doctorheartthatsees

[doctorheartthatsees]

[doctorheartthatsees]

[doctorheartthatsees]

Went in the ward not as patient but as a son to a patient. Different, not as strong and as stable as other men, but he has to give the fullest strength that he can for his mom who keeps on crying in pitty for his dad. His father, the patient, has brain abscess. Started to lose orientation and sensorium, and now scan barely open his eyes and with shaking of upper extremities. The doctor said, the patient needs to have a nasogastric tube (NGT). So, we inserted. Resistance was felt, patient also cannot swallow to facilitate insertion, then there was bleeding. The mom bursted crying, pleading to stop. We explained that sometimes there's bleeding, but NGT has to be inserted for facilitation of nutrition. He stood strong, insisted to stop... so we did. His greatest struggle is he knows the procedure, he understands the need, because he worked in Red Cross for some time, but his family's concept of the medical procedures is different. The family decided to stop putting on tubes. He tried to explain, but the family would not listen. Then he finally made up his mind to go with the decision of the family because he understands that other members might be feeling anxiety of the unknown procedures that he might not understand. So to lessen the pressure, he gave in. "Kung ako ra, Doc, gusto jud nako naNGT o matubuhan. Kay kabalo ko kinahanglan ug ginabuhat lang ninyo inyong trabaho. Kung pwede gani, higtan nako sya (referring to his dad, the patient) para musulod ang tubo na dili na maglisod. Pero dili na sila. Ingon nila, if mamatay, mamatay na tarong. Walay tubo. I-uli nalang jud sa balay para makita pa pila ka adlaw. Ingon man pud sa amua paspas daw muspread ang kagaw. (If I were to decide, Doc, I want the NGT and intubation to be done. I know those are neeed, I know you are doing your job. I would be even willing to tie him up or restraint him so that it'll be easier for you to put on the tubes. But they don't want it anymore. If he'll die, he'll die with integrity. No tubes. We'll just bring him home so that they will see still him alive for some days. Sources already told us that infection is already spreading rapidly)".

[doctorheartthatsees]

After more than two months of being in the hospital ward with almost 100 patients, suffering from terminal breast cancer and with long-term ascites, the glow in her eyes says how happy she was to finally be possibly released from the congestion and fullness she feels as her abdominal area skin stretches. "Natunga na dyud ko ninyo, Doc (you finally had a chance to check on me, Doc)", she said with a smile on her face. No traces of nervousness as paracentesis was done for she thinks she has nothing more to lose. Not enough money, not enough energy, not in good health-- so she lays it all, whatever will happen, will happen. Very proud, as fluid was draining from her abdomen throught the tube, she tells story about her children. Her eldest just graduated from college, Business Accounting. The other two are in high school and elementary.