You have probably heard of the tragedy-miracle event of a small plane crashing in the Colombian Amazon, with 4 children (siblings) surviving in the forest for 40 days, before being saved by the Colombian army. The tragedy is that their mother along with two other adults died, and the miracle is that the 4 children survived the crash and a 40-day ordeal in the Amazon, with all sorts of snakes and mosquitoes and other harmful creatures.
There are much symbolism and superlatives to write about in this affair, such as the children’s age, ranging from 13 years to 11 months; the fact that the family is an indigenous family from Amazon; the fact that the 2 older children are from one father, and the 2 younger ones from another one, neither of whom was on the plane. The 13 year old took the lead and through the knowledge that she/they had gathered as local(s) was/were able to find food and survive.The articles that I have seen keep talking about the heroic efforts of the children, and how the combination of indigenous knowledge and modern knowledge/technology allowed the survival and saving of the children.
All of these are true to a certain point, and that people refer to them shows the impact of this ordeal, but the other day, I was thinking about something else. Something that I consider to be much bigger than these.
I was thinking about the bond these 4 people will have between them to the end of their lives. Let’s also not forget the symbolism. A common mother whose death they all witnessed, two different fathers, although we don’t know where the first one is. Their bond goes beyond sibling bond. It is the fusion of destinies.
From what I have read, there is already a fight between the maternal grandparents and the father of the two youngest children for custody. I just hope life does not separate the children and that the fight for custody is for the children’s well-being and not to access the potential revenues their life stories, now and the future will bring.
Paris, June 19, 2023
Zeejay