should contact PGH and refer him. ok wait. i'll contact PGH and ask. i'll let you know.

Unknown said...

hello! that is a very beautiful story.. i also have neurofibromatosis but type 2 though or NF2 and i have tumors in my brain and spine and skin as well though it's not that obvious.. unfortunately, there's no cure for NF yet but nothing is impossible.. anyway, i your uncle has a very beautiful heart.. take care n God bless!

Lisa C. said...

True testament that you can't judge a book by it's cover. Fury is definitely a lovely, kind, giving individual who doesn't let this skin condition control him. More power to Fury.

I need a Fury here... lol.. Can he babysit for me?

Unknown said...

he has love in his heart and true inner beauty which is most important in life. Oh, if everyone possessed that inner beauty of a kind heart, what a world it would be!

Swapna said...

What a strong, beautiful person... thanks for sharing this story.

Glitter Text 

Generator