So thankful

Photo by Ruben Hutabarat on Unsplash

The past two weeks were just the worst. We had to rush mommy to the hospital in the early morning of July 3 when she had trouble breathing because of her cough. At first, mom refused to be taken to the hospital that it took an older cousin from the States to convince her via a video call that she has to go because it’s not really looking very good for her. 

When we got to the Emergency Room (thankfully it’s not as congested as the previous months), she was immediately hooked to an oxygen tank to help with her breathing. The ER doctors said her heart rate, SpO2 (oxygen saturation), and blood pressure are okay, with no fever or other alarming symptoms. They deduced mom has pneumonia but as per protocol, she had to be swab-tested just to make sure it’s not COVID. 

Now here’s the thing: While waiting for the swab test results, the hospital wanted her to be transferred to the COVID ward because she’s considered a PUI and therefore can’t stay in the ER. Even if available, they can’t let mom stay in a private (clean) room either not until the results show she’s negative for COVID. 

My brothers and I, including our relatives from the States—were totally against getting her admitted to the COVID ward. Mom is already 81 and that makes her high-risk even if she’s fully vaccinated. We also know for a fact that she wouldn’t want that and she’d be mad as hell if we went ahead and consent to it.

The ER doctor can understand our hesitation so we were given the option to sign a waiver and let her recover at home. Anyway, he said, all my mom’s vitals are normal only that her coughing is giving her so much difficulty. 

While in this process, we were informed by a nurse that if we’ll be signing a consent form, the hospital has this rule where they cannot prescribe my mother any medication. Kuya and I spoke to the ER doctor about this and he said we don’t have to worry as he doesn’t agree with this hospital ruling. The good doctor assures us that mom will be given a prescription of antibiotics when she leaves. 

For the record, the hospital didn’t do any other procedures on mom (not even an X-ray or an ECG) but our bill went to as much as 50,000 pesos just for a half-day stay. They actually did this COVID panel test that costs us 38,000 pesos and we didn’t even know what that includes or if it was even necessary. It was highway robbery if you ask me but we have no choice but to pay it all. 

We bought two oxygen tanks the same day to help aid in mommy’s breathing. Later that night, kuya received mom’s swab test result showing she’s negative for COVID.

The next day, my friend Tetay offered to lend me their oxygen concentrator so that we wouldn’t have to have the tanks refilled every 8-10 hours of use. The oxygen concentrator can convert distilled water to pure oxygen and it was a tremendous help as it removed the expense for refilling and bringing the heavy tanks to and from the medical oxygen supplier.

For days my mom was very weak and shows little improvement. Her constant coughing is making it difficult for her to eat and sleep. There was also this added frustration when she lost her sense of hearing (probably because of her medication). Every day we’ll see her upset and almost in tears because of what she’s been going through. It’s hard for me and my brothers to see this, as my mom had always been this formidable person in our lives.

My brothers and I were restless and stressed all this time. I begged friends for prayers. This incident and mom’s pneumonia were just so nerve-wracking for me that I couldn’t even concentrate on work or any other things. Most of the time I feel sick myself and would just want to spend the entire day in bed if I could. Frankly, it got too much for me to handle that I deactivated most of my social media accounts because I cannot take further stress.

Bullheaded as she is, mom fought back hard. After a few days, she was able to eat on her own and walk a few steps. Mom also gradually stopped relying on the oxygen concentrator for her breathing. She started feeling well on the day of my nephew’s 6th birthday where she was in her best spirits. 

Her latest chest X-Ray shows that her lungs are clear, with the heart normal in size and configuration. If that isn’t a miracle through the power of collective prayers, I don’t know what that is. 

All we have to do now is get a pneumonia vaccine for her and hopefully she’d gain back her strength and the significant weight she lost. 

It was indeed a very tough time for the family, but I will be forever thankful to the people who helped out whether in cash or in kind because admittedly, my brothers and I can’t do this alone. To many of you who reached out and offered their prayers, thoughts, and encouragement, I wish you have the slightest idea how much that helped me especially when I was so close to my breaking point. 

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you very much. May God reward you all fittingly.