By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
Even something as dire as suffering a heart attack, has some positive side.
But first the uncertainties and the risks. When I wakened my wife for us to go to the hospital, something she wanted to do the day before, I did not even know we could disturb anybody on that ungodly hour of 4:00 a.m. to drive us to the hospital. That was very iffy as we live on a mountain 20 kilometers away from the city. But I was resigned to my fate and surrendered everything to God. On the first try, a neighbor of ours 3 kilometers away, responded positively. His rickety ex-taxi arrived just in time after we dressed up appropriately enough. I was having difficulty breathing and my passing out any time was a very likely possibility. If that happened, my emerging at the end of tunnel paralyzed or comatose was floating in my brain. Luckily, we reached BGH, the medical facility nearest to us, in 30 minutes. When we got there, the people who attended us were student nurses and did not know what they were doing. Not even where the wheelchair I was on should be directed. We went to three stations, wasting valuable minutes, until finally a petite young lady doctor appeared from somewhere in the emergency room (ER) and directed us on the side where the bank of oxygen outlets were found. At last, I could breath a little bit easier. She guessed right away what was wrong with me. My lungs were filled with water. She was looking at my bloated feet with great interest. Her suspicion was confirmed much later after an x-ray and the remedial emergency measures were administered on me.
In all those precious seconds, I was brooding as to what life would be for me if my earlier fear of suffering some great physical impairment like paralysis would happen to me. In the midst of prayers (yes, I was really scared) but I also had faith, that even if that happened, God might design a fulfilling life fit for whatever condition I would be in. I was even recalling people I know who got used to having crutches or being in a wheelchair and they had productive and fulfilling lives. Well, it would certainly be different, but I was sure there would be a life. Though it would take some getting used to.
Then the bad news. We would be treated as COVID suspects and would be isolated. My mind was already adding up the theoretical costs, recalling that some had to shell out almost a million pesos to get through COVID. How about being in the ICU? I was already counting hundreds of thousands of pesos, and the futility of even thinking about it. A ray of hope was emerging though as my breathing was becoming better even if we were still in the ER.
There were of course all sorts of medical procedures going on with me including my being swabbed for the COVID test. When daylight came, we were led to the COVID isolation room where we spent about two days waiting for the results. My vital signs were of course being monitored every hour. This was where resigning your fate to God became handy. We just had to wait, as we waited. Pills and injections were also administered me to drain the water downing my lungs and other internal organs. And I was responding well. Then came the good news. I was negative for COVID.
Only the verdict of the cardiologist and the kidney specialists had to awaited if we could be discharged. In due time, these came and we got discharged three days after. As I texted a friend, patients get discharged either to continue medication at home (and praying also) or to just continue praying. During those times, I composed a short article on my hospital bed about my condition which I messaged to friends, colleagues, relatives, and former classmates with the call for help, that their prayers were needed so we could indeed be discharged in a day or two. They all responded positively everywhere on the planet, and it happened.
There are still a lot of medical procedures to go through, but I already resigned my fate, so am relatively at peace.
There were also the positive things that happened. An American neighbor called. “I read in your column that you went to the hospital. What happened?” I said, heart attack.
Then he added, why is your car just sitting on your yard? Just tell me if you need parts from the States. I said, no, thank you. The car is complete. It is just a broken bolt I could fix later, in good time.
And the best thing occurred at the office. A lady friend of long ago dropped by the office to give some cash as a form of help. When you are badly in need, any amount is like a million pesos. But while the amount was very good, the spirit of giving at a time of need was a million times better.
Any time, there is always a good side to even the “baddest” of situations. I guess, we just have to believe, and try to make others believe. **The brighter side
Even something as dire as suffering a heart attack, has some positive side.
But first the uncertainties and the risks. When I wakened my wife for us to go to the hospital, something she wanted to do the day before, I did not even know we could disturb anybody on that ungodly hour of 4:00 a.m. to drive us to the hospital. That was very iffy as we live on a mountain 20 kilometers away from the city. But I was resigned to my fate and surrendered everything to God. On the first try, a neighbor of ours 3 kilometers away, responded positively. His rickety ex-taxi arrived just in time after we dressed up appropriately enough. I was having difficulty breathing and my passing out any time was a very likely possibility. If that happened, my emerging at the end of tunnel paralyzed or comatose was floating in my brain. Luckily, we reached BGH, the medical facility nearest to us, in 30 minutes. When we got there, the people who attended us were student nurses and did not know what they were doing. Not even where the wheelchair I was on should be directed. We went to three stations, wasting valuable minutes, until finally a petite young lady doctor appeared from somewhere in the emergency room (ER) and directed us on the side where the bank of oxygen outlets were found. At last, I could breath a little bit easier. She guessed right away what was wrong with me. My lungs were filled with water. She was looking at my bloated feet with great interest. Her suspicion was confirmed much later after an x-ray and the remedial emergency measures were administered on me.
In all those precious seconds, I was brooding as to what life would be for me if my earlier fear of suffering some great physical impairment like paralysis would happen to me. In the midst of prayers (yes, I was really scared) but I also had faith, that even if that happened, God might design a fulfilling life fit for whatever condition I would be in. I was even recalling people I know who got used to having crutches or being in a wheelchair and they had productive and fulfilling lives. Well, it would certainly be different, but I was sure there would be a life. Though it would take some getting used to.
Then the bad news. We would be treated as COVID suspects and would be isolated. My mind was already adding up the theoretical costs, recalling that some had to shell out almost a million pesos to get through COVID. How about being in the ICU? I was already counting hundreds of thousands of pesos, and the futility of even thinking about it. A ray of hope was emerging though as my breathing was becoming better even if we were still in the ER.
There were of course all sorts of medical procedures going on with me including my being swabbed for the COVID test. When daylight came, we were led to the COVID isolation room where we spent about two days waiting for the results. My vital signs were of course being monitored every hour. This was where resigning your fate to God became handy. We just had to wait, as we waited. Pills and injections were also administered me to drain the water downing my lungs and other internal organs. And I was responding well. Then came the good news. I was negative for COVID.
Only the verdict of the cardiologist and the kidney specialists had to awaited if we could be discharged. In due time, these came and we got discharged three days after. As I texted a friend, patients get discharged either to continue medication at home (and praying also) or to just continue praying. During those times, I composed a short article on my hospital bed about my condition which I messaged to friends, colleagues, relatives, and former classmates with the call for help, that their prayers were needed so we could indeed be discharged in a day or two. They all responded positively everywhere on the planet, and it happened.
There are still a lot of medical procedures to go through, but I already resigned my fate, so am relatively at peace.
There were also the positive things that happened. An American neighbor called. “I read in your column that you went to the hospital. What happened?” I said, heart attack.
Then he added, why is your car just sitting on your yard? Just tell me if you need parts from the States. I said, no, thank you. The car is complete. It is just a broken bolt I could fix later, in good time.
And the best thing occurred at the office. A lady friend of long ago dropped by the office to give some cash as a form of help. When you are badly in need, any amount is like a million pesos. But while the amount was very good, the spirit of giving at a time of need was a million times better.
Any time, there is always a good side to even the “baddest” of situations. I guess, we just have to believe, and try to make others believe. **
