Please share your wonderful messages, stories, memories, and/or pictures of Neal by emailing them to nealaquino@gmail.com. Remember to tell us who you are and how you know Neal.
......
If you would like to make a donation to Neal's charity, please send your donation to:
Neal Aquino Memorial Scholarship
Dawn Perrin
UC College of Medicine
Director of Development & Educational Initiatives
(513) 558-2304 or dawn.perrin@uc.edu
Neal Aquino Intern Book Fund
Department of Emergency Medicine
41 Arch Street
Suite 521
Akron, OH 44309
......
Neal's family is so thankful to all of you for your continued support through this difficult time. Thanks for all the wonderful thoughts and prayers! Love and peace to all of you!
Wed
Feb
17
We hardly knew Neal except for the occasional “hi” and “Kamusta” in the parking lot and elevator of Park Place. We also sometimes ran into him around downtown Cincinnati. We knew him as the only other Filipino living in Park Place and that was all it took for us to say he is special.
We knew that he was an ER doctor, looking very free spirited with his convertible and was always smiling…who wouldn’t? Life is good. Living in Park Place is great. Nice car. Single. A good profession. He had a whole life ahead of him.
We were so shocked when we got the news of his passing. Immediately, the thought that ran into our minds is life is fragile. Life as we know it could change in an instant…and without any warning, without us doing anything wrong. And the tough part is that there’s nothing we can do to put it back where it was…even how it was one minute ago!
The fragility of life became more pronounced for us as we just came face-to-face with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease for the first time in our lives when we heard about Neal. We were moving Benedict’s dad to a nursing home and all that he could take/need is one week worth of clothing…most of which were pajamas. It really made us think about what is truly important in life. All the material things that we accumulate mean nothing at the end of life’s journey. All you have is your naked self in front of our Creator.
Neal will never know that even just the news of his passing to another life had a major impact in our lives. But that’s okay. We are still grateful that he came our way. It’s just like the saints who influenced millions of people unknown to them even centuries after they passed away. St. Therese of Lisieux wrote a diary that has changed the lives of many including our very own. St. Therese will never know us (at least in our earthly life) …just like Neal. We are, however, forever grateful for what they have shown us in their lifetime. They lived short but meaningful lives.
We have taken a faith journey after we left Park Place. In a way, we came and left Park Place at the same time. We both came with a lot of excitement. And, I would like to think that we both left to be with our Creator.
So, to our special Filipino neighbor, Neal…see you in the next life. In case you see Jesus, say hi for us! We’ll do the same for you…we’ll smile and say hi to people we meet along the way…we’ll bring to them the spirit of jolly Neal.
Kudos to a life well lived!
Benedict and Grace Lenon
Tue
Nov
3
I had the great pleasure of meeting my new neighbors today, the Aquinos. This was incredibly special as Neal worked with me on one of my first research projects as an attending at UC. It brought back so many good memories of our brief time together. I always knew Neal would choose Emergency Medicine as a specialty as he had the perfect “make-up” for the specialty. Neal is missed by many, but is always in our thoughts.
Rick Ryan
Thu
Aug
27
It’s been 2 years without my big brother and it hasn’t gotten any easier. One day without him felt like an eternity, 2 years is just miserable. I try to think that he’s now with me wherever I go, but sometimes that isn’t enough. I can’t hear him tell me silly stories or re-enact some cheesy line from a movie he just saw. I just have to keep telling myself that I will see him again one day and that keeps me going. I found this poem and I felt it would be good for my parents. It’s one thing losing a brother and best friend and another to lose your baby boy. Hope all of you keep Neal and my family in your thoughts and prayers today.
“I’ll lend you for a little while,
a child of mine” God said,
“for you to love the while he lives,
and mourn for when he’s dead.
It may be two or three short years,
or twenty-two or three,
but will you, till I call him back,
take care of him for me?
He’ll bring his charms to gladden you,
and should his stay be brief,
you’ll have his lovely memories
as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay,
since all from earth return,
but there are lessons taught down there
I want this child to learn.
I’ve looked the wide world over
in my search for teacher’s true,
and from the throngs that crowd life’s lanes,
I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love?
Nor think the labor vain?
Nor hate me when I come to call,
to take him back again?”
God fancied he heard the parent’s say,
“Dear Lord, thy will be done.
For all the joy the child shall bring,
the risk of grief I’ll run.
I’ll shelter him with tenderness,
I’ll love him while I may,
and for the happiness I’ve known
forever grateful I’ll stay.
But should the angels call for him,
much sooner than I planned,
I’ll brave the bitter grief that comes,
and try to understand.”
