Two months of absence and I'm finally back. Na-miss ko kayo mga ateng!
For the past few months, sobra akong na-challenge sa buhay. I was fighting for my mom's life. Kwento ko na sa inyo dahil knowsline ko na ang dami kong utang sa inyo.
May of this year nang ma-ospital sa
UST si
La Mudra due to kidney failure. She has diabetes and blood pressure problems at naging komplikasyon nito ang pagkasira ng kanyang mga bato. According to the nephrologist, 5% na lang ang function ng kanyang kidney. This means tumataas ang creatinine level or waste product sa dugo niya. The best thing we need to do is to prepare her for dialysis or else, malalagay sa alanganin ang buhay niya. I know costly ang procedure na 'yan since I did my own research. Medyo nawala ako sa huwisyo for a moment and I asked myself, how can I sustain this medication nang mag-isa? I prayed hard and cried so many times but I know that's not enough. I need to act the soonest. Ang payo ni doc, ilagay sa singit ang dialysis access. Hindi daw kaya ng ugat niya sa braso ang
fistula o
AV graft. Ayaw ni La Mudra kaya nagpa-second opinion kami sa
National Kidney and Transplant Institute.
Tiningnan siya ng surgeon at nephrologist at sinabing pwede naman daw sa braso ang access. Agad-agad na inadmit siya sa ospital to prepare her for the surgery. La Mudra is my dependent sa HMO but we already consumed the limit. Buti na lang at nakapag-SSS loan ako kaya kahit papaano ay may nabunot ako. Thankful din ako dahil lahat ng Senior Citizens ngayon ay covered na ng
PhilHealth. At least, makakabawas sa expenses.
The day after the surgery, my mom felt dizzy and vomited a lot. Kailangan daw ng emergency dialysis so she needs to undergo another operation para malagyan ng immediate access sa leeg. Hindi pa kasi pwede 'yung AV graft sa braso because it takes weeks para magamit. Go lang nang go para sa ikagagaling ni La Mudra. After a few days, she was discharged and I need to look for a dialysis center para sa lifetime dialysis niya.
Kellie, my college friend sent me a PM on Facebook. She offered her help and expertise in nursing. She's a hemodialysis nurse in Middle East and she knows the feeling. She gave me tips on how to take care of a hemodialysis patient - the diet, fluid intake etc. She also referred me to
St. John Biocare in Quezon Ave. May friend siya doon na nurse who can take care of my mom. I immediately went there to ask several questions. Infairness, ang babait ng staff and nurses. I know La Mudra will be in good hands.
I processed the PhilHealth forms, referral, treatment sheets, laboratory results etc. Sobrang daming documents. I got tired but I didn't stop all for the love of La Mudra. She's the most important woman in my life; the first person who took care of me, my first home and for her, I will never give up!
 |
| La Mudra while on dialysis |
Every dialysis, she needs to be injected with
Recormon or
Epoetin-beta. This is to prevent her to have low count of hemoglobin. It was another challenge for me because ang range ng gamot ay between 1200 - 1700. Three times a week ang dialysis ni mama at 90 sessions a year ang sagot ng PhilHealth. I'm still broke from her previous hospitalizations. The good thing is madami kang makaka-chikahan sa ospital. They will refer you to goverment institutions na tumutulong sa mga nangangailangan. I went to
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
Sa dami nang nangangailangan, kailangan early bird ka sa pagpila. Wala pang ala-sais ng umaga, sobrang daming tao na. Bago pa mag-office hours, nag-cutoff na sila. I understand that they cannot accomodate thousands and thousands of Filipinos who are in need of help. My opinion is that they are understaffed. I have high hopes that the new president will fix this.
As long as you have complete papers, matutulungan ka ng PCSO. Hassle kapag kulang kasi pababalikin ka at mag-aantay ulit ng forever. Sa mga hindi naniniwala sa forever, punta kayo sa PCSO. T'yak ang forever niyo.
CHAROT! Sometimes, they will ask you for some documents na hindi naman nakapaskil sa tarpaulin o website nila. Maiging magdala ng kopya ng lab results, reseta, authorization letter, goverment IDs at lahat ng dokumentong ibibigay ng ospital. Magiging suki ka na rin ng mga pa-xerox na tindahan. Tip para makatipid, bago pa lumarga ay magpa-photocopy na sa
Copytrade para 50 cents lang kada kopya. Dos kasi sa iba at sa dami ng kailangan, talagang lalaki ang gastusin mo.
I was accommodated middle of June. Pinabalik ako ng first week of July. Ininterview at pinabalik ulit. Sa wakas, nakuha ko ang guarantee letter na magsu-sustain sa Recormon ni La Mudra. Salamat sa Diyos!
I will never forget the 19th of July this year. While La Mudra is on dialysis, she had a stroke. Umakyat sa 400 ang dugo niya. I found myself crying with my older sister and nephew. She was disoriented and had difficulties in talking. We needed to rush her to the hospital since hindi kaya ng dialysis center ang ganoong condition. We went straight sa ER ng NKTI. The doctors checked on her. I told the staff that we are a "service patient". This means that hindi kami "pay patient". Here's the difference:
Pay patient - you have a consultant doctor who will check on you. You need to shoulder everything whether it's HMO, insurance or in cash. Private din dapat ang room mo.
Service patient - you need to speak with a social service worker so they can assess you. They will give you a white card and that will take care most of the expenses. You also have to wait na magkaroon ng slot sa service ward. We were in the ER for almost 3 days. Nasa gilid lang at nag-aantay ng turn para ma-check ng mga resident doctors.
Precious, my officemate na nagpursue ng nursing ay staff sa ospital. I PM'd her on FB at 'di siya nagdalawang isip na ako'y tulungan. Through her, na-dialysis agad si mama at nagkaroon ng slot sa service ward. She was like an angel sent from above. I cannot thank her enough for what she did. Marami pa rin talagang mabubuting tao sa mundo.
My mom was able to recover from stroke within 24 hours but it was critical according to the doctors. They needed to observe her within 7 days. Once na nakalagpas sa 7 days, that's the time they can declare na wala na siya sa critical stage. Through prayers and continuous observations, La Mudra was able to surpass the timeline. Immediately, na-rehab siya for physical therapy. Unti-unti ang kanyang improvement. After almost 2 weeks of being in the hospital, she was finally discharged.
Right now, continuous ang kanyang medication and dialysis. Next week, she will have her first blood transfusion. Bumaba ang kanyang hemoglobin which resulted to vomiting and muscle weakness.
This experience made me change the way I see love for my mom. I needed to be strong for her. I still want her to experience how beautiful life is and I'll do whatever it takes to extend her life for 10, 20 or 30 more years. With our prayers, I know La Mudra will surpass this.
 |
| Precious moments with La Mudra through the years |
At kung buhay pa ang inyong mga magulang, 'wag mahihiyang iparamdam at ipakita sa kanila kung gaano sila kahalaga sa buhay niyo. Hug and kiss them everyday. Tell how much you love them. Be affectionate and show appreciation on whatever they do for you. And never ever take them for granted.
I'm glad to be back! I have lots of stories for you, mga ateng. Mwah mwah!
