MOMMY IS HOME

It is moms 40^th day since she passed away at around 12:04 on the 28^th of September, two weeks after she slipped into a coma in Dumaguete City. It was Acute Respiratory Failure, Chronic Kidney Disease secondary to Diabetes, Diabetes Mellitus II, Severe Hypoglycemia Encephalopathy and Brain Hermiation.

Moms last photo taken in Silay City September 13,2022

If it was a status on facebook – It was indeed complicated.

 

A day after she arrived from the US, her final homecoming after 34 years of hardwork, for me, my siblings, grand children and family. There were favorites while we were the go ahead you can handle things better kids. 

I had the chance to meet her for two hours in Cebu, I brought her sugar(equal), salonpas, scarfs, a small bottle of hand lotion and a wig which she requested. I was shocked to see her lose a lot of weight and hair. Her eyes were tired and weary, but she managed to smile and tell us stories only when asked. But she was enjoying a simple meal of  fried fish and guso (a local seaweed best when washed with hot water , drained and mixed with vinegar, onion, tomato and ginger) soup - our last full meal together as family.  She looked haggard and I reminded her about her condition that was not good with low sugar and high creatinine- a sign that would later lead to kidney failure. She only gave me a faint smile and a little nod as if telling me, I know shhhh. Only diabetics knew.   

Mom was a home care administrator, nurse assistant ,social worker, phlebotomist, teacher and was good at baking, and the piano. Her last job was taking care of a twenty year old guy of the autism spectrum on a wheel chair, how she love her patient that she was able to teach him things for him to get by when she was not with him anymore.

She spent weeks in Dumaguete with her friends, after a few days in Cebu.

At the Civil Weeding of Grandson Miguel in Cebu last August 2022

On the 13^th of September, she came to Bacolod with friends wherein we had about two hours together to have coffee and cake and she brought back with her the native bags and scarf she requested with the yoyo. At the mall I brought her to the restroom and while walking she was asking if we were near  coz she was tired and holding my arms we managed a ‘twofie’, that was probably the longest walk she ever did. They brought me home at five, and they left back for Dumaguete only to be lost somewhere and finally arrived four hours later – she was in a deep sleep and had to be injected due to hypoglycemia, she woke up and worked her way out of the hospital on a wheelchair not wanting to be admitted. The next day, I talked to her, reminded her that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, she told me OK RA KO. That was the last time we spoke to each other. She was brought by an ambulance to the hospital while all three children were miles away from her.

Viudas Muy Alegre

We were not prepared of the turn of events, from her hospitalization at the Provincial Hospital where doctors were friendly and her care giver and nurses took care of her very well at the ICU, to her transfer at the SUMC -the team was also good from the emergency room to the ICU and billing. There were suggestions to transfer her to Cebu, to do this and do that. The decision was not mine alone to do, we had to consult our siblings, check our finances and be practical at the same time, we  gave her the best care we can. She had the best doctors with the guidance of Dr. Johnny Magbanua. When things happen like this, always keep an open mind, listen to others who may have had an experience but decide when everything is calm , don’t rush things.

Family Picture

After two weeks, Mom died contented and happy and we have come to accept that. She was on borrowed time.

If not for her friends, our family, Amigo Subdivision neighbors and Silliman classmates , we would not have pulled this off. You meet good souls from nowhere and ‘maritess’ spirit goes on, gossip is a way of life in the city of gentle people where practically everybody knows everybody, good or bad , some only knew a month after, others kept in touch.

St Peter Chapels Dumaguete

We appreciate your help, you know who you are ---indeed Dumaguete is home and where our heart is – the outpouring love just kept on coming. Now we understand why mom chose to come home and spend most of her time with friends in Dumaguete. Thank you so much to all our titas ‘ Viudas Muy Alegre ‘ and ‘LIMERS’.

The LORD provides indeed and Neil, Paz, Karl and I ,  THANK YOU ALL!

 

Written Nov. 6,2022