Because of my father’s condition, staying in the hospital for almost a month, my sister decided to ask the opinion of a faith healer. My mother and I went to our relative who is also a faith healer. And she said, my father disturbed some spirits in the fish pond where he worked before the incident. They (the spirits) followed him (my father) after his work until his body gave up, and that was the time that he sends himself to the hospital. According to the healer, we will offer something to the spirits and to ask their mercy not to punish my father. So she (the faithhealer) gave the necessary things that we have to prepare for the offering.
On April 3, 2010, after we completed the necessities, we called the faithhealer and scheduled the ceremony. Around 5 pm, together with the faithhealer’s group, we were in my sister’s lot where they will do the ceremony. They prepared the food for the spirits. After the preparation, they started the ceremony, we did do nothing but to observe because it’s my first time to witness such activity. The healer warned us to be brave because there might be something unusual to happen. While the healer is praying, my brother felt that someone passed by in his front and according to him, it smells like a tobacco (according to the healer, there was a big man in a tree smoking with a tobacco). After the prayer, the healer invited the spirits to “eat” our offerings. But “they” did not came due to some “reason”. The healer made bargaining with “them”. “They” even ask for additional offering in which the healer asked that such additional offering be given before our sister built their house. Some of “them” did not gave importance our offering, while some of “them” came. One of “them” even tapped the shoulder of my brother just like saying “excuse me”.
After the ceremony, the healer placed the offerings in the different spots. They also lighted a candle and placed beside the foods. Then, the healer told us what to do with the foods that were offered.
So, we did….. hoping for the immediate recovery of our father.
Now, while I’m writing this post, he’s already at home, still on his recovery…
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Dance with my Father....
March 10, 2010 around 7:30 in the evening while taking rest after our dinner when the cellphone of my wife beeped. I ignored the phone coz all I thought it’s just an ordinary message. After a while, when I saw the cellphone, there was something called my attention that I had to open it, so I did. And I read the message from my brother informing me that our father was stroked. And no other details about the incident.
I tried to call my mother several times until she answered my call but passed to Kevin, our youngest brother. And he told me…”he was sent to the ICU” then told me what happened although most of the information during that period were hearsays.
So I rushed to our bedroom and prepared my things and traveled to my hometown to visit and to nurse our father. On my way home, I was so bothered. I even don’t know what to do. Sometimes, I can’t help myself to imagine some negative scenarios. Until I thought of Ma’am Aida’s sister, Sister Marissa, a Carmelite nun. So I texted her to ask Sister Marissa a prayer for my father. And she replied which helped me to be strong during that moment.
When I’m near to my destination, I texted Kevin to fetch me at the city hall. But, unluckily, the bus did not pass to the city proper so I just went down at the nearest place. Instead of waiting for Kevin, I walked through the Burgos Street going to St. James Hospital hoping that Kevin is on his way to fetch me. Unconsciously, I was already in the hospital. My father’s friends were there and so with my brothers and their friends. My cousin was inside the ICU talking with the doctors. Due to confusion, I heard that according to the specialist that, our father has on 20% to survive since he suffered from a Brainstem hemorrage, wherein they can’t do surgical operations because its quite dangerous. They just give him some medications with the prayer as their weapon. They also said that there are two possibilities, one is death and the other one is being a “vegetable”. So we had to wait on what will happen…..
Because of what happened, everybody were shocked. Everytime my sister calls, she can’t help but cry. My mother, who is fighting for her feelings, who don’t want to show her weakness can’t also help but cry everytime my sister call.
March 11, 2010 morning. On our way home, I told my mother to anoint him. She asked me, “what did you say?’ I felt that she don’t what to think on the negative possibilities, so, I never replied.
When we went back to the hospital, I went directly inside the room. The nurses were busy checking his condition, when another nurse came in and said, “the priest will be anointing him anytime this day” so I said yes although there was a doubt in my mind. When I went out, there was my aunt and uncle and asked me some updates. I told them that he will be anointed, then my tears came out…
The doctor of his lungs visited him and when he came out, he told us they lessen the supply of oxygen from the machine because he can breath a little even in a comatose condition. When the Neurologist came out, he told us that he saw a little improvement and said. “Don’t give up, Don’t give him up…”
In the afternoon, everybody who visited him noticed some improvements. Somebody observed that he can hear and responded on their call. He moved his head to answer. He can even move his arms especially the left arm.
