in sickness and in health.. [the little miracles that happen everyday]

Last Saturday, 5th of April, Mama and I went to the hospital (De Los Santos Medical Center) again for my check up with my gastroenterologist, Dr. Mario Adraneda. While I was lying on the bed, I could see the worry on my doctor's eyes. He asked his secretary to call someone, another doctor by the name Tony Ramos. Unfortunately, he isn't around until Friday of next week. Dr. Mario was really tensed and worried, but we had no idea what the problem was. He wanted me to undergo ultrasound and CT scan asap. He told his secretary to call the ultrasound department. He talked to the person in charged and he told her something like: "I have a patient here. May severe pain eh. Paki-scout naman, parang may nagpupulsate na mass." After that, he told us to go downstairs, look for Violy, and she will take care of us. By the way, before I forget, his secretary, Ate Cecille, is also a member of the community (Couples for Christ) and we belong to the same sector, East A. Small world isn't it? ^_^

Moving on, we went to the ultrasound room and waited for our turn. Wala na kameng pera, P500 lang yung dala ni Mama at yung P400, binayad na namin kay Dr. Mario. I texted Kuya Tirso kasi siya lang ang kilala kong may motor. Hindi pwede si Papa kasi may byahe siya that time. I asked Kuya Pip kung pwede niya kameng dalhan ng pera kasi wala na talaga kameng pambayad. Sabi ni Kuya, may P600 daw siya kaya lang nasa Katipunan pa siya at 5pm pa matatapos yung activity nila.

Tinawag na ako for ultrasound. Bahala na. I stayed for around 5-10 minutes inside the room. Ganun pala yung ultrasound, may gel.. hehe.. I didn't know that. The last time I had ultrasound, hindi naman ganun. Transrectal kaya walang gel. After the procedure, binigay ni Ms. Violy yung result and the good thing was, hindi niya kame pinagbayad, sagot na daw ni Doc Mario. Whew talaga! Pagbalik namin sa room ni Dr. A, sabi niya normal naman daw, but he advised us to see Dr. Tony. Again, wala na kameng pera, kaya kinausap muna ni Mama si Dr. Tony. Tinanong niya kung hanggang anong siya nandun kasi nga maghahanap muna kame ng pambayad. But God is good talaga, He sends good people when they are needed the most. Sabi ni Dr. Tony, hindi namin siya kelangang bayaran. Bumalik lang siya para sken, kasi tinawagan siya ni Dr. Mario para tingnan ako. Dr. Tony Ramos is a thoracic and vascular surgeon at galing pa siya ng Lung Center. And mind you, sobrang traffic sa E. Rodriguez at that time. Ang bait niya talaga, at salamat na lang kasi si Dr. Mario ang doctor ko. Sabi nga ni Dr. Tony, sobrang bait daw talaga ni Dr. Mario kaya hindi niya kayang hindian. Dun lang namin nalaman na sobrang nag-aalala si Dr. Mario kasi ang hinala niya, may aneurism ako. At sabi nga ni Dr. Tony, nakakabahala talaga yun. Buti na lang at normal ang result ng ultrasound ko. Pero hindi pa rin ako ligtas, I still need to undergo CT scan of the abdomen asap. May isa pang test na pinapagawa, FT3T4, which has something to do with the thyroid. Alarming na raw kasi yung patuloy na pagbawas ng timbang ko despite the fact na malakas naman akong kumain. Eto yung last three weights ko in pounds: 79.8, 79.1, 78.5. I never reached 40 kgs. Naglalaro lang sa 34-36kgs. At sabi ni Dr. Mario, baka raw may goiter ako sa loob. That's what he wants to confirm. Ang dami ko ng tests at ang laki na rin ng nagagastos namin. Last Tuesday, April 1, pumunta ako sa ortho ko at hindi rin maganda yung balita niya. He wanted to admit me but I told him that we don't have the money. Kaya pumayag siya na out patient na lang yung tests ko. I had ECG, Chest X-ray, and blood tests. Buti na lang at estudyante pa rin ako ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas kaya nakalibre ako sa ibang test. What I thought of as a curse before eventually turned out to be a blessing. I mean, if I already had graduated, I would no longer be able to avail the services for free or at a minimal cost. Nakaganda pa rin pala na delayed ako sa graduation, for as long as I'm a UP student, alaga ako ng Infirmary/University Health Service. Ok naman yung results ng x-ray at ECG, i guess. Pero sa blood test, medyo may sablay. I haven't seen Dr. Oreta though kaya hindi ko pa rin alam kung anong mangyayari. Anyway, yun nga, Dr. Tony wrote a letter to the UP Health Service for my CT Scan. It would cost me from 10-12 thousand pero dahil nga estudyante ako, ni-request niya na i-refer ako sa PGH para makalibre or at least discount man lang. By the way, UP graduate din si Dr. Tony and he understands my situation. Sabi nga niya, yayaman din daw ako, tsaka ko na lang daw siya balikan. At that time, kausap ko rin si Mars sa text, and she told me that a miracle will come my way soon. And true enough, a miracle came my way that very moment. Kaya nga sabi ko sa kanya, "sis, may miracle na!" God is indeed good and He will always be a good God.

Hay, ang dami ko ng pinagkakautangang doctor. At salamat sa mga mabubuting taong gaya nila.

Dr. Deo Abe, Dra. Lilia Acantilado, Dr. Mario Adraneda, Dr. Edmund Oreta, Dr. Pete Guevarra, Dr. Daniel Caro, Dr. Tony Ramos - sobrang salamat po.

At sa lahat ng taong nagdadarasal para sken, maraming salamat. I know God will return to you the favor. I don't have the resources to pay you back, all I can assure you is that you'll always be in my prayers.

Thank you so much people. I believe, this too, shall pass.

My daughter Melai told me to take a break first. Sabi niya sken, "Mommy, wag ka munang magserve. Magpahinga ka muna. Wag ka munang pumunta sa CLP, sa music min. Don't worry, kaya ko 'to (facilitator kasi siya) kasi pinalaki mo ako nang maayos. I will make you proud Mommy. Hindi kita ipapahiya." We're both teary-eyed that night, and I was really touched by what she said. But I assured her na kaya ko pa. Sabi nga ni Tito Bernie sa talk niya, "love God with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength." And that's all I'm doing. Hindi ko kayang iwan ang service at ang community kasi mahal ko yun. And nothing or no one could ever stop me from loving and serving God. Not even sickness. Not anything. Don't worry guys, alam ko kung hanggang saan ang kaya ko. At hangga't kaya ko pa, mananatili akong active sa service. Besides, never naman akong pinabayaan ni God e. And I know, He will never leave me.

Hanggang sa muli. Pahinga muna ako.

God bless everyone! ^_^

Pain is good. Pain keeps me alive.

~*When the oceans rise and thunders roar, I will soar with You above the storm. Father, You are King over the flood, I will be still, know You are God.*~