Medical surprise... or scare?

Even the best laid plans can go awry. Such is life...

It is my mother's birthday today. After two years, we finally set foot inside a church to hear mass. It is Ash Wednesday after all.

With several masses scheduled for the day to accommodate those coming in, especially for the imposition of ashes, we thought the 9 AM sked was best. Rush hour traffic was nearly over. And with most people at work, the church wouldn't be jampacked, like it often was pre-pandemic.

We were right. So it was a pleasant experience. It was a bit cool even if the electric fans weren't in my face. Maybe it was because only two to four occupied each pew.

I don't know why I teared up as I prayed after getting ashes on my forehead. Guess I was reminded how humbling it is to survive a deadly virus and the months and months of lockdowns.

Survival. That was the goal. Survive a virus and deadly disease. Survive losing the means to live and earn. Survive with meager resources. Survive being separated from family and friends. Survive mental health issues.

We had to keep the faith. One big triumph was growing in faith. At least it was for me. I know many did not. They lost their way. Loosened their hold. I pray they will still find their way and believe.

We remain cautious at home. So we had to indulge my octogenarian mother and have a bit of a feast to celebrate her special day without going out or inviting anyone else. The fasting asked of Catholics had to be set aside for today. I pray to be given a chance to make up for it.

Perhaps, it was the small sacrifice of having to worry about my aunt (Dad's only sister and the lone surviving sibling), who suddenly had to be admitted to prep for surgery tomorrow.

Nothing can be more jolting than to be told a day before that a close family member needed to undergo medical procedure pronto! What made matters more worrisome is that Auntie is unmarried and has no children. So it was up to us, her nephews and nieces, to take care of her in such instances.

Here's the thing: this is the first time ever that she was going to be admitted to a hospital, and for a serious health concern at that. A concern she never even mentioned when she called last night to ask if I could accompany her.

I realize now she was in a state of panic, and perhaps shock, that's why she failed to mention what our doctor-cousin saw in her ultrasound result. But tough lady that she is, she never displayed how panicked she was over what would transpire in the next several days.

While a number of us cousins were willing to volunteer to be her companion during confinement, we were all thrown into a tizzy because of no advance notice.

Auntie has always been very independent and self-sufficient. It is she who everyone turns to for help. And she hates imposing on other people, including us her family, and will opt to do everything on her own rather than call on any of us for assistance unless it was absolutely necessary.

But going through a medical procedure, even if it is minimally invasive (laparoscopy) can be nerve-wracking. Particularly for a first-time patient!

When she called me, she didn't even say outright that she needed to be admitted to a hospital. Her words: "Are you doing anything tomorrow? Can you come with me to the hospital?"

I thought she was going in for a consult, because I know she has her labs done near her residence. When she finally got around to actually saying she was undergoing laparoscopy, I had to scramble to re-arrange schedules - mine and whoever else was willing and available, so we could at least take turns staying with her.

Turns out doctor-cousin never gave her breathing space after reading her ultrasound, and just made the plans to get the procedure done ASAP. He never even considered our aunt did not have a home companion, and that at this time of COVID, hospital protocols are far different.

In short, he railroaded my Auntie to go in immediately the next day and schedule the procedure tomorrow (Thursday). He panicked, so she panicked too, and simply agreed to the arrangements then called me to be her companion!

I get his concern about her condition, which if not managed quickly can do more harm or even be fatal. Still... consideration.

I know doctors require years of study and training to get to that point where they can actually start treating patients. However, as I've proven time and again, not all doctors are created equal.

Many, especially the younger ones, see their role just as a physician. A health professional. Many forget they are first and foremost human, and their patients are, too.

A patient does not exist just as a patient. It's not going into a hospital, getting a room, undergoing medical procedures, or getting treated with medication and that's the sum experience.

There are so many things a patient, and their families, have to take into consideration when it comes to being confined and undergoing procedure. The logistics can be mind-boggling, even for those with family around them.

And THIS must always be taken into account, and it is something doctors - the real good ones with loads of empathy - are aware of and keep in mind.

I've had my share of going in hospitals - as a patient and a patient's primary caregiver - and it is no picnic. And doctors, especially those who just zip in and out of rooms, rarely feel or know the challenges unless they've gone through a similar experience, not as health professionals, but as patients themselves.

Even with family and a support group, it is a challenge. How much more for someone with no one immediately around them?

It was early afternoon by the time my Aunt and I got a chance to really talk. But I felt so bad that she had to stay in her room alone until my cousin, who will be with her during confinement, can get there and be cleared after an antigen test. That was six hours of alone time.

Anyone with a weaker resolve would have gone nuts! It was after our talk that she finally calmed down and was able to rest. She needed to let out her panic and ordeal in the last 24 hours.

And it was only when my cousin finally made it to her room that I calmed down. Somewhat... there is the matter of her post-surgery care and recovery.

We're all praying it will go smoothly, and the physicians performing the procedure are guided by God's hands. And that her steely resolve will fast-track her recovery.

Whew... what a day! Thank you, God, for allowing us to survive today.