Last year was our saddest when my mother faced a very challenging one and it is about her health. I never thought at first that my mom would have that. I really knew my mom that she was very healthy and strong, though a bit heavy in her weight. But with what happened to her last year was the least thing I could think of to us as a family when her health became deteriorating.
This would be the very first time I'll be telling to you about what happened to her and what happened to us as a family. April of 2011 when she felt something in her body. She felt, right after our Visita Iglesia, a different kind of tiredness on her body. The very next day, she became too weak. I still remember we went to Shopwise in Alabang just to have some groceries. We even had a little fight inside of our car about money. Maybe, because of too much thinking on her problems and the problems of our family, she had that kind of weakness, an unusual unlike others. There was a time that while she and my brother were going home from our village chapel, she unknowingly fell down on the road. The guys from the store quickly hurried to my mom, and told us that she was actually sleeping while walking. There were also moments that it was nearing midnight when we went to the emergency room of Medical Center Muntinlupa just to check her because she was not feeling well. Good thing that the doctors assisted her and gave her medicines. May of 2011 was the first worst month for all of us.
This was the month when she felt her weakness more deteriorating and excruciating. It was my first day of school when I received some continuous phone calls from my sister. I wasn't able to answer some of her calls because of so many things to be done at school. By the time I checked all of the messages from her, I read one message in which it was too controversial. Her message wrote that my mom was able to admit at the Asian Hospital due to her weakness. Earlier that morning, she wasn't able to get up from the bed and she was also having a hard time preparing herself. It was the time when we had our fiesta and we guessed that she was really tired. We even asked an albularyo to see if my mom was being played by some elves or engkantos in our backyard and front yard. One doctor from the hospital suggested if my mom could undergo an CT scan, checking her head. Then the next news is the worst news I had ever received in my entire life.
My sister told me through the phone that there was a tumor seen near her left ear. After I heard that, I screamed and even my co-teacher heard me. I rushed to my best buddy, Kenneth telling about this whole thing. I told him also that this was the very first time that my mom would have this. I also told this to my other friend, Ms. Arlene and she gave me a quick remedy of thinking positive beyond that news. At that time, because I heard the word "tumor," I thought that probably, my mom has cancer but my friends did tell me that not all tumors can become cancerous. This was also the time that I became too prayerful to Him, asking Him forgiveness and blessing us with courage and determination in facing this trial. I was looking at my father; he doesn't know what to do. I was also looking to my brother, he even asked my mom if she was about to die. I was looking and talking to my sister because she was the one dealing with all of the doctors in the hospital. By the time I was about to meet my mom, she told me that I must not cry and I must not show what I feel to my mom. I did but inside of me, I was really crying.
I was eagerly listening to the explanation of the doctors about her condition. Her condition was a tumor near her ear and the size of it was like a golf ball. Another issue in her head was a hydrocephalus. There was a water inside of her brain that was why she was always feeling sleepy and her balance does not work good. The only thing to be done on her was the removal of the tumor and putting a shanting inside of her brain to drain away the liquid that was formed inside of it. We would really want to know if that's a case of brain cancer, or a brain tumor or whatsoever. After that, we decided that my mom should be admitted just until she became better. We stayed at the hospital for four days and afterwards, we went home already. I was really crying, that was one of the greatest cries I've done and the reason is my family. It was also the time that I started asking favors for St. Jude, thanks to my dear friend, Juanito. At school, prayers were all pouring for my mom. At our community, prayers were also pouring down for her. I am so happy because we really knew who were our friends.
I thought she was already okay when the night after the day she went home, she again felt weakness and this time, it was really not okay. My two sisters and my father rushed her to the nearest hospital and our family doctor suggested to us that she should again admit. Same brand of medicines were given to my mom and she was needed to take it just to ease the pain she felt. Mother's Day of last year was also considered to be our loneliest because we were celebrating it while my mother was in deep pain. Good thing because she was not like the others who were bedridden, comatose and 50-50 of chances. Good thing because we could still talk to her and she could still talk to us. But one Sunday, I really felt how my mother was really helpless in her condition. My sister and our family friend were talking in front of her and all she had to do was to listen. I saw her how sad her eyes were; the very first time I saw that to her. But indeed, she was truly a fighter. She even said to us and to her doctors that she was not really afraid of dying. And that's the courage I really wanted to possess.
And the big day came, it was September 19, 2011, Monday. I was supposed to go to the Philippine General Hospital but my sisters allowed me to go to school. My mind was not really with my students and with the school (last year, we were celebrating our Foundation Day) because I was thinking about my mom's operation. She told us that when the time she was about to get prepped for the operation, what she remember was, she was lying on the operation table and she slept. Maybe it was the time that the anesthesia was already taking effect on her body. I kept on praying and sending messages to my sisters on how was she. She undergone operation for 6 hours, removing the tumor in her right ear near her brain, and gladly it was a success. After the operation, she went straight to the Intensive Care Unit of PGH, and again, thanks God, she was easily awakened and a bit nosy to some of the nurses. After a few hours, she was getting ready to move to her private room. For just one day, the operation went fast, smooth and good, thanks to the doctors!
The following day after her operation, I, together with my co-teachers and students, went to Showtime to watch together. I was very happy because they chose me to represent our institution for the batian portion of the show. After greeting all of the people from our school, I wholeheartedly dedicated one message to my mom, saying "pagaling ka, Ma!" It was not an accidental, not an ad lib whatever; it really came from my heart from a son in which she knew that I don't have everything caring to much for her for just a simple message saying she should get well! After that, I went to the hospital to check on her and happily she could already speak but not on a complete detail and sentence. Going home, Kuya Bong and I said our rosary and thanked God for the greatness and intelligence he gave to the doctors and nurses and for the courage he gave to my Mom!
She stayed at the hospital for one week for a full recovery and then it was really good because as the day passes, her health became better and better. We had high hopes that her health are in good state and it was! Even though PGH is considered a government hospital, the doctors are the best. One example of their best is what have they done to my mom. Her last day was Sunday and she was really excited to see home. Lots of her friends went straight to our home just to visit her and of course, dedicated a prayer and sweet message to her. There were moments of crying, but it was all paid off with fun and laughter since our family and my mom is known to be like that.
Now, it has been a year and Mama is absolutely and gorgeously fine. She went back to her doctors and they said to my Mom that it seems that nothing had happened on her. And now, because of those things, she is taking good care of her body. Nothing is great if you are very, very healthy! My family may have faced a challenge that could possibly change our views and our lives, still we were all intact as one. I am so proud of my family, with or without problems we are one big HAPPY FAMILY!
"A family in harmony will prosper in everything." - Chinese Proverb
Toodles!
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