My Miracle Baby
It has exactly been a month since Waki’s surgery, and now I could say THANK GOD, THE WORST IS FINALLY OVER!
I
am paranoid by default. I used to think that someday, paranoia would
be the death of me. But looking back to all that has happened, I now
understand why God made me the way I am. What I thought was a
great flaw of my existence happens to be one of the biggest reasons
why my son still continues to exist, eluding a very ominous fate. God works in mysterious ways.
When
we discovered that something was wrong with Waki, my heart was shattered to
pieces. It was such a horror magnified by the fact that I am a first-time mom who knows so little, if not nothing. I was grief-stricken. I spent countless hours on the Internet
researching about the disease, its cures, the prognosis, statistics, and everything
else I could think of. I searched for the best surgeon possible, one who’s well-experienced with cases similar with Waki’s.
Through God’s continuous guidance, and with the help of very dear
friends in the medical field, I was able to find one who gained my
confidence and trust to perform the procedure on my son.
The whole ordeal
was really a test of faith and character on my part. Never in my life
had I prayed harder than how I did in the last two months. Every
pierce of needle on my son’s frail body pierced my heart a
hundredfold. Every bit of pain he felt, I wished I could take it instead. I
was so helpless the whole time because I couldn’t do anything to ease
Waki’s sufferings. But still, I felt very lucky…lucky to have a very
strong support system. Thanks to my family, relatives, friends, even
people I personally do not know…they never let me wallow in despair.
Messages of concern and support kept pouring in every way
possible…emails, text messages, messages on YM, MSN, Friendster, Multiply…all the
likes. Healing Masses were offered in Waki’s name in different
Churches, even reaching the far ends of Cebu, Davao, and also the
United States. It even reached Father Fernando Suarez in Vallejo,
California when he performed a Healing Mass there last April.
What
happened soon after was nothing but the greatest miracle we could ever
receive. Upon invasive exploration of Waki’s biliary system, what we
initially thought of as Biliary Atresia turned out to be a case of Choledochal Cyst
and an underdeveloped gallbladder. As soon as Dr. Willie Lagdameo,
Waki’s pediatric surgeon, called for us in the OR and informed us about
this discovery halfway through the operation, I was immediately
relieved for the reason that Choledochal Cyst has a much better
prognosis than the former. I remember vividly that as soon as he
mentioned the words "choledochal cyst", the words "THANK GOD!"
instantaneously came out of my mouth without having the need to hear the next words
that he had to say. I knew right there and then that my prayers, and that of the others, have
been answered in our favor. From then on, I knew everything would be all right.
Now,
my son is recuperating well. Though he still needs a lot of catching
up to do in terms of his weight-gain, his appetite has returned to
normal. At three months and two weeks, he can already consume 5 oz. of
milk in just one feeding, sometimes 6, even 7, and I’m ecstatic about it. He’s still under
constant observation, but so far so good. All the signs that we’re
supposed to see in Waki that indicate a good recovery, we see in him.
We’ve been blessed with a miracle baby. God is great indeed!
***********************
With that, I would like to particularly acknowledge the people who stood by me during the toughest time of my life:
Mike and my mom, who spent sleepless nights with me in the hospital, looking after Waki
Mike’s
family: Tito Andy, Tita Julie, Mark, Ryan and Judy, and to all their
relatives and friends in the US who always made their presence known
even if they’re far away from home.
My uncles and aunts: Auntie
Fel, Uncle Bong, Auntie Nenette, Uncle Mar, Auntie Jane and Uncle Abet;
my cousins: Mark (with gf Laica and her sister), John, Chris, Ate
Cherry and Kuya Michael, who took time to visit us in the hospital; and
the others who were not able to visit but have always shown their
support and concern: My dad, Ate Rachellyn, Ate Lag, Ate Monette and
Chester, Alfred and his wife Belle, Auntie Masing and Family, Ate
Diday, Ate Johanna, Kuya Larry and Ate Yet together with their VCF
Greenhills Family, Ate Grace and Family, Ate Olie and Family, Kuya Eric
Dear friends: Joyce F, Kristine, Joyce S, Cacai, Jam, Allen, Eljie, Leonard, Vitz
My STC and UST classmates and friends
My colleagues from Metrobank and Sykes
Alay sa Diyos Community, Greenhills San Juan
Sisses from The Female Network, and My Multiply online buddies and friends
And
to all those whom I forgot to mention, I beg you to forgive me for a lapse in memory. But please do know that I hold you all dear in my heart. The
prayers that you offered and the support that you’ve shown will always
be something my family and I will treasure and cherish everyday for the rest of our lives.
Again, thank you so very much, and may God continue to bless us all.
