Thanks to an anonymous tipster, I now know what happened to Abilass Jeyarajah, the child who came to represent the heartbreak of the tsunami. You might remember the excruciating circumstances he survived, before being reunited with his family:
Initially, eight other couples had tried to claim him, sparking a drama that captured hearts around the world and became a symbol of the tragedy that killed nearly 31,000 people on the island.[msnbc]
Technology made the sword of Solomon unnecessary:
Abilass was given to his mother and father by hospital officials after a local court ruled that DNA tests confirmed he belonged to the couple, who lost him in the Dec. 26 tsunami.[msnbc]
Here lies the caption to the Reuters picture above, which leaves me wanting to pinch chubby cheeks (but all I get is screen):
Tsunami survivor Abilass Jeyarajah, also known as ‘Baby 81’, plays in his new home in the Cheddipalaiyam village of Batticaloa, eastern Sri Lanka October 19, 2005. Nearly 10 months after he was found among tsunami debris to become a beacon of hope and Sri Lanka’s best-known survivor, ‘Baby 81’ celebrated his first birthday on Wednesday with a trip to a Hindu temple.[yahoo]
Awww. Happy Birthday, little one. It’s your day, but I was the one who received a present; I love it when I get to see a follow-up story about someone or something which moved me. Like young master Wiggums once said, “Maybe it’s presents for all of us!” Maybe, indeed. ;)
