Prayers for Mama

Hello! It's me again! Well, how do I begin this blog?

First of all, I want to ask you guys to pray for our mother as she is in the intensive care unit today and who knows how long she will be staying here. Please pray that she will get better.

Yesterday morning, we were waking up mama to feed her breakfast but she was breathing shallow and was unresponsive when my brother called her. After several more times of waking her up, we decided to call ambulance for emergency.

Everything happened so quick. What I remembered is that they asked permission to cut mama's clothes. I was told to go out while they intubate her but in the middle of the process, the doctor went out and told me that there were lots of food particles in her mouth and throat. When it was suctioned, we saw her feel relieved and her vital signs improved, although there were times the nurses could barely hear her pulse when they take her blood pressure.

One doctor said mama could have pneumonia due to some food particles reaching the lungs. An XRay must be done to find out, plus, mama will also undergo CT Scan to see the progress of the tumor in her brain.

All through out mama's stay at the emergency room, I had my sister on video call so she knows what is happening and at the same time could help me decide when asked by nurses and doctors. We were then transferred to the Intensive Care Unit when the stretcher arrived. The ICU was silent and the vibe here is so different. It's sad. And you can see the other patients in their room as there are spaces between curtains and some rooms have glass doors.

Sadly, only one watcher is allowed to accompany the patient. So my brother and I talked and we decided that I'll go first. So I went home and took a bath, got some clothes and prepared mama's things. While I was preparing my things, I asked my brother how was mama and he said mama opened her eyes for a while when they were doing the CT Scan.

When I went back to the hospital, mama is resting in her bed and but just like since morning, her eyes are still closed but she can hear us and respond by tilting her head. I think she's also trying to open her eyes because I can see her eyebrows furrow and her eyes wrinkling. We try to talk to her she does that.

My brother and I ate dinner at the restaurant on the same floor as the icu, rested for a while and I went back inside the icu while my brother found some area outside the icu where he can rest.

At the middle of the night, the sub neurologist arrived with the result of the CT Scan and showed that the tumor has became larger and tge swelling was more than the last scan. I heard the doctor talk to the nurse to increase steroid. We asked if this was an effect from mama's 10-sessions radiotherapy. The doctor said it could be but he hopes the tumor is not radio resistant, else, there is nothing they can do with the tumor unless they do surgery perhaps. But that is no longer advisable due to mama's age.

Then again few hours ago, they changed mama's hospital gown and gave her sponge bath. While they were doing sponge bath, mama's eyes opened and was looking around the room. I quickly stood in front so she could see me. I called her but it seems like she is confused. Her eyes then closed again.

Few hours before, the oncologist texted my brother and told that mama's case is bad as her organs are slowly deteriorating and her heart might eventually get tired. Right now her blood pressure is closely monitored as nurses could barely hear it. Last night it was 90/60, then 80/60. When nurses were given the approval to put the meds for her blood pressure, mama's bp started getting better a bit to 100/60.

I heard they would observe mama here in the icu for 24 hrs but I'm afraid she would be staying here for more than a day. How I wish mama gets better and we could be given the permission to transfer to a regular room because aside from it's much more expensive here in the icu, the regular room has a private comfort room and a better bed for watchers. And there's better privacy in there.

Anyway, I am getting surprised at how expensive mama's meds are. I really hope mama gets better and we can get out of the hospital soon.

Again, I ask for everyone's prayers for my mama. 🤍