Above the Sea of Fog (Provincia de Marina Series #3)

Kabanata 35

Kabanata 35

Above the Sea of Fog

I was sitting on the visitor's lounge waiting for my mother's MRI result to come out. Si Saab ay hindi ko na muna pinasama ngayon dahil mahirap na at baka mawala siya rito sa ospital. I don't want to worry more about Saab's safety as my mind was already clouded with my mother's condition. Ang sabi ng doktor sa akin, walang dudang may sakit nga si Mama sa puso. Her laboratory tests says it all and they just needed to confirm using the MRI.

Napatayo ako nang mamataan na ang doktor na naka-assign sa amin. I was really thankful that she was willing to give me all the details about everything. Hindi ako maalam sa ganito kaya gusto kong maintindihan kung saan ba ito patungo o kung may kailangan ba akong gawin. Mabuti at ipinaliwanag din sa akin ang kaibahan ng iilang test.

The doctor had a sad smile on her face as she approached me. Bumati ako sa kaniya bago nagtanong ng tungkol sa resulta. She led me to her own office before she discussed the results. Ang sabi sa akin ay matagal talaga ang proseso ng MRI at tatagal ng iilang araw. As per my mother's case, it needs to be done immediately considering she hasn't woken up a few hours after the attack.

"We've completed the scan and found that your mom's heart muscle has become hypertrophic. Ibig sabihin lumalaki ito, which results to a blockage of blood flow. It's a rare condition and it's been connected to genetics. May alam ka bang relative ninyo na ganito rin ang karamdaman?  "

"Wala na po akong kilala, doc. Wala na rin naman akong naabutan noong ipinanganak ako," sagot ko.

"It's alright. Did you ask your mom about this? Kung hindi pa siya sisinugod sa ospital ay baka hindi niyo malalaman. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be a silent condition which means it doesn't show any signs. Kung hindi man siya nagsusumbong, hindi niyo talaga malalaman. Much worse on this condition is that patients are just gonna die without even knowing they have it."

"What's the possible treatment, Doc?"

"I'm going to say that some medications will work but as for your mom's case, dahil hindi na naagapan kaagad we're offering surgery or a heart transplant if we can't do any of the necessary surgeries."

"Ngayon ko na po ba agad ibibigay ang desisyon ko?"

"You may want to think about it. The patient had been frantic ever since she came here. Kailangan niyo rin siyang tanungin sa kaniyang gusto. We, doctors, are here to influence your decision but it's up to the patient whether not to do the surgery."

Kinagat ko ang labi at tumango. Tama nga naman ang doktor. Kahit na nagising na si Mama, gustong-gusto na niyang umalis. When she knew she was in Pueblo, she almost lost her cool. Kinailangan pa siyang pakalmahin ng iilang nurse dahil naaalis ang swero sa kaniyang kamay.

I have talked to my sisters regarding the surgery. Bata pa naman si Mama. We can't just let her die or experience a silent death because of her condition. Sa tingin ko, kaya hindi naman napapansin ng mga kapatid ko ang sintomas ay dahil hindi rin naman sila palagi sa bahay. If Sirena's in school, Shyra's also at work. Hindi nila nababantayan lahat ng kilos ni Mama kaya hindi rin naman nila alam na may sakit ito sa puso.

Umiiyak si Sirena nang ipaalam ko iyon. She immediately decided that our mother should take the surgery. Na kahit ayaw ni Mama, dapat na gawin iyon ng mga doktor kasi iyon ang mas nakabubuti.

Nagdesisyon ako na operahan na lang si Mama. Kahit pa ayaw niya sa desisyon, kailangan niya iyon, hindi para sa sarili niya pero para na rin sa mga kapatid ko. The doctor then explained to me the procedure as well as the risks. As for my mother's case, a septal myectomy was suggested. Kukunin lang daw ang iilang parte ng lumaking bahagi sa kaniyang puso upang makadaan nang maayos ang dugo. Bukas na bukas, ooperahan agad si Mama.