Of Near-Deaths and God's Promise
Last Saturday, while John and I were watching a movie in Gateway, my fone started to buzz, got a call from our house. In a most discrete voice, I answered the call...it was my mom, in a very urgent but firm voice...told me that there was an emergency. My immediate concern was my sister, who has a heart ailment which made her resign from work and just stay at home. Her ailment is really a concern for us, and that call from my mom again sparked that fear for my sister, but it was not my sister but my niece...my inaanak, one of my bridesmaids, a 17-year old girl fresh out of high school. She was rushed to the hospital because she supposedly passed out in their room...her kid brother found out when she called her for dinner. It was a blessing that my nephew Augie found her ate on time...still conscious but lying on the floor and was still able to talk to him. Based on their account, my nephew hurriedly fetched his mama and told what happened. Good thing we did not bring our car when John and I went to Pasay to inform one of our PS....my cousin (father of my niece) and his wife,together wih a kin, rushed her first to a doctor, but the doc was not there. They finally decided to bring her to Heart Center...best decision! Her mama recounted that my niece's hands and feet were already turning blue, indication of loss of oxygen, but thank God was still conscious but had difficulty breathing. My other niece, who is studying to be nurse, unfortunately was not there...but God was really very kind. My niece was able to reach the hospital in time... and still conscious. My biggest fear when I heard the news was that she might lose consciousness on the way to the hospital... a very bad indication of loss of oxygen in the brain which will lead to comatose (just like the late Terri Schiavo) or worse death (God forbid!). Oddly, I accepted the news calmly, but I immediately whispered a prayer to God to bless and help my niece and that she'll not pass out before reaching the hospital, as Heart Center is a little bit far from our house. I know that God works miracles...and in my niece's case, we all believed and very thankful to God for doing one. On our way to the hospital, I texted my sister at home and asked for the latest news, unfortunately, they were not able to bring any celfone. I was relieved when I saw my cousin's wife still calm but looked very much concerned. Thank God my niece was okay at the ER, but needs to be brought to the ICU because her heart rhythm was very erratic, plus she also has a heart ailment just like us (one of the valves don't close properly)....and she only has one kidney left (the other was taken out due to a tumor when she was barely a year old)...truly a miracle kid, if I may say.
When I saw her at the ER, she was smiling...her usual jovial self...goofing around with her cousin who carried her to the hospital. I cannot imagine her in any state other that that. Thank you, Lord! Around 10pm , she was wheeled to the ICU to closely monitor her condition. Her eldest sister was already there, at least she can take care of her sis and, as a nursing stude, she will be able to report to us (esp to my sister-nurse in NY) everything, most epecially the doctor's prognosis.
After everything was settled at the ICU,we all went home around 11pm...her parents, John and me. They recounted to us what happened...from the house on the way to the hospital. I was extremely suprised with myself coz I was unusually calm and not crying! Scenarios like these always break my composure...these always remind me when we brought our dad to the same hospital 6 years ago...just one day then he died the next. Everytime I remember the last hours of my dad in the ICU, I could not control my tears...just me, my sister and my mom waiting for the last breath of my dad...it was the biggest trauma for us! I shudder everytime I go to Heart Center...I avoided going to a hospital for sometime...I also stopped watching ER on TV...and the faintest sound of a beeping device sends shivers down my spine. With what happened to my niece, I dreaded that the trauma will be back...thankfully, it didn't. I guess my dad's demise taught and made me to constantly hold to God's presence in difficult times...that no matter what happens, He will never leave nor forsake us....that if you just complete faith in Him, He will see you through your darkest hours.
Saturday's events made me even more confident of God's promise. Truly God very kind and merciful! My cousin's wife told us that when she finally got to talk to her daughter (my niece), she told her "Mama, isinasama na ako ni Daddy." They also call our dad as Daddy and our mom as Mommy, too. I had goosebumps when I heard this! I only read and heard about people at near-death seeing dead relatives fetching them...now I now it's true! My niece had a near-death experience...but through prayers and God's mercy, she was saved.
Now, she's still in Pedia-ICU but is doing better and enjoying her stay in the hospital...she has asked one of the nurses for Cartoon Network...as if nothing happened. Hopefully when her heart is already stable, she'll be transferred to a room...and soon be sent home....a new life...but always in Christ's loving care and mercy.
