Get Through the Night (ACATN Book 2)

Chapter 27

Chapter 27
"Operation"

Sa mismong araw nang sana ay kasal namin ni Ham, we hastily flew to Manila. As soon as we entered Manila, my whole body was swelling. Halos hindi na ako makilala sa matinding pamamaga ng mukha ko. I had an intense flare up. I was wheeled into the emergency room right after we landed.

"Doc, please do everything," Mommy pleaded.

"We will do our best," pangako ng doctor na tumanggap sa akin.

Ngunit sa kabila ng sakit na nararamdaman, mas nangibabaw nang mga sandaling iyon ang sakit nang nawala sa akin. I could not stop thinking about Ham. I have not heard anything about him pagkatapos noong gabing iyon.

That was the last time I saw him. The night I said goodbye to him. The night I gave him up. The moon was full and bright. And after that, it was the start of my unending cold and dark nights.

I want to live. I promised to fight hard, so I would be able to witness Ham succeed.

"I'd like to be honest," panimula ng doctor. "This won't be an easy battle. Hindi lang financially. The patient would need all the support she can get. Hindi lang physical ang laban dito but also emotionally."

Iyon na ang simula ng mas malaki pang problema sa kalusugan ko. My own body have turned against me. My immune system that's supposed to protect and spare me from more diseases has gradually betrayed me.

Hinanghinang pa rin ako sa kabila ng puspusang pagsugpo sa mga dinaramdam. Tila nawalan na ng depensa ang katawan ko. My anemia worsen. Sobrang baba ng hemoglobin level ko na papunta na sa critical level.

Eventually, nagkaroon na ako ng pneumonia. Apat na buwan na akong ginagamot na halos walang makitang improvement. Labas-pasok ako ng hospital gaya dati. Idagdag pa ang mga karamdamang nagsisimula pa lang mag-manifest. Sa tuwing akala ko ay pinakamasakit na, sa mga sumunod na buwan ay mas lumalala naman. Hindi iisang beses kong hiniling na sana ay matapos na ang lahat ng ito—ang lahat ng sakit na tila walang paglagyan.

Shortness of breathing felt like my last breath. The chest pains felt like being stabbed excruciatingly, and multiple times, na kahit simpleng paghinga pinapatay na ako sa sakit. I have experienced coughing so hard that I was already spewing blood. Nariyan pa ang pasulpot sulpot na matinding pananakit ng nerves at joints ko. Hindi ko akalaing possibleng makaranas ng napakaraming klase ng sakit sa isang pagkakataon.

"How was it, Doc?" Daddy impatiently asked my pulmonologist the moment he went inside the room.

Naging alerto rin si Mommy at mabilis na humarap sa doctor. Nakahiga lang ako at ang tanging magagawa ay makinig. Napakahirap gumalaw sa nanghihinang katawan at kapos na hininga. Every move needs a lot of effort.

"Based sa bagong findings, we have no choice but to perform thoracentesis sa pasyente."

Sa naunang test, it was found that I have Pleural effusion. May fluid around my lungs. Sinubukan iyong gamutin through medication, na inaasahan sanang mag-reduce ng build up ng fluid doon. Ngayon na sinasabi ito ng doctor, ibig sabihin hindi tumalab ang gamot.

"We need to drain the fluid before it can cause more harm."

"Let's do this immediately, doc," desididong tugon ni Daddy hindi paman tapos magpaliwanag si doc.

So we proceed with my first thoracentesis. Takot na takot ako. But I have no choice. Nakaupo lang ako. I was a bit leaning forward nang gawin iyon. My back was pierced with a needle, tiyak na mahaba iyon kahit hindi pinakita sa akin. It should pass through my ribcage to collect the excess fluid. Bago iyon ay tinurukan naman ako ng anesthesia. Gising ako nang gawin iyon.