ER experience... Prayer # 2, 2009

I went home this morning at around 3:30 in the morning to find my mom slumped in a chair, head hang low, body covered in jackets and blankets... While I was out meeting friends, little did I know that mama has been vomiting since midnight. She was alone in the house, helpless with zero load credits and therefore can't reach me nor any of my brothers.

The minute I opened the door and saw her like that, I felt my blood drained from my face. Guilt-stricken is probably the best way to describe me then. Thank God panic did not overcome me and my brain started functioning. First thought that came to mind - is this another heart related illness, remembering in mind mama's medical history that includes a week stay in ICU during my birthday four years back... So quickly I asked her what's ailing her and how bad was it. She said she's feeling very week from throwing up and that the back of her neck down to her right shoulder is troubling her. I rushed to my room, put down the things I was carrying when I came in, dumped all the things in my bag on my bed, grabbed my wallet, phone, keys and dumped them in another bag. Then I went on to the other room, grabbed a jacket for mama and opened up her drawers looking for her health card. Then I told her to wait for me while I hail a taxi and then I'd get her and bring her to the hospital.

While rushing down the stairs I started the communication with my savior. Every step of the way I'm talking to God, asking for His guidance because it's the first time that I am personally bringing mama to the emergency room and I didn't have someone accompanying me. I felt God every minute. I was calm and composed, so to speak.

God then showed how He answers prayer requests. First He made sure we got into the safest taxi He can provide, an MGE cab stopped in front of me. So I told the driver to wait for me while I get my mom and that we're heading to Makati Med. God provided an understanding driver, what else can you expect? I took my sweet time guiding mama down the stairs from our second floor apartment unit. At four in the morning, we breezed through the streets of Makati and reached the hospital in no time. Another blessing from God, the driver was not able to start his meter so when I asked him how much, he told me fifty pesos will do (should have been more considering I made him wait).

Then when I opened the taxi door, immediately the security guard from the ER came to us with wheel chair so mama will not have to walk in her pain. And from there she was taken cared of. I saw God working in all these,  the ease of registering her by just handing the health card to the personnel and I didn't have to answer any questions... the doctors and nurses and radiologist who assisted with her X-Ray and ECG... every thing went well without the need for me to worry on anything. After four X-Ray films, three injections, two blood pressure check-up and examination from the doctors, it was time to go home. Thank God my initial thought of this being another stroke was dispelled from my mind. Though when they first checked her blood pressure, she had a whopping 210/130 result but after just two to three hours there, the doctor who checked her BP again was really amazed it went down to 140/90, without her administering something for the high blood pressure. That was just amazing, Lord!

So after I was given the instructions for mama's medication at home, I went to the billing department and settled her bills. Guess what... I just gave them Mama's name and after a few minutes, I was asked to sign the discharge papers and then they returned to me Mama's health card and we were free to go. Yes, I didn't have to give a single cent to the hospital, thanks to the health card. (I really love working with Chase, this is the third time that mama was hospitalized and I never had to pay the hospital!)

When we got home, I can't stop thanking God that it went well. I just need to buy the medicine and mama will be on her way to recovery. Though sadly it was a chronic neck pain that got her this time. That means it will not be completely healed since some of her veins and muscles in the neck were all clogged up and the doctors said there is no cure yet for those veins to open up so she'll just be under pain killers and after three to five days, should start scheduling sessions with a Physical Therapist...

While I was waiting for Mama during her examination at ER, I texted Jheny to inform her that I rushed mama to the hospital and if she can please pray for her health. When I opened my eyes at around 11am (I finally slept at 9am) I received at least ten text messages from my  CCF family. Looks like Jheny texted everyone informing them of my mom's condition. After I read those messages I just bowed my head and said a simple thank you to my God. Brushing the tears from my eyes, I went out of my room and checked on Mama. She said she's much better though the neck pain is still there. Immediately I changed my clothes so I can go to the drugstore and buy the prescribed medicine. While on board the jeep going to the drug store, I'm talking to God again. Lord, let the cash in my wallet be enough to buy all the medicine she needs so I don't have to use my other remaining credit card (since I kind of swore last week that I will not use my credit card for purchases again).

Of course, you guessed it right. With Mama's senior citizen ID and booklet, I had more than enough in my purse to buy every thing she needs.

My loving Father, thank you very much for your guidance today. I felt you in every single moment of this brief experience of being alone while tending for my mom. Thank you that you showed your magnificence in making sure I didn't have to worry since every thing just worked perfectly right in front of my eyes. Thank you Lord for my dear sister Jheny. She made a way for more prayers to be uttered for my mom. Lord, I know the doctors said it's a chronic illness, meaning no complete healing but I know with you nothing is impossible. I pray and claim complete healing for mama's neck pain. After she's done with her medication, may it not bother her again, Lord. I am forever grateful to you, my loving father.
I am just awed by your loving guidance today.
Even if I was at fault for not coming home earlier, you made sure Mama was fine even if she was all alone in her pain... Lord, I learned a valuable lesson today. May I always remember to make sure that before I go out and have fun with friends, mama should be fully equipped to be able to reach out to me or to any of my brothers in times like this. Not that I'm anticipating that it will happen again... She's not getting any younger and lately have been weaker...
May I just be more sensitive to her needs, Lord.
Thank you in all that you do! Amen.

In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18