Everytime I enter to his room, I always talked to him, touch his arms telling him that his child is beside him. I always told him to get well soon because his grandsons are waiting for him. Sometimes, I don’t want to talk because I can’t help my feeling.
March 14, 2010. I together with my family visited my father. Then later, Glenn, one of my brothers, came with his family. The neurologist told us that the condition of our father is already beyond their expectations. They didn’t expect that he can move his arms and legs and responds to some calls immideately. After our conversation, I asked the doctor if we can get our children inside to see their grandfather. At first, the doctor was hesitant due to the hospital policy regarding the entry of children 13 years old and below inside the ICU. But later, maybe he realized that it could help to the recovery of the patient, so allowed us but just for a minute.. when the children entered the room and told him that his grandsons were there, you see the excitement on his face. He even moved his body!
Now, were are still waiting and praying. Hoping that he will do better in the next few days. So that, he will be with us again…..
I tried to call my mother several times until she answered my call but passed to Kevin, our youngest brother. And he told me…”he was sent to the ICU” then told me what happened although most of the information during that period were hearsays.
So I rushed to our bedroom and prepared my things and traveled to my hometown to visit and to nurse our father. On my way home, I was so bothered. I even don’t know what to do. Sometimes, I can’t help myself to imagine some negative scenarios. Until I thought of Ma’am Aida’s sister, Sister Marissa, a Carmelite nun. So I texted her to ask Sister Marissa a prayer for my father. And she replied which helped me to be strong during that moment.
When I’m near to my destination, I texted Kevin to fetch me at the city hall. But, unluckily, the bus did not pass to the city proper so I just went down at the nearest place. Instead of waiting for Kevin, I walked through the Burgos Street going to St. James Hospital hoping that Kevin is on his way to fetch me. Unconsciously, I was already in the hospital. My father’s friends were there and so with my brothers and their friends. My cousin was inside the ICU talking with the doctors. Due to confusion, I heard that according to the specialist that, our father has on 20% to survive since he suffered from a Brainstem hemorrage, wherein they can’t do surgical operations because its quite dangerous. They just give him some medications with the prayer as their weapon. They also said that there are two possibilities, one is death and the other one is being a “vegetable”. So we had to wait on what will happen…..
Because of what happened, everybody were shocked. Everytime my sister calls, she can’t help but cry. My mother, who is fighting for her feelings, who don’t want to show her weakness can’t also help but cry everytime my sister call.
March 11, 2010 morning. On our way home, I told my mother to anoint him. She asked me, “what did you say?’ I felt that she don’t what to think on the negative possibilities, so, I never replied.
When we went back to the hospital, I went directly inside the room. The nurses were busy checking his condition, when another nurse came in and said, “the priest will be anointing him anytime this day” so I said yes although there was a doubt in my mind. When I went out, there was my aunt and uncle and asked me some updates. I told them that he will be anointed, then my tears came out…
The doctor of his lungs visited him and when he came out, he told us they lessen the supply of oxygen from the machine because he can breath a little even in a comatose condition. When the Neurologist came out, he told us that he saw a little improvement and said. “Don’t give up, Don’t give him up…”
In the afternoon, everybody who visited him noticed some improvements. Somebody observed that he can hear and responded on their call. He moved his head to answer. He can even move his arms especially the left arm.
Everytime I enter to his room, I always talked to him, touch his arms telling him that his child is beside him. I always told him to get well soon because his grandsons are waiting for him. Sometimes, I don’t want to talk because I can’t help my feeling.
March 14, 2010. I together with my family visited my father. Then later, Glenn, one of my brothers, came with his family. The neurologist told us that the condition of our father is already beyond their expectations. They didn’t expect that he can move his arms and legs and responds to some calls immideately. After our conversation, I asked the doctor if we can get our children inside to see their grandfather. At first, the doctor was hesitant due to the hospital policy regarding the entry of children 13 years old and below inside the ICU. But later, maybe he realized that it could help to the recovery of the patient, so allowed us but just for a minute.. when the children entered the room and told him that his grandsons were there, you see the excitement on his face. He even moved his body!
Now, were are still waiting and praying. Hoping that he will do better in the next few days. So that, he will be with us again…..
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