Brave the Storm (La Familia Series #1)

Chapter 29

"Mr. Sanchez, with all the tests we've conducted we've found out that some of the cancer cells have spread in your liver." Nakita ko kung paano humigpit ang hawak ni mommy sa kamay ni daddy. "We suggest for you to have surgery to prevent the further spread of cancer cells, and afterward proceed with chemotherapy."

Nagbaba ng tingin si daddy at humugot ng malalim na hininga bago niya muling ibinalik kay Dr. Torres ang tingin, "What are the risks, doc? I'm no expert when it comes to this pero I have stage IV colon cancer... would those treatments really give me a shot in life again?" hindi agad nakasagot si Dr. Torres.

Hindi dahil hindi niya alam ang isasagot pero kasi mahirap... mahirap sabihin ang katotohanan na hindi mo nasasaktan ang kalooban.

Pero kasi kailangan sabihin.

Kailangan namin gawin kesa bigyan sila ng maling pag-asa.

Kasi kailangan nila maging handa— ano man ang maging resulta.

"Every surgery has its risk, Mr. Sanchez pero we have the best surgeons in our hospital. We will take care of you," agad akong napatango sa sinabi ni Dr. Torres. We will take good care of dad. That's a sure thing.

Lahat gagawin ko para gumaling si dad.

Kailangan niya gumaling.

Nalipat ang tingin sa 'kin ni dad. His eyes were asking and I nodded. I know he can do this, he promised me that he will fight. Sandali pang nagtagal ang tingin niya sa 'kin bago sandaling pumikit at binalik ang tingin kay Dr. Torres. "I'll do the surgery and chemo, doc," I sighed in relief. He looked at me for a brief moment, 'thank you' I mouthed and he just smiled at me.

It was the day of surgery, I was continuously tapping my foot on the floor as I bite my nails. Nang makita ko si Dr. Torres agad akong napatakbo sakanya.

"Dr. Torres," I called.

"No, Dra. Sanchez," he answered kahit wala pa man akong nasasabi.

I closed my eyes in frustration, "But Dr. Torres, I am fine. I'm in good condition. I can do it. I can assist you," I insisted but disapproval was evident in his eyes but I can't back down, it's dad's life on the line. Para saan pa at nagdoctor ako kung sarili kong tatay hindi ko magagamot? "Dr. Torres, this is my dad's life we're talking about. Not that I don't have trust in you, but please let me in on this case. Daddy ko po yun," sabi ko and it sounded pathetic.

I was pathetic.

Pero para kay daddy gagawin ko. I just needed to be there habang inooperahan siya. I need to make sure he'll make it through the surgery. Napakamot sa ulo si Dr. Torres bago niya pinakawalan ang malalim na paghinga.

"Fine— "

"Yes! This means so much to me, Dr. Torres— " but he cut me short.

"But the moment na nawala ka sa focus, you will be out of my OR. Understood?" I nodded like an obedient dog. Umalis na si Dr. Torres but I was still expressing my gratitude.

"You take good care of your mom and Kaisley, okay? Pag umiyak ang mommy mo, dalin mo siya sa favorite place namin. Pag hindi pa rin siya tumigil, take her to all the places we've been before. It'll remind her of me and— " pero agad kong pinutol ano man ang sinasabi ni daddy.

"Dad, we've talked about this, right? Your surgery will go well. You can do this. Gagaling ka pa, dad. So what's with all these habilin? You can do them yourself paglabas mo dito sa hospital. Pag maayos ka na. So stop this, dad." Agad siyang nag-iwas ng tingin sa 'kin. I felt mom's hand on my back pero hindi ko siya tinignan. Daddy needs to hear this dahil parang di siya naniniwala na gagaling siya. Na magiging successful ang operation niya. I took his hand and hold onto it tightly, "You'll enter the OR with the thinking that you'll survive. Hindi ka pwedeng magpa-opera pero deep in your mind you're doubting it. I need every inch of hope and faith that you still got in you, daddy. Kasi kami lumalaban kami. We need you to do the same. Please." I begged him.

A tear escaped from his eyes which he quickly wiped away. He squeezed my hand and held mom's hand, too. "Okay, I will. Thank you, anak," and I give it my all to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall. Saglit pa silang nag-usap ni mommy and Kaisley before we took him inside the OR.

I closed my eyes as I briefly kissed dad's forehead, "I love you, daddy," I said.

"I love you, anak. Always," and that time hindi ko na napigilan na tumulo ang luha ko. I squeezed his hand bago siya injection-an ng anesthesia.

"Okay, it's a great day to save lives, people. Let's do our best!" said Dr. Torres.

"Yes, doc," we answered in unison.

I was okay not until they opened up daddy. My vision suddenly got blurry. I shook my head, 'Pull yourself, Kirsche!' I reprimanded myself, but then I felt bullets of sweat forming on my forehead. My stomach rumbled and I felt the need to throw up, I suppressed it so hard that I ended up making a gag sound.

"Dra. Sanchez, are you okay?" asked Dr. Torres and with keen eyes, he looked at me. I swallow the lump in my throat and stoop up straight.

"Yes, doc," I answered shortly.

He eyed me for some seconds before proceeding with the operation.

I closed my eyes to regain my composure but I felt something squirt on my face. Pagkabukas ko ng mata ko nakita ko kung paano sumirit ang dugo mula kay daddy.

"Suction," said Dr. Torres.

Hawak ko ang pang-suction pero hindi ako makagalaw. Blood. Sumirit mula kay dad.

"I said suction, Dra. Sanchez!" I flinch when Dr. Torres raised his voice. With feeble hands, I tried to suction the blood pero agad nabitawan ng mga kamay ko 'yon.

"BP's dropping," said the anesthesiologist.

"Push 1 mg of epi."

"Suction! Somebody take over Dra. Sanchez."

I took a step back and looked around. Narinig ko ang tuloy-tuloy na tunog ng monitor.

"BP's still dropping."

"Push 5 mg of epi."

"Dra. Sanchez, get out of my OR now!" pero maang lang akong napatingin kay Dr. Torres.

Biglang wala akong marinig. Nakita ko kung paano sila naglalagay ng gauze pads kay daddy, kung paanong pinipigilan nila ang pagsirit ng dugo, kung paanong aligagang-aligaga si Dr. Torres. He looked at me again, may sinasabi siya pero hindi ko marinig. Parang nasa ilalim ako ng tubig at umiikot sila. He looked like he was shouting at me... pero hindi ko talaga marinig. I tried stepping a foot but I didn't even move an inch.

"Daddy," I tried uttering pero kahit sariling boses ko hindi ko marinig. I tried saying words again pero wala pa rin lumabas. I then saw them resuscitating dad. Bakit nila nire-resuscitate si daddy? Mas naging aligaga sila ngayon. Pinilit ko na makalad at nung hahakbang palang ako biglang nagdilim ang lahat, pero muli akong nakarinig at huli kong narinig ang monitor.