Grateful for 2014: My Mom is Alive

It was December 5. The two older girls were in their MAPEH class. King, Gianna and I were just beginning our lunch at a Christmas party in Alabang.

THE CALL

Apparently my mom, who lived on her own in Makati some days of the week, had contacted my brother because she was not feeling well. When my brother arrived without a key, my mom could barely get up, walk, and open the door for him. She was very dizzy, and according to my brother who told me later on, she looked terrible, like a corpse almost. My brother called King and asked him to get to Makati right away to help him.

King did not even think twice. He didn’t finish his lunch. He immediately figured out a way to get to Makati since our car was prohibited that day due to number coding. I was the one who had a lot of questions because I had the baby with me, and my friend Bianca was set to give the older girls a ride to where we were after MAPEH. I needed to know how we were going to get home. Big thanks to Edrei and Thine for switching cars with King, and then giving us a ride home.

IN HOSPITAL

Ambulance, ER, ICU, regular room. It was my brother and King who took turns staying with my mom, as I could not because where I go, Gianna goes. It was too risky for the baby. The girls and I were not able to even just visit her.

Her sugar levels were high and she was given insulin. Her blood pressure was also very high. Her brain was swelling, hence the need for her to be in ICU. According to King, he could talk to my mom, but she would doze off pretty quickly. She was always sleepy, and her speech would slur every now and then. She could move her entire body while in bed, but was unable to stand or walk.

My mom suffered a stroke, and what was affected was her cerebellum, which is responsible for balance.

GRATEFUL

I learned later on that she was a candidate for brain surgery, but thank God her doctor said that she would only need physical therapy to learn to stand and walk again without falling. She was discharged from the hospital after 9 days.

I thought she would have a hard time doing regular things, but though she needed some help, she quickly adjusted and took care of herself in the bathroom. She uses a wheel chair and a quad cane to help her move about, and she can’t drive anymore or live alone anymore, but she is doing great! We have even gone around the mall during the holidays!

She moves so much faster than she used to when she first got out of hospital. Her therapist, who comes to the house 3 times a week, says she is doing better and getting stronger. My mom says she still gets dizzy at times, but she can also feel her improvement. And also a big plus is, NO MORE SMOKING! She has not smoked (I destroyed her stash) since the day she was brought to the hospital.

We thank the Lord that my mom is alive and well! I told her the other day that after three strokes (yes she has survived two before this one), she is a walking miracle. SHE IS A WALKING MIRACLE. Amazing that her previous strokes never left any evidence on her body and mind. And I know that it won’t be long before there wouldn’t be much evidence of this stroke either. God is good.

Our eldest daughter lost her Wowo too soon, and our two younger daughters lost the opportunity to be loved by him. And so we are very grateful that our tres marias have many years more to enjoy their Wowa. 🙂